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

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BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM EDWARD HORTON, U. S. A. Retired were started but they were held at an evening entertainment in the main assembly room of the high school building. There was no com- petition between the companies, for each com- pany was assigned to do a different part of the drill. In other words, one company would do the Manual of Arms, another Loading and Fir- ing, another Stacking, Unstacking, Charging Bayonets, etc. Shortly after this the Competitive Drills were held which are now such important factors in the operations of the Corps. Upon the death of Colonel William G. Moore, who commanded the Washington Light Infantry, Captain Ross was made Colonel. He was a man that everyone liked and highly re- spected. He was fair-minded and just in all his rulings and recommendations. It was a great pleasure for me to have served as a Cadet under his supervision, and his personality and efhcient characteristics are pleasant memories of my days in the High School Cadet Corps. CADET TRAINING AND CITIZENSHIP By LIEUTENANT PAUL L. DOERR, Inf-Res. Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics I LL of the aims and objectives of education revolve around the primary aim of train- ing for citizenship. Our school system strives to attain this aim by the proper balance of curricula and co-curricula activities. Of the latter, the Cadet Corps has proven itself to be very effective. This effectiveness is based on the fact that after graduation from high school, the majority of cadets continue in some military or- ganization Which fits into the general scheme of our national defense plan. Bear in mind that this is not an ultra-militaristic plan: it is one of preparedness so that our nation will be able adequately to defend itself in the event of an emergency. We most earnestly hope that the emergency will never ariseg however, interna- tional economic-social relationships teach us that preparedness is the best means of maintaining world tranquillity. The training necessary for preparedness de- velops patriotism.-a quality which insures na- tional solidarity. Cadet training has kindled within the hearts of our boys this thing called patriotism, which has manifested itself in the fact that former cadets have availed themselves of the opportunities offered by organized agen- cies of national defense-namely, the Regular Army and Navy, the National Guard, and the Organized Reserves. At present our nation is being put to an acid test: it is being gnawed by theidestructive forces of world-Wide economic depression: it is being insulted by treacherous socio-political groups which are making vigorous attempts to destroy the structure of our government. Therefore, to combat all this we need now, more than ever before, a citizenship which carries with it the utmost of loyalty. Ever since its inception, Hfty years ago, the Washington High School Cadet Corps has and will continue to help pre- serve the integrity of our United States of Amer- ica by producing real American citizens inspired by patriotism, love, loyalty, and respect for country. Fourteen

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COLONEL BURTON R. ROSS AND THE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CADETS By BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM EDWARD HORTON, U. S. A., Retired A IA Graduate of the NVashingtou High School, Class of 18863 COLONEL BURTON R. Ross First Military Instructor of the Wash1'ngton High School Cadet Corps URING my first year I was a Private and Corporal in the Washington High School Cadet Corps: during my second year I was Color Sergeant, and my third year I was Cap.tain of Company B. There were four com- panies in the Battalion. In my second year, the then Captain Burton R. Ross was assigned as the Military Instructor of the Cadets. He was Captain of Company B, Washington Light Infantry, which at that time was the crack drill company of that organiza- tion. Captain Ross was a short, well-built man, of middle age, very alert in manner, and thoroughly posted in all matters pertaining to military drill and infantry drill regulations. He was clear cut and short in all of his remarks, and very distinct in all of his explanations and directions as to the correct and proper way of doing a par- ticular movement. Thirteen I remember very well, while a Color Sergeant of the Battalion, which was in l885, that the dedication of the Vilashington Monument took place on February 22 of that year. It was a very cold and a very windy day: snow and ice were on the ground. The High School Cadets took part in the parade for the dedication of the Monument. As we passed around the Mon- ument grounds, the wind blew at a very great rate, and I was almost blown out of ranks, holding the big American Hag. Captain Ross came along and shouted to me to furl the flag, which I did as quickly as I could. After that I was able to maintain my position in ranks with the cadets. On the fourth of March of that year, the cadets paraded in the Inaugural Parade. It was a very bad day. When our Battalion was stand- ing in line, the Pennsylvania troops passed. This made it necessary for us to present arms. The Pennsylvania National Guard numbered about l0,000, and, as a result, we were forced to remain at presenting for a long time. Be- tween the Brigades of Pennsylvania troops, our Major allowed us to come to order arms, and rest. In one of these rest periods, the story goes. I whispered over to Corporal Redmond of the Color Guards, What do the letters N G P on the knapsacks of the Pennsylvania troops stand for? The Corporal replied, i'Never Get Past , and we braced up for another hour of presenting arms. In this year there was organized in the Cadet Corps two organizations, one called the March Squad composed of six teams, and another called the Fancy Drill Squad or Musical Drill Squad, composed of eight teams. These organizations practiced drill a great deal, and Captain Ross often supervised our drilling. We drilled at many entertainments in the city, Captain Ross usually being present and sponsoring our ex- hibitions. During my last year at high school, the drills

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LIEUTENANT PAUL L. DOERR, Inf-Res. Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics 'Q-, 1 f fo .I S5 1? ..1eE?'5 '?i