Lane Tech College Prep High School - Arrowhead Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 91 text:

Officers and Non-Coms School Maj. Schmidt Maj. Peters Maj. Gessner OFFICERS’ SCHOOL Officers’ school, which is under the command of Lt. Col. Joseph Downey, is conducted in a most military manner. All officers, including staff members, must attend this school. The off¬ icers are taught the proper method of instruc¬ tion, methods of handling the cadets, and spe¬ cialized drill and command. No other school takes as much time in training its officers as Lane. It is said, “an officer is as good as his poorest cadet”. Many times Lane officers have been commended on their resource¬ fulness and attentiveness in obeying and carry¬ ing out orders. Therefore one can see why the Lane regiment maintains the highest standards of any regiment of its size. N. C. 0. SCHOOL Non-commissioned officers school, which is under the supervison of Major Kochan is assis¬ ted by one of Lane’s most commendable officers, 1st. Lt. Raymond Frendahl. They have the job of instructin g and teaching the future officers of Lane. The N.C.O. is said to be the backbone of the regiment. This statement discribes him perfect¬ ly. It is the N.C.O. who is in direct contact with the men of the ranks, because he is one of them. The N.C.O.’s deeds exceeds those of the officers, for he must work hand in hand with both officers and cadets. He asks no special recognition for a job well done, other than that of bettering him¬ self in the eyes of his superiors. Page eighty-seven

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THE STAFF Maj. Kochan Maj. Tresselt Lt. Col. Downey Maj. Adams Capt. Kecatos The highest honor that any cadet can achieve, upon reaching his 4A semester, is to become a member of the regimental staff. When, after two years of steady promotion, a cadet reaches the rank of second Lieutenant, or better, he is eligi¬ ble to take the staff test. He is tested on his knowledge of Military Science and Tactics, his ability to drill, and on his merit of past semes¬ ters. A prospective officer must have a high schoolastic average. After the competitive scores are established the lieutenant colonel and his staff are chosen. This staff is composed of a lieutenant colonel and six majors, three regimental and three battalion, and a supply captain. The Lieutenant Colonel at present is Joseph Downey, a capable and well liked commander. His staff is as fol¬ lows; Executive Major John Kochan; P. T. Major Louis Tresselt; Regimental Adjutant Edwin Adams. These three Majors compose the regimental staff. The battalion Majors are as follows; 1st. Battalion, John Schmidt; 2nd. Bat¬ talion, Ray Peters; and 3rd. Battalion, Edward Gessner. The supply captain is Ted Kecatos. L t. Col. Downey is in charge of officers’ school and, of course, is assisted by his staff. Lt. Col. Downey also supervises the Crack Drill Platoon. One day a week he is in charge of Saber School. Major Kochan is in charge of N.C.O. School. Major Tresselt is in charge of making a train¬ ing plan for the regiment. Major Adams is in charge of the office records and supplies. Major Peters’ main responsibilities are the first ser¬ geants. Major Schmidt is in charge of Color and Guidon Schools. Major Gessner is publicity ad¬ visor and disciplinary officii’ Page eightg-six

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Military Instructors Sgt. Allan C. Gordon Sgt. George R. Baxter Cpl. Sam Britt Sgt. George R. Baxter Sgt. George R. Baxter, the Senior Military Intructor at Lane, is in his third year with this unit, coming to Lane in September, 1942. Sgt. Baxter was born in Kirkwood, Illinois, where he attended both grade and high school. He com¬ pleted his schooling at Brown’s, in Galesburg, Illinois, Later he accepted a position as account¬ ant in San Antonio, Texas, and then as manager of one of the Atlas News Company stores in Shrevport, Louisiana. In 1932 he joined Battery “B”, 123rd. F.A. and in 1936 was transferred to the Regimental Headquarters Battery of the same regiment. In both of these units he was an instructor in Map Reading and Pistol Marksmanship, and had charge of the Instrument and Surveying detail. While at Camp Forest, Tennessee, he was on de¬ tached service as a member of the 58th F. A. Brigade instructing staff. Following the 2nd. Army maneuvers in Ar¬ kansas and Louisiana in 1941, the Sergeant was transferred to Ft. Sheridan, where he served as Provost Sergeant and recruit instructor. In June, 1942, he was transferred to the R.O.T.C. detail here in Chicago. His favorite sports are baseball and hockey, his favorite entertainments are good music and reading. Cpl. Sam Britt Corporal Sam Britt is serving his first year as a military instructor at Lane having been as¬ signed to this detail in July, 1944 He was born in Huntingdon, Tennessee, on August 1, 1908. Here he attended grade and high school. He moved to Memphis, Tenn. where he completed high school and attended the West Tennessee State Teachers’ College. Later he attended Drau- ghn’s Business College, Burrough’s School of Commerce, and the American Institute of Bank¬ ers. He was connected with the city of Memphis for three years and then took employment with the First National Bank of that city. At the time of his entry int o the armed services he was in charge of out of town collections and local drafts. Cpl. Britt entered the army in March, 1944 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, received his basic training at Fort Custer, Michigan, and was assigned to his present detail in July. The Cor¬ poral is married, has a small daughter, and his favorite sports are tennis and baseball. Sgt. Allan C. Gordon Sgt. Allen C. Gordon is serving his first year as an instructor at Lane, coming here in Sept¬ ember, 1944. He was born inAshland, Wiscon¬ sin, where he attended grade and high school and Business College, In 1937, after having been imployed by the Abbott Laboratories for two years, he enlisted in the army at Ft. Snelling Minnesota, being as¬ signed to “F” Battery of the 14th Field Artil¬ lery. In 1939 he was transferred to the 3rd. F.A. and then to Headquarters Battery of the 19th F.A. at Fort Knox, Ky. After instructing re¬ cruits for several months he went on the Lou¬ isiana maneuvers of 1941. Page eighty-eight