New Mexico Military Institute - Bronco Yearbook (Roswell, NM)

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of inspections, questions, practical problems in the field, and classroom barrages of abrupt query. Wfeekly Sally Port competition grew so keen that sometimes the entire walk before E Barracks was filled with the many who were called, as always, only the top few were chosen, with the finalists subject to ear and neck inspection of the most critical sort, and on occasion contestants were asked to show their handkerchiefs, or to turn up their trousers so that the tops of their shoes could be seen-and here was always the tricky Uby the numbersn manual of arms. Socially speaking, it was a good year, although girls were not as plentiful as usual for the dances, and therefore the stag lines were inordinately long-and in the opinion of the daters, in the way. The First Class began losing members early in the year, despite its small size, Sullivan, Bronco editor, saw Uncle Sam's crook't finger mid-way in his first semester, and the tedious job of editing fPage 171

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fPage 161 Varsity football bowed to the inevitable, and retired, leaving the Colts the big team of the year. On the whole, inter-collegiate competition dropped away considerably, and intramurals took their place as a cadet interest: intramurals, that is, plus the obstacle course, the new bayonet course, greater intensity at drill, an over- night bivouac, drill with the regulation Springfields instead of the wooden guns used during the early shortage of small arms. Cadets also grew used to the sight of the Garand, the Carbine, and the 37 mm. antitank gun in actuality, and no longer had to make an academic study of them from the R. G. T. C. manual. The drills, the use of weapons, the experience of leading and being directed, all turned eventually to the annual Corps Area Inspection and G. I. For the Corps Area inspection, Colonel B. H. Coiner, former P. of Nl. S. 81 T. appeared, just prior to the annual Government Inspection, and then there was G. I. itself, with its classic routine

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fPage 181 the yearbook fell to McMillian, who also spent a few days under Army supervision, but who later was released to return as Cadet Colonel for the remainder of the year. Every evening, the drums rolled out Retreat, supplementing the buglers, and Sally Port became an uncovered area Where old and new cadet alike was expected to salute-and thus Went a bar- racks refuge from saluting for the weary G. C. and his assistants. Nearly every Nlonday night there was a cadet hop, enlivened by Captain Huntls rhythmic organization. Besides the Cotillion Club, which functioned with such regu- larity, other clubs reassembled-but gone was the pre-medic organ- ization of former days, a casualty of the draft-age idea. The International Relations Club was very active, under Nlajor Kelly's able sponsorship, and Cadets King and Polk distinguished them- selves at the I. R. C. Conference in Canyon with sound and able opinions, well expressed.