Air Force Technical Training Detachment - Echelon Yearbook (Haverford, PA)

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ADMINISTRATIGN lst Licut. Jack S. Cummings. Adjulanl I Q ,.-, fech. Sgt. jamcs K. O'Hanlon Ts-ch. Sgt. Loren G. Harding Sgt. Ycrnc Hcssc Pfc. Murray Wfvinstein Pfc. Leonard Olsen Pfc. Smnlcx Bonn

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on the quadrangle to pay their respects to the colors, which were slowly low- ered to the notes of the national anthem. Symbolic of an ever-renewed pledge of allegiance and of service, those few moments each sundown will long be rememliered. Review is another tradition of the service which we followed each Saturday afternoon. Un these occasions the unit, marching in dress parade, passed in review before the CO. Such is a brief review of our military life at Haverford. For twelve months we served here with the status and pay of privates lcadet patches notwithstandingJ. In addition to the broad regulations of the Articles of War, our command instituted a regulatory system of merits and demerits- with appropriate privileges and punishments. Ifor purposes of organization, both military and academic, the unit was originally divided into two flights of four sections each treminiscent of that poem about the vanishing red man, il en Little Indian Boysml. ln charge of each section was a leader chosen from the ranks. Section leaders were changed periodically in order to give as many as possible the opportunity for experience in leadership, since the unit was composed of men regarded as potential oflicersf' Despite the rigorous demands of the academic and military programs, ample opportunity for social pleasures was provided. On one week-day eve- ning, Xwlednesday, the men, with the exception of the staunch defenders of the Sharpless classrooms, were permitted to go to Ardmore for dates, movies, bowling, or dancing at the YIXICA. The Irishman's became a lrequented spot where Scotch was dispensed with a rye smile and the PMS either ginned or beered it. The arrival in September of the ASTU gave evidence of the functioning of the law of supply and demand. Some friendly friction and rivalry did break out. CFor details see: The Secret History of the Army at Haverford. j After review on Saturday the men were oil duty for some thirty hours. Some took advantage of 100-mile passes to go home for sightseeing in NY or at the shorejg others lconstituting a sectionb were restricted: and others just stayed here. Iihose week-ends were eagerly anticipated. Life wouldnlt have been the same without that mad Saturday afternoon rush for the Paoli Local. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the social year was the mid-year eight-day I 11,520-minutej furlough. On the VVednesday evening before the academic break the unit enjoyed a highly successful formal dance-entertainment and refreshments included-during which Pvt. Hubbard received from Major Frey the award of a loving cup for the best military record during the pre- ceding six months, A similar award was made to Pvt. Craven at the end of the third quarter. A few days later, the last of the uniform exams hurdled, the men were off, luggage in hand, to experience joyfully their first extended leave since entering the service. VVas it good? Ask them if they would like another one. So the story of our year at Haverford draws to a close. At various times during the year a question which aroused much interest was Who was to be the last army man to leave Haverford? If I said that the problem was purely academic, I might be misunderstood. Therefore, I will say that it is purely conventional larmy conventionj. lfither Sgt. U'Hanlon or Sgt. llesse will be the last to tread the hallowed floors of Barclay Hall. VVhen this rear guard has withdrawn from the scene this chapter of the history of the men in the unit will have been completed. 'Iihe word chapter is meaningful-for the year at Haverford was only the beginning of their preparation for service to their country. Xvhere they will go and what they will do cannot be predicted in detailed fashion. However, one thing is cer- tain-each and every man will continue to show the same conscientiousness and devotion to his assigned duty as he has shown at Haverford.

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AIR FORCE--1944 The heavy bombers-the Forts, the well-named Liberators, Rise majestically from the earth, Splitting the night and shaking the ground with their power. Sleek, unbelierfably fast fighters go with them- A higher, more excited, droning. What purpose is theirs? . . . They will bring destruction to the great and desperate Caesars. They will comfulse the air and rock the earth, Showering thunder and flame out of the darkness . . . They are the Weapons of free people joined to defend their freedom, joined and determined-the pilot, the navigator, the bombardier, the technician, the gunner. v +