USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County's part in the World War, 1914-1918 > Part 9
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Claude Garrett, Willard Pereira, Elmer Rutherford, Herbert Sumpter, Edward Schantz, Glenn Sumpter, Ebert Townsend, Miles Templeton, Herschel Towler. Russell Wooley, Guy Grant, George Hungerford, Al Davis, William Alfred Hurst, Emmert Maple, Ralph Platt, Bert Platt, George Platt, Paul Palmerton, Elmer Pope, Frank Petty, Jacob Reiger, Oscar Scoun, Alfred Schantz, Harry Sumpter, Dale Templeton, Walter Theobold, Chester Wiley, Clarence Worland, Elton Leffler, Shirley Wasson, Darrell Neidigh.
Several boys too young to go to the army were enrolled in the Boys' Work- ing Reserve and aided wherever they could be of help. They were as follows: Harry McKee, Russell Thornburg, Franklin Miers, James Smith, Ira Eiler, Ira Towler, Russell Towler, Howard Garrett, Herschel Darby, Walter Hurst, Charles Apple, Cecil Champ, Norman Davis, Charles Lindner, Norman Wolverton, Miles Templeton (Entered service as soon -as old enough), Elton Leffler (Entered service as soon as old enough), Robert Dexter.
The following men were solicitors for the Victory Loan drive: B. F. Mason, C. F. Kappes, R. D. Templeton, Jacob Johannes, Carl Wolfe. John Garrett, John Cuskaden, R. L. Pleak, Frank Eubank, Miss Ethel Shelhorn, Daniel Apple, George Boling, Charles O. McKee, Earl Jones.
Adams township had its slackers the same as other communities, but for the most part, its citizens stood together and helped in every way possible to win the great world struggle.
Furnished by Miss Nellie McKee.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP WAR HISTORY
When congress declared war in the spring of 1917, our country was awak- ened as from a sound sleep with a suddenness that was keenly felt. The people realized that the time had come for quick response to the demands put upon them.
Decatur county was ready to do its part so a call was sent out to its various townships for volunteers. Clinton township was one among the first to respond and was always successful in its Red Cross work, in the many drives for money in the pledges to the Food Club and the splendid loyalty of its young men was shown by their ready response to the country's call for service.
No one made a greater sacrifice or showed a greater amount of patriotism than the young men who went at the country's call to the battle fields of France
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or to the various cantonments in this country. They did the greatest work and gave their all to the service of their country. Although several of our boys were wounded in battle, Clinton township did not lose a young man by death, by wounds or by sickness.
Clinton township is situated in the north central part of Decatur county, it being the smallest of the nine townships covering an area of twenty-two and one- half square miles with a population of 736.
Horace McDonald who was appointed chairman of the township war work was always ready and willing and competent in every undertaking. In not a single instance did anyone refuse when asked to serve on a committee.
A meeting was called. in June, for the purpose of organizing the township for its Red Cross work. The following officers were appointed: President, Mrs. Edwin L. Meek; secretary, Mrs. Horace McDonald ; treasurer, Henry Goddard.
A membership drive followed the organization and the township went over the top. After many members were obtained the chairman and his committee began their work in finding something for everyone to do.
The township was divided into four sections and a leader was appointed for each section. Each leader was responsible for having the material for sewing at the meetings which were held one afternoon of every week and returning the finished garments to the Red Cross headquarters at Greensburg. Once a month the four sections united in an all-day meeting at some home, or at the Sandusky school building. At these meetings the ladies would bring a box lunch or have a pitch-in dinner. Many of the ladies brought their own sewing machines so that more work could be accomplished. From April, 1917, until January, 1919, 980 pajama suits, 599 hospital shirts, seventy-eight refugee garments, twenty-six operating gowns, twenty-five water-proof bags, 114 handkerchiefs and five napkins were completed. While many ladies furnished their own thread some who were unable to sew donated $2.75 for the purpose of buying yarn and. thirty-seven spools of thread.
