USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Temple > Temple, New Hampshire, in World War II > Part 4
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military-precise trenches, each fifty feet long. One of them had been filled. From the fresh earth an arm protruded."
War cannot be thought of apart from tragedy. But reading ac- counts of atrocities and having seen them are different matters. Such personal contact makes the task of putting one's experiences into words almost impossible.
There were peaceful as well as tragic days to come. I wrote the following letter home about them:
Since I have been on the move so much lately I have found very little time for writing letters. We have been moving so fast that we do not get mail oftener than once in five or six days, and then it is mostly old mail, some written last February. It is at least two months since I received a Milford Cabinet here in Germany.
We have seen a great deal of the country over here. One part we went through was made up of beautiful highways through roll- ing country with green trees and grass, brooks, lakes and many red tile roofed homes set back in groves of planted trees or group- ed together on the hillside or in the valleys. Next we came to a part which was level and chiefly agricultural and here the older women wore the old peasant costumes, red or orange skirts with full length blue aprons that covered the entire front, black em- broidered sweaters and white hats that showed the hair done in a bun on the forehead.
We saw the industrial center of Germany, the big factory cities of Germany that have been reduced to mere piles of concrete and brick by our bombings. We were in a section that reminded me much of France and Belgium with level farm lands, dirty yards, and the barns and houses all in one.
The things that have impressed me most lately here are the huge numbers of refugees, some slave laborers from every country here in Europe, making their way back to their homes after being liberated from the labor camps all over the industrial part of Germany.
Many of the civilians are driving German cars marked with chalk "We go to liberation," "We go for Home," "U. S. Army Forever," "U. S. A .- Holland." Then others are in horse-drawn wagons or on bicycles or walking and pushing all kinds of carts and wagons. We have also seen the countless numbers of P. W.'s set free, Poles, Russians, French, British and U. S. prisoners were among them.
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The house in which we now are living is a big mansion and was a very smart home once upon a time. All the Nazi people lived like kings over here, and those who were not Nazi had nothing.
In this room is some of the most beautiful dining room furni- ture I have ever seen. It is very heavy and the sideboard is about ten feet long and very modern. On the other side of the room is a unique piece of furniture, a large cabinet six feet high and ten feet long. On the front there are four full-length doors with the most beautiful inlaid woodwork I have ever seen. The designs in the two end doors are figures of men playing accordians, harmonicas, and smoking pipes. They are done so beautifully that the folds in the clothing show. The faces are very lifelike. The lips are made of three to five pieces of inlay and the hands have from 15 to 20 pieces in each. The coat buttons and highlights in the eyes are of mother-of-pearl. The two middle doors have two scenes each, one above the other, illustrating different dance steps that couples are doing to the music of the previously mentioned band. The detail is complete down to a basket of fish and a fishnet in the fore- ground. This one piece would be worth thousands of dollars in the States for the work is so perfect that from a distance of ten feet one would think it was painted on the doors.
On top of this cabinet is a fine model of a sailing ship, of about 1700, fully rigged. Even the little block and tackle that holds up the sails works. The ship is over three feet long and about three feet high, and is complete down to the lion figure-head and hand painted flag on the rear. At home we'd find something like it only in a museum.
I am feeling fine and so far have had excellent luck. I am not able to say much about what we have been doing lately, but as you know we built the assault bridges on the Roer, one of the hardest engineering jobs of the war. We were also in on the problem which engineers were studying while I was at Belvoir- bridging the Rhine. Since then we have built other assault bridges and done some reconnaissance work which has given me a chance to see much of this country. It is very beautiful, but it gives one an idea of the way the people have treated the slave labor imported from other nations.
I think this has been a profitable evening, for this is the longest letter I have written for a long time.
Lieut. John D. Marr, Jr.
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Following hostilities in Europe my unit was returned to the Engineer Supply Depot in Paris, France where for the following year I was assigned as Post Utilities Officer in charge of repair and con- struction on the post by American G. I. and German Prisoner of War crews, and as Post Provost Marshall.
During that year I had the pleasure of visiting some of the world- famous buildings and many operas and art exhibits. This final year of military service was high lighted by a memorable trip to Switzerland.
At long last we received this communication:
HEADQUARTERS XIII CORPS U. S. ARMY
7 May 1945
Subject: Message from Supreme Headquarters Allied Ex- pedionary Forces.
A representative of the German High Command signed the unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe to the Allied Expedionary Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command at 0141B Central European time, 7 May, under which all forces will cease active operations at 0001B, 9 May.
