Citizens Military Training Camp - Sentinel Yearbook (Fort Sheridan, IL)

Page 95 text:

f ff THE SENTINEL t I W Amd kbepiv tDoYlL The duties of chaplains at Citizens' lVIilitary Training Camps are varied. ln the morning they make their rounds to the orderly tents to learn if any men are homesick or otherwise alllicted with ailments. Following these calls, they visit the sick in the hos- pitzll. A certain responsibility attaches to chaplains in the matter of recreation. Recog- nizing this, the Post Chaplain, the Camp Hostess and the Red Cross representatives work closely with the Post Recreation Officer in making the chaplain's tent a social gath- ering place for all CMTC men. Here are to be found interesting games, a chance for correspondence, and reading matter, so that everyone may choose his own form of diversion. On days of worship chaplains conduct services for the various faiths. Assignments are made by the Post Chaplain, who coordinates the dillerent branches of service. Catholic. Protestant, jewish and non-religious meetings are held simultaneously. Immediately on hearing the church call by the bugle, each company forms into the foregoing groups, which are marched to their appointed places, no one being excused unless of mature age, or minors on petition from their parents. No one can imagine, unless familiar with the CMT Camps, how many functions the chaplains perform in them. They are first to greet the incoming candidates: they are always available for personal conferences and for many reasons often come into closer N Fu-:Ln Mus Pngr iYim'ly-four NNN.1.1.1.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.U.v-1-v.v.v.1.v.v.1.v.v.v.v.v.' U ' l.v.v-1-WUN.v.v.Vqv-vuwv.V.V-UN.v.vw.!.v.v.v-v.v-mv. I

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THE SENTINEL sa ll fig ii aQa5?g.i2 K 0 5' ' ik , s- 5 if i X X 2 fr, rf'-:,A Q67 I Q Wfdf' All E , X 1 I ., f a M? 1 1, , -f ,, , 4MB-2? 158 f l Mx g 7 71 - 1 19 2 L fl! WM. J 'r l 07i 3 t gg ' Q f 5 a I A EL, ,Q nal!! 'f wf isa if . xf-, I V 2 Eli . ..Il-: i- I ..Ali, fLv.-.lxXl4.. X, ,- .Al IL. .Xlw fly-Q9--.-x5Xks.7 ,rjlu llflxltll-:iii 1-N' 1.---. f .tim- '1u.it..... -.'.'.fKJiliQl,.TishEr3ifil, M U S I C The advent of the 1928 CMTC training season found Fort Sheridan in the grip of those sizzling Dog Days, with no relief in sight. Information had leaked out that this training season would be a hummer and all the officers and older men inwardly felt that efficiency would be only a passing mark, in the estimation of the new war boss. But as if by magic, the influx of youth and exuberant health seemed to infuse even the oldest regulars with enthusiasm and many old vets almost wistfully recalled their own never-to-be-forgotten rookie daysn. And' now, under gruff commands and in- telligent direction, the CMTC soon assumed the full aspect of a first class soldier camp. The commander surveyed the scene and said It is welln, but u on hearin sweet as well as more or less sour strains of popular melodies echo from maiiiy of the tints he musingly murmured, Wonder how near like 'Sousa's' Mr. Hord could make those fel- lows sound . And so Mr. John E. Hord, VVarrant Officer, 2nd Infantry, was commanded to assemble the conglomeration and form it into a band, for better or worse. Forty-two musicians report for the first rehearsal on August 2nd, The next few days the number dwindles down to a bakery dozen. Mr. Hord gets an idea and the boys are permitted to amalgamate with the 2nd Infantry band and play for parades and re- views, and they respond with marked enthusiasm. For further practice and amusement the boys formed instrumental groups and re- galed the students at mess, and here they got the short end of it. One bandsman said How can a fellow stick to his notes and stand by to see all the meat picked out of the slum, and worse yet, your bunkie reaching out for a second piece of pie with an exasper- ating grin, and there you are--muzzled with a trombone mouth-piece against your chopsw. Small vigonder if the cornet player, Carl Schinke, stops and says, Let's play, 'When do we eat . ' And now we come to another matter dear to the hearts of these young musicians. Countless times has the instructor been asked Do we get a medal for playing in the band?,' He would reply-4 The shoemaker has a contract on zooo pairs of shoes and if there is any leather leftfn. But joking aside, there should be an award bestowed on intellectual effort and attainment. I assume that all athletics, especially in the Army are to encourage competition and fighting spirit, rather than to glorify the winner. More: ovir, little troiglble is necessary to excel in athletics, with teammates' encouragement an expert gui ance. To be a player on an instrument, even a mediocre one, requires from the start great self-denial and much practice. The student is always looking ahead and no one is perfect. Bearing all this in mind, would it be asking too much to award medals or manifestation of oflicial approval and encouragement? These boys worked. They were, particularly by the regular members of the 2nd Infantry Band, admired for their untiring efforts and needless to say we hope they come back. 7 Page N i nety-thref ---'--- ......--. .. ..-...v.v.V.v.v.v-v.v.v.n I

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THE SENTINEL f B I I!! Tm-1 Rm: Cnoss BUILDING ' touch with the men than do the priests and pastors in their home towns. This is not surprising, since the young men are barely in the second stage of adolescence and often feel the need of comfort or guidance. The influence of the chaplains, curiously seconded by even the hardest-boiled top sergeant, is pOtCl1t in helping to maintain a sound morale and habit of life and conversation in tent and company street throughout each hour of every day. The religious life of a CMT Camp is not confined to the weekly services. It appears in many occasions of the month in training. lt is felt in the daily parade or in the evening retreat, and above all, in the solemn ceremony of the Oath of Allegiance . This is al- ways a picturesque event. The national colors and regimental standards are massed on a great parade ground with the regimental band. To its music march in company, troop and battery. The colors are placed on the platform and after an invocation by the Camp Chaplain the Camp Commander makes a brief address and reads the simple pledge of fealty which is repeated, paragraph after paragraph, by the men themselves. Then comes the stirring ceremony of Retreat , after which the candidates march back to their own quarters, filled with a new sense of obligation to the country and to the flag. Cl lsr Luzur. M. F. CoLr.roN, Chap-Res. Carr. A. Ymron Smom, USA, P .t-Cl . 1 L 1 G3 A C - - I:-rr Lu-:u1'. Cn.-ws. I.. l'mw:n, Chap-Res. CAPT, EHNI-:i-11' Intex, Clinp-lli-s. mp affix-i1'lll,iJiii11'1'.lll7.' Oi CMTC CIIAPLAINS UF 1928 Page N1'm'ly-jicfe ' I .v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.- 1 1 ,-,,,',,,-,-,-,-,NNNI'NumW,-'mv.'.'mvm'.'m