Members of Clinton Township Red Cross Unit: Mrs. Lizzie Miller, Mrs. Thos. Hardie, Mrs. James Patterson, Mrs. Frank Sefton, Mrs. Ora Meek, Mrs. R. T. Anderson, Mrs. Affie Marlow, Mrs. John Carr, Miss Hazel Marlow, Miss Janie Martin, Mrs. Chas. Clemons, Mrs. J. W. Turner, Miss Gertie Clark, Mrs. Jess Anderson, Mrs. Clarence Sefton, Mrs. Wm. Seright, Miss Gladys Fleetwood, Mrs. Grace Mozingo, Mrs. I. S. Sefton, Miss Elma Spillman, Mrs. Frank Martin, Mrs. Hershel Martin, Mrs. James Taylor, Mrs. Margaret Nation, Mrs. Wm. O.
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Roszell, Mrs. Samuel Scott, Mrs. Edward Cowan, Mrs. Milliford, Mrs. Mary F. Martin, Miss Gladys Kennett, Mrs. Frank Bird, Mrs. David Alverson, Mrs. Geo Gookins, Mrs. Edward Sefton, Miss Margaret Willeford, Miss Lynn Newman, Mrs. Edward Rickets, Mrs. Myra Seright, Mrs. Joseph Pope, Mrs. Orville Gar- rett, Mrs. Dalla Burrows, Mrs. Lee Wilson, Mrs. Elmer Sefton, Mrs. Frank Marlow, Mrs. Dale Hull, Mrs. Julie Williams, Mrs. Horace McDonald, Mrs. Emmer Clark, Mrs. Mary Harrell, Miss Mary Nation, Mrs. A. C. Thorpe, Mrs. Llewellyn Fleetwood, Mrs. Henry Mozingo, Mrs. Wm. Harrell, Mrs. Emery Richards, Mrs. Edwin L. Meek, Mrs. John Smith, Mrs. Walter E. Hite, Miss Mildred Hite, Mrs. David Ramer, Miss Gladys Cheek, Miss Bertha Gookins, Miss Fanny Coy, Miss Marie Edmondson, Mrs. Jethro Meek, Mrs. Ethelbert Way- bright, Mrs. Walter B. Sefton, Mrs. C. O. Kennett, Mrs. John Martin, Miss Irene Amos, Mrs. Ernest Smith, Mrs. Henry Goddard, Mrs. Clarence Linville, Miss Mary Linville, Miss Mildred Gookins, Miss Nellie Spillman, Mrs. Robert God- dard, Mrs. Lora Willeford, Miss Ruth Willeford, Mrs. Chas. Latimer, Mrs. R. O. Buell, Mrs. William Palmer, Mrs. T. C. Robinson, Mrs. Jos. Metzler, Mrs. Ollie Goddard, Jr., Mrs. J. D. Knox, Miss Lucile Meek, Miss Hattie Smith, Mrs. Nathan Martin, Mrs. Gus Sefton, Mrs. San Tonyses, Mrs. E. G. Amos, Miss Ethel Woods, Miss Mable Bird, Miss Stella King, Miss Elnor King, Miss Vera Fort, Mrs. Guy Root, Miss Alice Wilson, Mrs. Hugh Coy, Mrs. Wm. Kelly, Mrs. Henry Sefton.
A social was held and the sum of $12.50 was turned over to the Red Cross.
An Easter market was held March 29 and 30, at Greensburg in which every township was asked to respond. Clinton was there with all kinds of eats, canned goods, fancy work, new feather pillows, seed corn and a real live pig. From this market near $158.00 was turned in.
R. O. Buell. of Clinton township, donated a pig to be sold at a Red Cross auction at Greensburg, which brought $16.00.
At the Joe Bruner sale Mrs. Bruner donated two chickens to be sold for the benefit of the Red Cross and a free will offering was taken, from this the sum of $36.00 was realized.
The Township Council of Defense consisted of four members as follows: Mrs. Edwin L. Meek, Horace McDonald, R. O. Buell and Elmer Sefton. The work of this organization was to report to the County Council of Defense any- thing that was said or done against any kind of war work.