Effective immediately all offensive operations by Allied Ex- peditionary Force will cease and troops will remain in present positions. Moves involved in occupational duties will continue. Due to difficulties of communication there may be some delay in similar orders reaching enemy troops, so full defensive precautions will be taken.
All informed down to and including divisions, tactical air commands and groups, base sections, and equivalent. No release will be made to the press pending an announcement by the Heads of the three Governments.
Signed,
EISENHOWER
My most faithful friend of World War II was my jeep. It was issued to me at the beginning of my active duty abroad and took me all the way, from the Bulge to Germany. At the Armistice I asked my Colonel if I might buy it, and take it home with me. He approved and the jeep finally reached New York aboard the S. S. George Washington. I drove it up home to Temple. That was the fastest, most satisfying motor trip of my life.
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MAYNARD, CHARLES TAYLOR, Corporal, U. S. Army. b. September 6, 1915, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents Susan P. and Daniel P. Maynard. Educated grammar school, Greenville, New Hampshire, Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire.
Inducted August 6, 1941, Manchester, New Hampshire. Basic Training: Fort Eustis, Virginia, Basic and Communications School.
Served: 3 months Fort Eustis, Virginia; 2 months Fort Ontario, New York; 1 month Hartford, Connecticut. Overseas: 1 year Bora Bora, Society Islands; 7 months New Hebrides; 1 month Guadalcanal; 8 months Stirling, Treasury Islands; 6 months Bougainville; 8 months Philippine Islands.
Organizations: 198th Coast Artillery, Delaware National Guard and 373rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery in Headquarters Battery.
Military Occupational Specialty: Communications and carpenter in Headquarters Battery.
Decorations and Citations:
Pacific Theater Medal
American Defense Medal
Victory Medal Good Conduct Medal
Discharged October 11, 1945, Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Employed as carpenter.
Married Lieutenant Norma Watkins, U. S. Naval Reserve, October 20, 1945.
MAZZA, JOHN ARTHUR, Machinist Mate, Third Class, U. S. N. Reserve, V-6, Navy Seabees. b. May 17, 1924, Temple, New Hamp- shire. Parents, Hattie T. and Thomas N. Mazza. Educated grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire. Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire.
Inducted Boston, Massachusetts, December 15, 1942. Basic Training : Construction Battalion, U. S. Naval Construction Training Center, Williamsburg, Virginia; 37th Naval Construction Battalion, Naval Training Center, Davisville, Rhode Island; Advance Base Depot, Port Hueneme, California; Command Service Squadron, South Pacific.
Served 1943: April 1 to May 15, Williamsburg, Virginia; May 15 to July 2, Port Hueneme, California; July 2 to September 2, New Caledonia; September 2, to October, 1944, Green Island (S. Pacific, about 2 days from New Caledonia); November 1944 to June 1945,
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Camp Parks, Shoemaker, California; June to October 1945, Okinawa.
Military Occupational Specialty, Heavy equipment operator and truck driver.
Decorations and Citations:
World War II Victory Medal American Theater Medal Asiatic-Pacific Medal
Discharged November 24, 1945, Fargo Building, Boston.
Employed in farming and truck driving.
Married Pauline A. Wheeler, July 4, 1946.
PAJANEN, GEORGE WILLIAM, Corporal, 119th Armored Engineers Battalion, 12th Armored Division, U. S. Army. b. December 16, 1921, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Ida and Nehe Pajanen. Educated grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire.
Inducted October 8, 1942, Manchester, New Hampshire. Basic Training: Camp Campbell, Kentucky; Camp Barkeley, Texas.
Served: October 1942 to September 1944 U. S .; September 1944 to February 1946, European Theater; England, France and Germany.
Organizations: 12th and 2nd Armored Division, U. S. Army. Military Occupational Specialty, Assistant Squad Leader, Foreman of Construction.
Decorations and Citations:
European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon American Theater Campaign Ribbon Good Conduct Medal
Victory Medal
Discharged February 9, 1946, Camp Devens, Massachusetts.
Employed as machinist, Abbott Machine Co., Wilton, New Hampshire.
Married Florence M. Nelson, June 12, 1948.
THE MYSTERY DIVISION
Corporal Pajanen made a place for himself in history in the Rhine- land and Central Europe Campaigns. The 12th Armored Division of which he was a member, earned a reputation for itself as a powerful fighting unit during the battles of France and Germany when it spear-headed the swift advances of Lieutenant General Patch's Seventh Army and General Patton's Third Army as the famed "mystery division."
