High School Cadet Corps - Adjutant Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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1 HISTORY OF THE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CADET CORPS By COLONEL MARSHALL C. GUTHRIE, JR., H. S. C. GEORGE ISRAEL Organizer of the Washington High School Cadets Fifty Years Ago ORWARD MARCH! For a half a century, this command has thrilled the members of the Washington High School Cadet Corps. Fifty years ago, two companies of fifty pioneer cadets each, were marching to this com- mand under the capable leadership and training of Mr. George Israel, a Central High School teacher. The new companies alternated in the use of fifty old Austrian rifles. In May, 1883, the cadet corps made its first public appearance when it marched in the parade. of the Grand Army of the Republic. In that same year, Lieutenant Colonel Burton R. Ross, District National Guard, was formally appointed in- structor of the Cadet Corps, the duties of which oflice he discharged most efficiently until his death. Colonel Ross was the first man to be appointed Professor of Military Science and Tactics. In 1885, after a year's hard work and prog- ress, the Cadets marched in the Inaugural Pa- rade of President Grover Cleveland. The com- panies were also formed at the dedication cere- monies of the XVashington Monument. At about this time, the corps was saddened by the inopportune death of Colonel Ross. a Major McCathran of the District National Guard was then appointed Colonel Ross's successor. Mr. Allison Nailor, in 1895 presented the High School Cadets with a medal of great value. The purpose in the mind of the donor was to stimulate the Cadets to the attainment of a high degree of pronciency and skill in the knowl- edge of military tactics. The medal is known as the Allison Nailor Prize Medal and is the goal of every Cadet Captain. In 1914, Assistant Superintendent Stephen E. Kramer conceived the idea of making the presentation of commissions for the cadet ofii- cers an annual ceremony. His object was to bring about a better corporate feeling in the Cadet Corps. On the first occasion, Brigadier General E. M. Weaver, U. S. A., made a stirring address. After this he presented the commis- sions to the Cadet oflicers. The ceremony, though changed, has been observed each year and is now a regular custom. This year each school was responsible for the presentation of commissions to its own oliicers. ln the past, the commissions of all the oflicers of the Brigade have been presented at the same time. Major McCathran was suddenly called to war in 1916 and of course had to give up his po- sition as P. M. S. E5 T. Consequently, Lieu- tenant N. B. Briscoe, U. S. A., was selected to succeed Major McCathran. During Lieutenant Briscoe's administration, the corps for the first time was organized into a Brigade. However, there had been Cadet Colonels since 1893, when Dr. Luther Reichelderfer, now one of Wash- ington's leading citizens, was the commanding ofiicer. And may I pause here to say that each and every Cadet officer since the Corps' incep- tion in 1883 has done his duty faithfully and loyally and to the best of his ability. In 1917, former Cadet Colonel Wallace M. Yater was appointed P. M. S. and T. to fill the vacancy created when Lieutenant Briscoe was ordered across the seas. This year also saw the inno- vation of the Official Program of the Com- petitive Drill , a pamphlet of twenty pages. But under the capable guidance of Miss Rebecca E. Shanley, teacher of English, the Program has developed into a large and handsome year book, called the ADJUTANT, the purpose of which is to tell the story of the Cadet Brigade from year to year. During the war, the Cadets far from being Ten

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ANNUAL BRIGADE BALL, 1933 By COLONEL MARSHALL C. GUTHRIE, JR., H. S. C. HE Annual Brigade Ball of the Washington High School Cadet Corps was held during the evening of Friday, May 12, in the West Ballroom of the Shoreham Hotel. The attractive favors were regulation miniature U. S. Army sabers. A military atmosphere was added to the event by National and Cadet Colors which adorned the walls of the ballroom. The honored guests were the heads of the school system, the various high school principals, the cadet faculty advisers, the chairmen of the military com- mittees, the military instructors of last year, the managers of the ADJUTANT. and other distinguished guests. 4519 J I Ext is 'auf' NY-4' qv? E ' lie? f 'iffilii 'T -A '. lllllllf r-':f,,?t' TO THE OFFICERS FROM THE GIRLS The fact that clothes do make the man Is all too often true: And uniforms do play a part ln our regard for you. And do we look at shields askance And wonder-E' Oh, my, yes! To secret longings for cross-guns tShame!j All of us confess. Alas! the dazzle of your braid Affects our flapper hearts- Som-etimes pierced through by sabre points Instead of Cupid's darts! When down the hall we slowly stroll What joy, what fun, what pride To have a Colonel row'ring tall, An Officer at our side! And thus we fall for uniforms, As well as grins and curlsg lf this confession shows us weak, Forgive us-we are girls. Your coats so trim. your shoulder-straps, Yourselues so straight and tall, Your belts, your caps, your gloves-we haue A weakness for them all. North 6274 1408 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE Wifldndfs ,utiolius FRANCES GUTELIUS STUDIOS If you want to see piano study the foundation for a happy avocarinn or a serious vocation, go to Frances Gurelius and let her develope your latent talent or obvious power, XVM AL, Thursday 9:45 P. M. IOSEPHINE NOEL Affzfirmt Nine