At a meeting of the Sandusky M. E. Aid Society, the ladies adopted a plan
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for obtaining money to buy yarn, which should be used in supplying the boys from this township with their knitted articles. Each lady agreed to donate a hen, or the value of one to the fund which soon amounted to $105.00. Other sums were added, bringing the total of $129.64. The number of articles knitted by the ladies in Clinton township were as follows: Thirty sweaters, twenty-one hel- mets, five scarfs, twenty-six pairs of wristlets and 114 pairs of socks. .
Miss Kate Emmert, of Greensburg, called a meeting of the lady members of the Council of Defense, March 9, 1918, to .organize the county into Food Clubs. She appointed a president in each township. Mrs. Edwin L. Meek was appointed president in Clinton township, she, in turn, dividing the township into five sections, or food clubs. Each club had a leader or president. Mrs. L. M. Miller, Mrs. J. D. Knox, Mrs. T. C. Robison, Mrs. R. O. Buell and Miss Mable Bird filled these positions.
The club presidents made a house to house canvass for food club members and with very few exceptions every lady in the township belonged to the food club. Literature was sent out and distributed and the president arranged to hand it to every member. A joint meeting and canning demonstration was held at the school building, in August, with Miss Ida Wilhite, home demonstration agent, in charge.
When the Government issued the first and second Liberty Loan to meet the expenses of the war, the people of Clinton township made quick response. The request of the county committee for subscriptions was prompt and cheerful. No township organization of any kind being necessary to meet their apportion- ment.
The third Liberty Loan was issued in March, 1918. The township's quota was placed by the county committee at $23,800.00. The township committees met but found little to do in the way of organization, especially so, because of the fine spirit of co-operation shown by every member. The fact that fully fifty per cent. of land in Clinton township was owned by non-residents, throwing an additional responsibility upon those leasing this land, was recognized as being a decided handicap. Nevertheless it was decided that the township be covered in one day. The meeting adjourned with every one full of confidence as to the inanner in which Clinton was to meet the issue, nor was the committee's confi- dence misplaced. They were able to cover their districts quickly and when the final returns were completed a total of $35,700, or one hundred fifty per cent. sales had been rolled up.
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Third Liberty Loan Committee : Frank Martin, L. M. Miller, T. C. Robison, T. R. Anderson, Frank Bird, Henry Sefton, Mrs. Lizzie Logan, Mrs. L. M. Miller, Mrs. T. C. Robison, Mrs. Edwin L. Meek, Mrs. Frank Bird, Miss Bertha Gookins, R. O. Buell, Walter B. Sefton, Chas. Clemons, Frank Sefton, Horace McDonald, E. G. Amos, O. L. Newman, Mrs. Frank Sefton, Mrs. Ora Meek.
Clinton has kept her record clean.
The Fourth Liberty Loan was offered in October, 1918, Clinton's quota being $53,200.00. This seemed to be a tremendous amount to raise, taking into con- sideration the large amounts which were already placed to Clinton's credit through the various war activities. But the people of the township were fully aroused. Their sons and their neighbor's sons were offering their very lives and undergoing all the hardships of war on a foreign soil. Their wives and daugh- ters were backing up these boys, furnishing them necessities and comforts. No one thought of shirking their plain duty; which was to see this thing through and that quickly. The only way to do this was to furnish the Government the money to keep the Hun on the run, for that was what he was doing all this time.
With enthusiasm the people of Clinton came forward. Their subscription to the Fourth Liberty Loan was 100 per cent. of the amount asked. Practically every person in the township was represented and several non-resident land owners realizing their duty to the township placed their subscriptions to her credit.
Too much credit cannot be given to the man of small means who counted not the sacrifice but saw only his duty to his Government and subscribed cheer- fully and liberally-also to the farmers and this included practically all the people in Clinton township who subscribed so liberally although on every hand were opportunities to realize much more income from the same investment. Taken from all sides the sales of Liberty Loan bonds in Clinton township demonstrated beyond all doubt what can be accomplished by a community possessing the spirit of co-operation and above all having that true love of country which knows no bounds.