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Commanded by Major General Roderick R. Allen of Palestine, Texas, the 12th became famous also for its spectacular seizure of the Danube River bridge at Dillingen, Germany, its closing with the French of the Colmar Pocket, and its drive through the Bavarian Alps.
PAJANEN, RICHARD T., Corporal, U. S. Army. b. September 16, 1923, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Ida and Nehe Pajenen. Educated grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire.
Inducted March 3, 1943, Manchester, New Hampshire. Basic Training, Camp Bowie, Texas.
Served: 4 months, Camp Bowie, Texas; 6 months Camp Hood, Texas; 8 months Fort Jackson, South Carolina; 1 month Tennessee maneuvers; 112 months England; 1512 months Germany and France.
Organization: Company B. 648 U. S. A. Tank Destroyer Battalion. Military Occupational Specialty, Gunner on tank destroyer.
Decorations and Citations:
Good Conduct Medal
European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon
American Theater Medal Victory Medal
Discharged March 31, 1946, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Em- ployed as stone-mason and brick-layer.
Married Irene Emery, June 20, 1947.
PHILLIS, ALBERT H., Staff Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force. b. March 19, 1914, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Alice and Alvin Phillis. Educated, grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire. High school, Wilton, New Hampshire.
Inducted June 5, 1942, Manchester, New Hampshire. Basic Training: Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Hendricks Field, Sebring, Florida; Gunnery School, Tyndall Field, Florida; Army Radio Course, Chicago, Illinois.
Served in U. S., England and Germany.
Organizations: 381st and 482nd Bombardment Groups. Military Occupational Specialty, aerial gunner and radio man on B-17 bomber.
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.
George W. Pajanen
-
Albert H. Phillis, right
Albert A. Quinn
Phillip Quinn
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Decorations and Citations:
Presidential Citation Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters European Theater War Ribbon Distinguished Flying Cross.
Discharged Fort Devens, Massachusetts, June 28, 1945. Em- ployed as laborer.
Married Ruth Goetsch, June 8, 1943, Chicago, Illinois.
Staff Sergeant Phillis was credited with the destruction of one of 19 German fighters during a January, 1944, bombing mission at Oschers- leben, Germany. He underwent two hours of blistering fighting with- out fighter escort, bombed his target successfully and returned to the home base. There was a loss of only one B-17 bomber for 19 des- troyed by the mission's gunners.
This picture of Albert Phillis was taken at Station 102, Alcomburg, England, on March 17, 1945. His rank was Staff Sergeant and his assignment was Aerial Gunner which is, of course, a very important position. This picture shows him being presented the Distinguished Flying Cross by Lt. Colonel Clement W. Bird. He was attached to the 8th Air Force-482 Bomber group, 812 Bomber Squad. Besides the above mentioned citation he also received the Air Medal, with four Oak Leaf Clusters; Good Conduct Medal; Medal for American Theater of Operations; Medal for European Theater of Operations, seven stars; the Purple Heart for wounds received in action and the Presidential Citation.
QUINN, ALBERT A., Infantry, U. S. Army. b. April 30, 1921, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Kittie E. and George W. Quinn. Educated grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire. High school, Wilton, New Hampshire. 1 year University of New Hampshire.
Inducted October 8, 1942, Manchester, New Hampshire. Or- ganizations: E. Company, 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, 2nd Guard, Army Base, New York.
Service: Joined 85th Division, October, 1942, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi; then to maneuvers in Louisiana in April, 1943; Desert Training Center in June, 1943; Fort Dix, New Jersey, in October, 1943; Arrived Casablanca, 1944; Arrived in Italy March 1944; saw combat in 1944; wounded in action May 2, 1944; arrived, Newport News, Virginia, September, 1944; Joined 2nd Guard, Brooklyn, New York Military Police, October, 1944.
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Decorations and Citations:
Purple Heart Medal Combat Infantry Badge
European-African Theater Medal with one battle star Given leave May 2, 1944. Discharged November 1, 1945. Employed Abbott Machine Shop, Wilton, New Hampshire.
Married Ruth E. Fish, July 8, 1943, Congregational Church, Temple, New Hampshire.
FRONT-LINE MEMORIES
"They kidded us that we were pretty late in getting into the fight, but we made up for it in the drive to take Rome." he wrote.
Commenting on German resistance, he said, "The Germans would fire all their ammunition and then come out with their hands in the air. When an Infantryman is advancing, he has to watch the ground for indication of mines, and look up into the trees for snipers. I forgot to watch the trees."
