People received their national news differently during war times in the United States. During the first world War, while people learned updates via the radio, it was a vital tool for the military; messages were sent and received to all the armed forces primarily through the radio. Newspapers brought the news to everyone days, sometimes weeks after events occurred.
During World War II, radios were more in use by families, and newspapers had reporters covering war zones and reporting back to the United States as rapidly as possible. By Korean, Vietnam, Iran and Iraq, news most spread swiftly and easily via television, improved communications, and daily newspaper and television journalists on the scene.
But during World War II, with news so difficult to attain, and with the draft meaning every family was affected in some way by what was going on overseas, even weekly local newspapers carried national headlines on a regular basis.
The Highlands Star was one of the weekly newspapers in the Bayshore that included war news on the front page of every single issue during the year.
Nor were the stories only about local men and women serving both in this country and overseas. It was not unusual to see major stories on page one of the local newspaper about MacArthur taking action, or Patton leading his troops to another victory. Or of individual task battles in Saipan or Japan, or Europe, leaving families here to wonder whether their loved ones were in those battles. The weekly reports kept the war uppermost in the minds of everyone, together with reminders of tire or fuel shortages, food shortages, or care needed in sending Christmas packages promoted as early as August.
Of 16 stories on page 1 of the September 1,1944 issue of the Highlands Star, ten included stories of heroism, life and death of local military, along with the news that the draft board located at 21 First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands was being moved to Keyport .
The lead story reported the death of Lt. Arnold S. Lisk, an army officer killed in France who had enlisted two years previous. He was killed August 16, his widow received the news from the War Department on September 1.
Lt. Lisk , his wife, and child lived in Leonardo where he was well known as a member of the Leonardo Field Club and where his name and that of 63 others was on the Field Club’s Honor Roll; he was the first to be killed in action. Outstanding in both football and baseball, “Arnie” had earlier earned a state-wide reputation in sports from West Side High School which he had attended before moving to Leonardo.
Page one of the Star also reported that Lt. Robert Anderson of Linden Avenue in Highlands was reported missing in action, Cpl. Joseph Spier of Atlantic Highlands was wounded un action in the Pacific theater, news his parents had already learned in an earlier letter from him that letter assuring his parents he was injured, was okay and was moved to a hospital in New Hebrides.
Mr. and Mrs. K Kartarian of 4th Avenue in Atlantic Highlands received better news, learning their son, Arara had been promoted to rank of first lieutenant and received the Air Medal for Gallantry .
Mayor and Mrs. Fred Bedle of Highlands learned their son, Sgt. Bedle, had received the Expert Infantry Badge while serving in the central Pacific. The news story reminded readers that the Sergeants brother, Lt. Fred Bedle was also serving and both brothers had been outstanding athletes at Atlantic Highlands High School.
In local events, the newspaper carried the story of the First Aid volunteers from Sea Bright who were injured when their ambulance apparently blew a tire while they were returning home after taking a resident to the hospital at Fort Hancock. The blown tire called the vehicle to swerve, hitting a cement pillar at the Fort Hancock guard house and damaging the ambulance as well as injuring the volunteers. Both the Highlands First Aid Squad and the Coast Guard at Fort Hancock came on the scene and transported the injured to Monmouth Medical Center.
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