Fourth Liberty Loan Committee: Frank Martin, Frank Sefton, Henry Sef- ton, Robert Goddard, Edward Sefton, J. H. Vanasdal, Frank Marlow, Chas. Ray, Chas. Clemons, O. L. Newman, T. C. Robison, T. R. Anderson, Walter Sefton, Frank Bird, L. M. Miller, Mrs. Frank Martin, Mrs. Frank Sefton, Mrs. Henry Sefton, Mrs. Robert Goddard, Mrs. Edward Sefton, Mrs. J. H. Vanasdal, Mrs. Frank Marlow, Mrs. Chas. Ray, Mrs. Chas. Clemons, Mrs. O. L. Newman,
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Emory Richards, R. O. Buell, E. G. Amos, Paul Logan, Thos. Hartig, Horace McDonald.
War Stamp Drive. In July, 1918, the Government issued a call for the sale of Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps. Thrift Stamps could be purchased for 25c each. Every person investing in stamps were furnished a Thrift Stamp book which when filled would contain sixteen stamps and could be exchanged for a War Savings Stamp and at the end of five years would be worth $5.00, the Government paying compound interest on the money invested. In this plan many in the township were able to do their bit, especially the children who were anxious to help their country and aid the boys in the trenches. From this drive $31,000.00 was totaled. The following committee worked on this drive: Frank Sefton, Frank Martin, Chas. Clemons, T. C. Robison, T. R. Anderson, Henry Sefton, Walter Sefton, L. M. Miller, R. O. Buell, J. D. Knox, Mrs. Frank Sefton, Mrs. Leander Logan, O. L. Newman, Mrs. T. C. Robison, Mrs. Edwin L. Meek, J. H. Vanasdall, E. G. Amos, Thos. Harding, Horace McDonald, Ollie Goddard.
The campaign for the United War Work was made November 11, 1918. This included seven different organizations as follows: Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Salvation Army, Jewish Welfare, Library Association, War Camp Community Service and Knights of Columbus. Realizing the great need of our boys in the foreign lands our drive was completed in one pledge. Committee on this drive: Emory Richards, Walter Sefton, L. M. Miller, Frank Martin, Henry Sefton, Edward Sefton, Clarence Sefton, Frank Marlow, C. O. Kennett, Joe Burrows, Frank Sefton, Robert Goddard, J. H. Vanasdal, Chas. Clemons, R. O. Buell, Horace McDonald, J. D. Knox, Thos. Hartig, Joseph Bruner.
In July, 1917, the first Red Cross drive was made and as in all other drives the township was divided into sections and solicitors were appointed for each of the sections. Our quota for the township was placed at $400.00. The drive was completed in one day with a total of $1,016.00 to Clinton's credit. Soliciting committee as follows: J. H. Anderson, Henry Mozingo, Frank Bird, George Gookins, R. O. Buell, Horace McDonald, O. L. Newman, John Greet, Sam Shirk, Henry Goddard, Thos. Hardig, Edwin L. Meek, L. M. Miller.
The second Red Cross drive was made on Monday, May 20, 1918. On that evening the sum of $860.30 which exceeded our township quota was turned in. The committee was as follows: Frank Sefton, Orville Garrett, J. D. Knox, T. R. Anderson, R. O. Buell, Henry Goddard, Frank Bird, Sam Shirk, Frank
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Martin, O. L. Newman, Ollie Goddard, T. C. Robison, Thos. Hardig, George Gookins, L. M. Miller.
In the spring of 1917, the first Red Cross membership drive was made. A patriotic meeting was held at the Sandusky school building for the purpose of securing members. Quite a number of people responded. It was decided by the township chairman to make a house to house canvass. At the close of the drive, not being able to total the exact number of members as some had joined at other places we would be safe in saying that ninety per cent. of our township were Red Cross members. The committee for this drive was as follows: Frank Martin, Walter Sefton. Henry Goddard, Roy Smith, Frank Sefton, Walter Hite, J. H. Vanasdal. Chas. Clemons, Ernest Smith, Henry Sefton, Dallas Burrows, Ora Meek, Rev. Jos. Pope, Wm. Maple, Joe Bruner.
The second Red Cross membership drive was made in December, 1918. Near the same per cent. of the township remained members as in 1917.