"I liked your description of the flowers and shrubs back home. I have always loved the coming of spring in New Hamp- shire. It is truly an emerald land itself when everything is a fresh green. Surely the hills of old Erin can be no more beautiful. Ruth and I have always wanted to visit Ireland. Some day when this war is over, we shall.
I am getting along fine now. My wounds are pretty well healed, although my hand will take some time yet. By now spring should be spreading its blessings upon New Hampshire. Over here the trees are all in leaf, except those damaged by shell fire. It is strange to walk down a shady road and realize that the enemy is just a short distance away. The roar of the guns is what awakens one from his dreams.
There is a church here that was shelled by the Germans and the only parts not ruined are the altar and the figure of Christ above it. That should be a sign to the Germans that civilization and Christianity have always survived and will continue to do so."
From a letter to Mrs. E. G. Merriam from unknown spot, May, 1944.
I doubt if my army experiences were different than those of thousands of other Infantrymen, varying only in personal details. The first few weeks of my stay at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, were utter confusion, filled with marching and training, over-bearing non-coms and smoke from the hutment coal stoves. Gradually order replaced the confusion and the days passed pleasantly in spite of the hard work.
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Next stop was the maneuver area in Louisiana; a wonderful place, the food we had was the best I ever got in the army. Louisiana was much like Mississippi except that we were farther from nowhere most of the time. I didn't believe that possible until I got there.
The final stop on our cross-country jaunt was the end of the line, California. There we spent the summer training in the desert. I think that it would be much nicer to spend the winter there. While stationed in the desert I came home on furlough and married the one and only, Ruth Fish of East Jaffrey.
We left the desert in October, 1943, for the staging area at Fort Dix, New Jersey. In December of that same year the 85th Division sailed for North Africa, landing at Casablanca in Jan- uary 1944. When our mail started to arrive, my first letter was from Mother, I shall never forget how that letter started: "My Dear Albert, I hate to have to write this but your Brother David was killed at Tarawa on November 20th."
Early in the spring the division sailed for Italy. The 337th Regiment took over the positions at the little town of Tufo. In that town there was a church that had been throughly gutted by bombs. However, none of the many statues of Christ and the saints had been touched. We who saw that sight could but stand in silent awe.
After two months of holding the line the big offensive started on May 11th. On the 16th I was wounded in the hand and shoulder by rifle fire. The wounds weren't too serious but I was sent home in September of that year.
The last year of my army life was as an MP in New York. The big city was wonderful but I really prefer the hills of old New Hampshire. November 1st, 1945 I received that piece of paper that allowed me to return to those hills for good, I hope.
QUINN, PHILLIP, Technical Sergeant 5, U. S. Army. b. January 12, 1927, Peterborough, New Hampshire. Parents, Kittie E. and George W. Quinn. Educated high school, Wilton, New Hampshire.
Inducted March 7, 1945, Grenier Field, Manchester, New Hamp- shire. Basic Training, Infantry.
Served: Camp Gordon, Georgia; Camp Rucker, Alabama; Fort Ord, California; Camp Anga, California; Philippine Islands, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Polk, Louisiana; Fort Bliss, Texas.
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Organizations: Infantry, Signal Corps and Coastal Artillery. Military Occupational Specialty, Weapons repairman.
Decorations and Citations:
American Theater of Operation Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operation Victory Medal
Discharged November 12, 1946, Fort Bliss, Texas. Employed, W. W. Cross Company, Inc., Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
Married Elizabeth Johnson, April 16, 1947.
QUINN, WARREN W., Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force. b. July 21, 1917, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Kittie E. and George W. Quinn. Educated grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire. High school, Wilton, New Hampshire.
Inducted May 20, 1942, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Basic Training: Camp Lee, Virginia; Holabird Motor Base, Baltimore, Maryland.
Served: 8 weeks, Camp Lee, Virginia; 12 weeks Holabird Motor Base, Baltimore, Maryland; 4 weeks Grenier Field, Manchester, New Hampshire; 4 weeks, Fort Dix, New Jersey; 34 months Honnington Airdrome, Honnington, Suffolk, England.
Organizations: 15th Mobile Repair and Reclamation Squadron 825th Engineering Squadron. Military Occupational Specialty, Mechanic.
Decorations and Citations:
Sharp-shooting Medal (U. S.) Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Service Ribbon
European-Mediterranean-African Medal
Discharged November 14, 1945, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Employed, logging and farming.
Married Winifred E. Grant, Norfolk County, England, April 9, 1944.