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inactive, received numerous certificates from the War Department for meritorious service in as- sisting in the Registration for the Selective Draft. We feel justly proud of those cadets who vol- unteered their service and marched away under the flag of their country. In November, 1918, Colonel Yater resigned and Major Shoults was placed in his position. Then in 1919, Lieutenant Richard R. Day, U. S. M. C., was appointed instructor. He introduced an entirely new drill much more interesting. The Cadet Corps had now in- creased in size until it consisted of twenty-three companies, approximately 1,350 men. During this time, the Cadets participated in many parades, most notable among which was the Parade of the National Army Essay Contest. The drill elicited many compliments from gov- ernment oflicials. The year 1920 witnessed the introduction of the War Games, now called the Military Map Problems. in Cadet activities. Lieutenant Day inaugurated the War Games for the purpose of explaining the basic principles of Tactical Problems. The series was conducted on an elimination basis similar to the present method. The need was felt for the organization of a medical company. The company desig- nated by the letter was under the direction of Dr. Wallace Yater. It was found to be quite useful, but was discontinued a few years later. The High School Cadet Rifle Team was also introduced this year. The team was under the capable leadership of Mr. Walter R. Stokes, an expert rifleman. During its first year. the Team did remarkably well. Since then it has carried off high honors in all the contests in which it engaged. Another innovation of this year was the Junior High School Company. The com- pany was made up of Junior High School stu- dents and admitted into the Cadet Corps. In 1921, our own revered Lieutenant Colonel Wallace M. Craigie, U. S. A., became the Pro- fessor of Military Science and Tactics. Captains Stecker and Johnson were appointed his assist- ants. Later in the year, two companies of Cadets were present at the ceremonies held around th-e Washington Monument. The entire Corps also acted as a Guard of Honor during President Harding's inauguration. ln the fall of 1922, Major B. O. Kennedy and Captain A. J. O'Keefe became Assistant Instructors. Under their guidance the Corps took part in a number of ceremonies. A Cadet Court or Tribunal. composed of the higher ranking Cadet officers, which tried all cases of infraction of the Rules and Regulations of the Cadets, was established during the year. The Corps was by this time completely equipped with a much better type of rifle and accoutre- ments. A fully equipped band, in two divisions had been organized and trained to a high de- gree of proficiency. For the first time, formal Eleven -.-Q competition had been arranged between the Bat- talions of the Brigade. A Cadet Summer Camp had by then been firmly established. The effi- ciency of the Commissioned personnel, and, con- sequently, of the Corps itself, was greatly in- creased by this school for prospective officers. The camp has been continued each summer, and is very successful. ln 1924, the late Major Alexander W. Maish, U. S. A., was appointed instructor for the First Regiment and Captain William Judkins for the Second Regiment. The Regimental Competitive Drill was introduced for the first time in 1923 and has been very successful. At that date, the Corps consisted of three regiments and two bands. Major John S. Donovan, U. S. A., who had been with the Third Regiment, was transferred to the First Regiment in 1925. Major Raymond Ci. Payne became connected with the Third Reg- iment-Eastern and Western. During this year, the Junior High School Companies were dropped from the Brigade. Une of the most important of the competitives that had now been intro- duced, was the Annual Distinguished Non-Com- missioned Officer Competition. The purpose of the contest was to determine the outstanding non-commissioned officer in the Brigade. lt is still held each year, the finals during the Com'- pany Competitive Drill. In the fall of 1926, Captain David Van Pelt was appointed Instructor for the Second Reg- iment. Later the Brigade was grieved by the death of Captain Van Pelt, a man whom we all admired. The Cadet Uniform has been changed a number of times, the most radical of which occurring when the lapel collar now worn by the cadets was substituted for the high, stiff collar of the past. The new collar became a great asset to the neat appearance of the Corps. During these years, the Cadet Brigade contin- ued to expand and grow. lt participated in numerous ceremonies of different kinds. Mr. Frank Daniel, principal of McKinley High School, as Brigade Commander, headed the corps in President McKinley's inaugural parade. ln 1927, selected companies representing the corps, marched in the Inaugural parade of Pres- ident Herbert Hoover. In every Presidential in- auguration the cadets have had a part. Early in 1931, Nlajors Maish and Donovan were restored to their war-time rank-that of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel, respectively. Later Colonel Maish became ill and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Frank Moorman, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for his ser- vices. Colonel Maish failed to recover from his illness and died in the fall of the same year. ln him, the Cadet Corps lost a true and loyal friend who had given his service to us for a