Committee on drive : Frank Sefton, R. O. Buell, Emory Richards, Walter Sefton, Henry Goddard, J. H. Vanasdal, Frank Martin, Horace McDonald, Frank Marlow, E. G. Amos, Henry Sefton, Edward Sefton, Clarence Sefton.
Y. M. C. A. The first Y. M. C. A. drive was made November 19, 1917. The township responded to this with a donation of $465.35. The following committee served : R. O. Buell, Edwin L. Meek, Sam Shirk, L. M. Miller, Horace McDonald, J. D. Knox, Frank Bird, Frank Martin, Ollie Goddard, Jr.
The second Y. M. C. A. drive was made in May, 1918. Clinton liberally and cheerfully donated the sum of $800.00. Committee as follows: R. O. Buell. Sam Shirk, L. M. Miller, Horace McDonald, Edwin L. Meek, Frank Bird, Walter Sefton, E. G. Amos.
In the spring of 1918 the Armenian relief fund was raised. An amount near $50.00 was turned in from this drive. Rev. Joseph Pope was chairman and the following committee served: Mrs. Orville Garrett, Miss Bertha Gookins, Ora Meek, Chas. Clemons, Miss Gladys Fleetwood, Miss Mable Bird, Mrs. Ora Meek, Mrs. Chas. Clemons.
In the fall of 1917, a fund was raised for the purpose of buying books for the use of the boys who were in the service. Walter Hite solicited Clinton town- ship and the sum of $25.00 was turned in. Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Turner donated seventy-five books for a library for these soldiers.
The Knights of Columbus drive was made May 15, 1918. Our quota was placed at $100.00 and $120.00 was collected by Henry Mozingo and Albert Halın.
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Quite a number of Clinton township ladies contributed $1.00, the usual amount asked for the Furlough Home Fund, collected at Greensburg.
War Activities of Clinton Township Schools. The various war activities of the nation used the public schools of the country as a medium for accomplishing many purposes. Our schools were, therefore, frequently called upon for such purposes. During the first year of our country in the war, the following teachers were in charge of the schools: O. L. Newman, principal, assisted by Miss Fifine Funk, in the high school, and by Mrs. Mary Newman, Miss Janie Martin, Miss Rose Marlowe and Miss Margaretta Hester, in the grades.
During the next year the same teachers were in charge, except that Mrs. Frances Anderson and Miss Edith Hester were assistants in the high school, instead of Miss Fifine Funk.
Teachers and pupils were a unit in meeting the obligations required of them, subscribing to the various war activities and purchasing bonds and War Savings Stamps to the limits of their abilities.
During 1918, hundreds of dollars' worth of stamps were purchased by pupils and teachers ; and every teacher as well as many pupils purchased bonds.
United States Boys' Working Reserve. Early in the school year of 1917- 1918, came the request from the county superintendent of schools for the enroll- ment of all young men in the United States Boys' Working Reserve. Through the efforts of trustee, Henry Mozingo, and the school principal, every boy in Clinton township between the ages of 16 and 21, except those who had volun- teered for service in the army, signed pledges to work on farms during the season of 1918; and every boy faithfully redeemed the pledge made, and proudly wore . the badge of service presented by the Government.
The First Hundred Thousand. Scarcely had the enrollment for the Work- ing Reserve been completed when the campaign was launched for the membership in the First Hundred Thousand, by boys under twenty-one. To become a mem- ber, a boy was required to pledge himself to earn ten dollars and contribute the same to the use of the Y. M. C. A. work in France.
Ten boys from our high school signed such pledges and every boy redeemed his pledge in full before the expiration of the time given. The following are the ten boys on the Y. M. C. A. honor roll: Gordon Amos, Edgar Clark, Luke Gookins, Kenneth Hite, Bernie Linville, Loren Marlow, Arthur Mozingo, Willard Sefton, Web-Wirt Turner and Rollie Wilkison.
It may be worthy to note that six of the boys had brothers in the service and
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that Gordon Amos, himself, entered the service immediately after the close of school, and saw active service in France and Germany. He being on the Argonne Sector front six weeks and the march to the Rhine, November 14 to December 16, 1918.