WARTIME TRAVEL
I left the United States for the British Isles January 6, 1943, on the troop ship Queen Elizabeth, with approximately 15,000 troops. We arrived near Glasgow, Scotland, January 10, 1943. The Queen Elizabeth traveled without escort, depending on her speed to escape German submarines.
I left Southampton, England, November 7, 1945, for the return
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trip to the United States, arriving in New York, November 2, on the Queen Mary. My wife Winifred and daughter Shirley came over on the Queen Mary, landing at New York, March 18, 1946.
ROCKWOOD, NORMAN F., Technical Sergeant, 197, Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Band. b. May 16, 1915, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Helen L. and Ervin C. Rockwood. Educated high school, Wilton, New Hampshire.
Member National Guard, Nashua, New Hampshire Unit. Entered World War II September 16, 1940.
Served: 15 months, Camp Hulen, Texas; about 2 months Fort Dix, New Jersey, then overseas from San Francisco, February, 1, 1942; landed in Perth, western Australia, for three months, then back around the coast to Townsville, Australia, for 23 months; Finschofen, New Guinea, until April 1, 1945. Arrived in the U. S. May 1, 1945.
Military Occupational Specialty, Musician.
Discharged June 6, 1945, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Engaged in trucking business, self-owned.
Married December 22, 1944, Melbourne, Australia.
MUSIC IN THE WAR
It may be of some interest to know of what use an Army band is during a war. It is used mainly for morale purposes and at many military functions. We played at many concerts and dances while in Australia, for both officers and enlisted men. We played at all hospitals in whatever area we were stationed. While in New Guinea the concerts were enjoyed very much as the men had little to do night after night.
Our duties were nearly all in rear areas at staging camps, base hospitals and high headquarters establishments. We once played when 400 decorations were given officers and men of the 19th Bom- bardment Group, Army Air Force. These were men who fought and escaped from the Philippines early in the war. In looking back I like to believe we had more good times than bad, but of course did not think so at the time.
SOULE, CHARLES NELSON, Technician 5th Grade, U. S. Army. b. Temple, New Hampshire, May 22, 1920. Parents, Helen and Charles Soule. Educated, grammar school, Temple, New Hampshire.
Inducted February 25, 1942, Camp Devens, Massachusetts.
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Warren W. Quinn
Norman F. Rockwood
Royal Strong
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Basic Training, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Served: 7 months Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 112 years 4th Service Command Motor Pool, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia; 8 months Fort Pierce, Florida; 2 months 23 days Northington General Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Organization: Field Artillery, Ordnance. Military Occupational Specialty; truck driver, motorcycle mechanic and tire inspector.
Decoration :
Good Conduct Medal
Discharged February 17, 1945, Northington General Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Employed as painting contractor and interior decorator.
Married Edith E. Simmons, December 2, 1943.
STONE, MAURICE W., Private, First Class, U. S. Army. b. February 28, 1908, Temple, New Hampshire. Parents, Fanny B. and George W. Stone. Educated, Temple, New Hampshire.
Inducted U. S. Army March 25, 1941, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Served: Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
Battles and Campaigns: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe.
Decorations and Citations:
Good Conduct Medal American Defense Medal
European African Med. Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Arrowhead.
Discharged October 2, 1945, Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
FIVE HUNDRED ELEVEN COMBAT DAYS
After five years of home living, your historian has asked me to turn back the brief pages of time to those dark, forbidding days of World War II. Coincidentally, as perhaps our world faces the terrible consequences of a World War III, all too short are the years between.
Today I know quite well the mixed feelings of the boys now being called to the colors that good may survive evil. May God watch over them and bring to them and the world better days.
Individually and collectively, unpleasant experiences have a way of fading with the past, the mind retaining more readily the glimpses of beauty collected along destiny's highway. And better so!
Back in 1940, when it was uncommon for the young man to receive personal greetings from President Roosevelt, I received mine, telling
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me that I had been selected to serve my country for one year. March 25 of that year, with Clayton Davidson, from Temple, and about thirty others, we left our Center at Milford for a varied-not one year- but nearly five years of service.
After a few cold and uncomfortable days at Camp Devens, Clayton and I arrived at Fort Bragg. Here better conditions prevailed, in- cluding weather. We spent the next six weeks at the Field Artillery Training Center. From Fort Bragg, we went to Camp Blanding, Florida, where we were placed with the 172nd Field Artillery, a National Guard outfit from New Hampshire. I rather enjoyed that summer in Florida. Nearly every week-end Clayton and I traveled by thumb over the countryside.
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