Dickinson State University - Prairie Smoke Yearbook (Dickinson, ND)

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Ski ippet an Who, me ? I’m Cody, ship’s mascot; that’s my picture at the top of the page. I’m really more than just the ship’s mascot; I’m the real boss around here. Yes, I’ve let Lieutenant Bradley, the Executive Officer, the Division Officer, and the like run the show pretty much, but all the time I’ve been right there to see that everything goes smoothly. I can tell you quite a bit about this unit since it started back in July 1943. For instance, take a look at some of the fellows that have been through here. Four hundred fifty—not a lot compared with some V-12 units, but average. And all good fellows too! The men I’ve trained are scattered all over the world now and all doing a good job. Of these 450 men I’ve had in training here, 127 have gone to pre-flight and flight training; 88 have gone to upper level specialty schools; 76 have gone to midshipman schools; 76 to NROTC schools; 21 to other V-12 units for further training; 4 have been sent to Supply Corps schools; 2 to Construction Corps schools; and one of my men has gone into Theological training; not many will forget “Deacon” Kirkbridge. Of course, as in all V-12 units, some men have been transferred to V-6, but they are doing their job there, too, and I’m proud of ’em. One of my hardest jobs here has been in- doctrinating the boys into liking this place. I’ll have to admit I haven’t been completely successful there, but after a while a fellow gets used to hiking the “Murmansk Run” to class, leaning at a 45 degree angle into the wind. Another of my tough assignments was getting this unit organized back in the sum- mer of ’43. Lieutenant Bradley came aboard in June along with Lieutenant Commander Johnson, our first doctor, and under my able direction started things under way. Our first yeoman, Chief Sather, came the 15th and the,first Executive Officer, Lieutenant (jg) Gorton, the 17th. When our first trainees came, July first on the dot, we ran into some trouble. You see, the trainees arrived ahead of both mattresses and the clothing. Well, I scurried around to Presi- dent Scott and a few other notables and man- aged to scrape up some college mattresses. A few of the lucky slept on mattresses that first week, the rest on folded blankets—and