April 27, 1944, 4,000 people gather to celebrate the presentation of the plant's Award For Excellence!

"To the men and women of the Gulf Ordnance Plant, the Procter & Gamble Defense Corporation, Aberdeen, Mississippi. This is to inform you that the Army and Navy are conferring upon you the Army-Navy Production Award for great accomplishment in the production of war equipment. This award symbolizes your country's appreciation of the achievement of every man and woman in the Gulf Ordnance Plant. It consists of a flag to be flown above your plant and a lapel pin which each of you may wear as a sign of distinguished service to your country. I am confident that your outstanding record will bring victory nearer by inspiring others in similar high achievement. Sincerely yours, Robert P. Patterson, Under Secretary of War."

The Procter & Gamble files on the GOP reported: "The ceremony was broadcast over a three-station hookup in Mississippi and Tennessee - WCBI, COlumbus, Miss; WSLI, Jackson, Mississippi; and WTJB, Jackson, Tennessee. The engineers and announcers for the occasion were furnished by WCBI in Columbus, Mississippi.

P&G Archives: "R.H. Kellogg, plant manager, accepted the award, urging workers to come to work every day and do their job better than before.

Afterthe playing of America and the National Anthem by the Columbus Air Field Band, Mrs. Thomas L. Bailey, Mississippi's First Lady, praised the women ordnance workers at the plant. "These are women who understand that everyone must march on the road to victory, each where she will contribute most," Mrs. Bailey said.

-- from The Gulf Ordnance Plant 1942 - 45, Brent Coleman, A TomBigbee Country magazine Special Edition, 2002

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