Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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EEKQEQKEZKKKKEKEKEKEEH -EEEKKKKEEEREKEKKMEMEKHZEW Graduation Essays RECREATION FOR SERVICEMEN by Genevieve Dudek IIEN the army started drafting men and putting them into camps far away f1'om their home surround- ings, officials soon became -aware that because there was no organized means of escape from the strain of the day's routine, and because neighboring peo- ple were indifferent strangers, the morale of the soldiers decreased appre- ciably. As a result of surveys conducted by the United States Army and by the Red Cross, it was proved that recrea- tion, as well as rigid training, is essen- tial in producing satisfied, superior fighting men. , The first and most successful step towards providing recreation for sol- diers was the setting up of canteens by the American Theater VVing in San Francisco, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Newark, and XVashington, to be staffed entirely by volunteers. At Broadway 's Canteen servicemen can actually be waited on by famous stars and rub elbows with the great. After leisurely strolling into the canteen, Private Joe :an sit at a table set by Jimmy Duranteg iine on sandwiches and coffee prepared Jy Claudette Colbertg see dishes ,vhisked away by Frederic Marchg .vatch Katherine Cornell patriotically suppressing an aversion to movie cameras and throwing in a few well- chosen words from Romeo and -Iulietug hear Bob Hope mercilessly kick some illusive statement aroundg or hear Bing Crosby croon the latest 'tSunday, Monday, or Always - all without cost. Although they enjoy watching the stars perform, the men get even greater satisfaction from the feeling of self- importance it gives them to watch Vom- missioner Paul V. McNutt wash dishes or Alfred Lunt empty wastebaskets. A frequent visitor to the canteens also is Mrs. Roosevelt who, together with the Duchess of VVindsor, has signed innumerable autograph books for servicemen. An example of how the nation is co-operating is the organization of the Pittsburgh U.S.O. Variety Club Can- teen. A R-otarian presented the idea which was enthusiastically acceptedg the railroad leased the site for a mere 531.00 a yearg an architect and contrac- tor donated their services 5' sixty-five business firms provided materialsg fifty unions gave their laborg a Variety club volunteered continuous entertainment: and the townsfolk kept the financial situation rolling smoothly. As a crossroads. canteens have had many spine-tingling revelations. In the midst of speaking to a hostess, a young soldier gasped and pointed over her

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Fl-E43-lG'8?SK4SlE HBE- - my conqueror, the tire, sizzling' and crackling mirthfully as it iinally hurns itself out inibliiek remains. Joanne Fuller I-IARROWING EXPERIENCES NVheu one wants to do What he does when he dreams, Interference he ,frets From his parents, it seems Iiiglitf I NVhe11 I say to my mother 'tI'm going to the show, She. emphatically answers, fYou've guessed ity LANG!!! XVhen I ask my father For a quarter or more, The funny things is He gets awfully hsorew- Quite! And when to dear Frankie I'm listening' with enthuse My father pipes up with I want the news Now- NVhen I say to my Pa, May I go to the dance? He says, Ask your Ma You might have a chance So- EK WK - - QEBEUEUEUBEK-BBE! I go to my mother VVith my silliest smirk And she placidly answers 6277 t'Have you clone your homework. - No. And so finally NVhen m lessons are read Y I fret the command P HNow. gro to bed! - Oh. 77 Patricia NVi1de1' 244

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355696- shoulder. Tears came to his eyes, for there before him stood his brother who had been reported missing in action a year before. Even Mrs. Roosevelt found the can- teen a crossroads. A sailor leaned over her chair and said, 'tMrs. Roosevelt, I'm from Seattle. You know Seattle, don't you?i' 4'Oh, yes, l know Seattle very wellg my daughter lives there. tiYes, l know, my mother knows your daughter l In addition to all the excellent food and entertainment provided, canteens are making it possible for men to send their voices home permanently. Over three hundred phonograph records a month go to homes all over the world. One of the many records going home was that of an English seaman - Fm having a foine time ,ere in America at the Stage Door Canteen and there 's jitterbuggin' and carryin' on . . . A pilot from Glasgow asked three Ameri- can soldiers to sing with him. All joined in t'Tipperary and the Scots- man finished off with, Here we are a bunch of singin' allies. NVe're singin' together in,war and we 711 go on singin' together in peacetime too. Smaller communities ,also ,have or- ganized municipal recreation. Former stores standing idle now receive ser- vicemen nearly every night. Beautiful homes are welcoming men with food, entertainment, and homey atmospheres. Second to the canteens are radio shows and concerts. Indeed, if one EEQEKIEQEHEKXHUEEEEEEKJEEEEKEKKR were to turn on the radio practically any night of the week, he would un doubtedly hear his favorite radix broadcast with the resounding cheer: of servicemen in the background. Con certs, too, are given for the benefit oi men who enjoy classical or semi classical music, and tickets are always being issued free of cost. Nor is recreation by any mean: wholly limited to the States. Our boys are being entertained all over the globe perhaps by an Arabian sheik oi an Australian sheep rancher, tasting a kangaroo steak somewhere in the South Pacific or a curry dinner in the house of a Hindu, or playing tennis with a young lady in Kashmir in the shadows of the Himalayas. Even in the wild Hills on the border of Northern Burma where head hunting is still a favorite pastime. 2 young sergeant, who with his buddies was guest at the wedding of the head- hunters' king, reported, 'tThey playec and danced for us and served us plenty of food. Some of us didn't feel like eating until we found out those con- siderate fellows served us strictly vege- tarian dishes. In the far-off Holy Land in Palestine the Levant Recreation center or. as most commonly known to servicemen, Tel-liitwinsky Cmeaning Litwinsky's Hillj has been established by the llnited States Army as a rest camp for tired or vacationing soldiers. After drawing servicemen from a vast area of five thousand miles stretching from