Junior Red Cross. In February came the call to the school to establish a Junior Auxiliary of the Red Cross. Mrs. Henry Mozingo and Miss Margaretta Hester were appointed by the county chapter to organize the school as an auxil- iary. The committee turned the work over to the school and all the teachers enlisted in the movement.
In order to be recognized as an auxiliary it was necessary that every pupil enrolled be a member, at a subscription of twenty-five cents. Most of the pupils subscribed their own fees; the remainder of the total was raised by a collection taken at a public gathering of patrons and by prorata donations by the teachers. About thirty-nine dollars was raised in this manner and turned over to the county committee, and Sandusky school received its certificate of membership, as a Junior Auxiliary of the Red Cross.
A part of the money was expended for material with which to make a layette for refugee babies. The sewing was done by the close of the school year, by the domestic science classes of the seventh and eighth grades and the high school under the supervision of Mrs. Newman and Miss Fifine Funk, domestic science teachers.
In connection with the Red Cross work may be mentioned the fact that the school donated $22.75 to the County Red Cross Chapter, this amount being the profit from the lecture course maintained by the school during the winter of 1917- 1918.
Victory Boys and Girls. The only work called for by the school in the autumn of 1918, was that in connection with the United War Work campaign. O. L. Newman and Miss Janie Martin were appointed as a committee to canvass for the Victory Boys and Girls. Ably assisted by the other teachers pledges were obtained from forty-four boys and girls who agreed to earn and give to the United War Work Fund an amount totaling $144.50.
Fourteen five-dollar pledges were made by boys and eleven five-dollar pledges by girls. The other nineteen children pledged amounts of two dollars or less.
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The schools of Clinton township have every reason to be proud of the service they rendered for the cause of humanity and freedom.
William Woodfil Turner. Two weeks before the declaration of war when the navy issued orders for mobolization, Lieutenant-Commander William Woodfil Turner was ordered from shore duty at Annapolis to the battleship "New Jersey."
In July, 1917, when the ex-German liners were taken over by the navy, he was ordered to the former Hamburg-American liner "Amerika" now known as the United States Ship "America," as chief engineer. The "America" is next in size to the "Leviathan," formerly the "Vaterland."
Lieutenant-Commander Turner had charge of repairing the extensive dam- ages to the engines made by the Germans, and the "America" made the first trip in the first convoy of large ex-German liners to carry troops to France. He made five round trips on this troop ship to France and went through a number of submarine attacks successfully.
In June, 1918, he was ordered to the U. S. S. "Harrisburg" as executive officer and carried troops to England throughout the summer. The trips were much more exciting, as the submarines were operating actively on the entire Atlantic ocean and repeated submarine attacks were reported both on the Atlantic coast and the coast of Ireland.
In September, 1918, he left the transport service having carried between 30,000 and 40,000 troops to Europe successfully and was ordered to the U. S. S. "Connecticut" as navigator. In December, he was ordered to the super-dread- naught U. S. S. "Oklahoma," where he is serving now as navigator.
The Clinton township service flag was unfurled at the Sandusky M. E. Church, Sunday afternoon, May 26, 1918, with the following program :
Song America
Prayer Rev. Pope
Song, "Keep The Home Fires Burning" Mrs. Florine Meek
Fourteen minute talk
Miss Ethel Shelhorn
Solo
Miss Shelhorn
Address
Rollin Turner
Dedication of Service Flag Mrs. Elma Knox
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"O, Beautiful Flag, midst us here.
Twenty-nine boys have we yielded thee. Child of Old Glory born with a star, O, what a wonderful Flag you are. Blue is your star in its field of white, Dipped in the red that was born of fight, Born of the blood our forefathers shed, To raise to your mother the Flag overhead.
And now you've come in this trying day To speak for us and our boys far away. I am the voice of a soldier son Gone to be gone till victory's won.
I am the Flag of the service, sir,
The Flag of his mother, I speak for her
Who stands at the window and waits and fears, But hides from the others her unwept tears.
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