Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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Wc detrained just as dusk was falling and under the lead of a vei ' y impressive-looking lieutenant of Military Police we started the two mile liike through the camp to our assigned barracks. And that tramp in the dark behind a very able pace-maker, with our heavy suit-cases and bundles, through dust six inches deep, brought forth caustic remarks not altogether complimentary to our Secretary of War and his able statf, bordering even on insubordination had we been better versed in military law. By eight o’clock we had been checked in, hurriedly searched for camouflaged liquid refreshments and other contraband articles, issued a blanket and mess kits, and had stowed away a much needed meal, our first in the army. Then we were shown to our bunks and started to swap talk on first impressions. And will I ever forget the first night? If it could only he staged it would run a year on Broadway. Sleep was impossible; the night was very chilly and with a thin straw tick underneath and a light blanket for a cover the bunks didn’t feel over comfortable. A running comment was kept up till after midnight, when the barracks sergeant, an old-timer from the regulars thought he would take a hand in restoring order and hollered upstairs for the crowd to shut up: “No one can sleep with you bunch upstairs jabbering away all night.” And then a harp by the name of Mike Roche, who had yet no profound respect for army discipline, shouted back, “It’s too had about ye.” The sergeant was good na- tured and considerate and let Mike off with two days K. P. (Kitchen Police), hoping that he would soon realize that the non-com is entitled to some respect. And, by the way, a good story is told of “Lights Out.” The barracks arc supposed to l)e in dark- ness at 9:30 P. M. One night after “Taps” had sounded the lop-sergeant noticed a liglit in one corner of the room: “Pul out that light down there,” he ordered. “That’s the moon, sergeant,” came tlie answer. “I don’t give a what it is — put it out ( ' AXlill)ATE MUUltAY SWEEXKY 4tli (Jfficers ' Training Caini), Anniston, Ala. 11

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for two days i)arsc all Iho verbs in the first two lines of Mr. Deinos- llienes’ ‘De Corona. ' And is Fr. Henry Me. still torturing the minds of America ' s prides and hopes with sines and logarithims and equations and atomic weights, as in days past, when “still we gazed and still our wonder grew that one small head could carry all he knew?” So Baltimore didn’t have the old Gold and Blue on the court this past season to show her how hasket-hall should he played. But the reason for it does her proud — her hoys are playing in a more serious game, and with the same good sportsmanship. Here’s luck and good wishes to the High School youngsters who are upholding her past traditions. And Mr. Lapsley is still on the job, proud in his guardianship of the service-flag. Well, in view of his new dignity, I can forgive him for the many times he “bawled us out” for disturbing his afternoon siesta by ringing the main door hell. The fair sex, too, you say, bless their hearts, are doing their hit in the war game — just another manifestation of the benignant spirit that Loyola fosters. And oh, don’t we all thank them — they’ll never know how much their caressing hands have lightened a gloomy face here and raised a drooping shoulder there. Seven 3 ' ears sinee I “pulled out” from the old college. Honestly, it doesn’t seem that long, Father. But “time will ehange most any man.” I know all the Fathers are anxious to hear how we are faring, now that we are no longer of Loyola’s brood, at least not sheltered by her ])roteeting wing. No need to worry — the ideals she nurtured in our souls have not faded, nor has the example she set us been dimmed. Events that have happened sinee we first “horned into the service” are still fresh in our memories and I suppose we could have quite a “pow-wow” on army life if we could well get together. Well do I recall the day when the first 40 per cent, of our district entrained at Philadelphia, amidst the blare of hands and the sorrow and gladness of sobs and cheers. “Butcher, baker, heggerman, thief, doetor, lawyer, Indian chief” — all were there. This fellow with a New Testament in his hij) pocket, another a pack of cards and the next one a half ])int. Yes, quite a conglomeration was the first 40 per cent. With a final shrieking of whistles and peeling of hells and waving of liandkerehiefs, we ])ulled out from the Chestnut St. station and at last were on our way to the much talked of cantonment. Outside of hand wavings and sliouts to take the natives as we dragged through station after station, and sj)eculations as to what camp life would he like when we got tliere, and the ([uelling of a few boisterous sj)irits, whom final imhihings (frcHjuent and large because they were to he the last for a rattier indefinite period) liad made over patriotic, or garrulous, or jiugnacious — outside of all this — the trip to Meade was uneventful. 10

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No, few of us realized tliose first few days, what army discipline was. If we had do you think one of our lads would have gone up to a certain major and in a hail-fellow-well-met spirit asked: “Hey, Mac, where can a fellow huy a deck o ' cigarettes?” But very soon we learned. A week later that major wouldn ' t have been such a good sport and carefully directed a buck private to the canteen. Our first morning in camj) was Sunday, and I found, to my pleasure, a large percentage of our crew assisted at the open air Mass under a large oak in our drill field. Monday we learned that we were part of the 32 nd Training Battalion and then the grind started: the disorganized mob began to take on the appearances of a disciplined organization. “Sejuads, ten — shun! hands uj), eyes to the front, shoulders hack, standing steady,” etc. — “right face, left face, about face,” until you got dizzy. Yes, very soon we knew we were up against something real — you couldn ' t “lay” down on the job here or ask for your “time” because you didn’t like the boss. About the third day we were put through the medical test, regularly mustered in, and got our first “shot” in the back, the typhoid anti-toxin. And in a few hours, when the serum started to take effect and your back got sore, and you couldn’t raise your left arm, and your head got feverish and your stomach uncertain, and you learned that two more “shots” were to follow in short order — why, you didn’t care much when the world came to an end. But the next day a very optimistic talk from one of our lieutenants on the jiurpose and effects of army discijiline and the im- portance of high morale, siirueed us up and called forth our pride; wc knew we weren’t being bossed just for the pleasure it gave the boss. A veiw ([uaint jihilosophy he gave us for contenting ourselves with the small discomforts that we were not used to and which came hard at first. “Take things as they come — this whole business is necessary and on the sejuare: you’re in it and there’s no getting out; Uncle Sam is doing his best by you so, back up and be cheerful.” Much the same resignation with which the French ])oilu accei)ts each new hardship that is forced 111)011 him with the casual comment: “it is the war.” Not a very high standard it might seem — rather fatalistic I thought at first. But the “lieut” showed wisdom and a knowledge of human nature, for there arc some memliers in every average mob who cannot assimilate a higher, more spiritual i)ur])ose. Let those who can, form their own jihilosophy, for some code of etliics oilier Ilian that of mere self-preservation will be necessary wlien we get “Over Tliere” — pure selfishness will demoralize the ideals and efficiency of any army. There was still some kicking and cussing and knocking when things didn’t break right, as when the “chow” didn’t suit or when you had to turn out of a warm bunk at 5:30 A, M., to dress in a barracks whose temperature was the same as the outside (and the mornings and evenings 12