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

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Avere cold then, though the days were hot). But it was evidently only surface grumbling, a good vent at times for the feelings. A cheerful crowd, all told and will- ing; and in the days that followed with hour after hour of “squads right, squads left, one, two, three, four — get the step” and five mile hikes through sun and dust we struck up a spirit of comradeship that went far to make the life most congenial. And our officers were “true blue” — exacted a strict discipline when the occasion required, but otherwise treated us with a kindness and manliness that won our hearts. The third week we heard that the 32nd Training Battalion was to be subdivided and assigned to the different units of the 312th Field Artillery (light). At first we were down in the mouth for by that time we had grown into quite a happy little family. But when we found that our section of the battalion was to be divided in half, one half to be transferred to D Battery and the other to Headquarters Company, just across the road from each other, we accepted the change quite cheerfully. I was among those who were attached to Headquarters Co., and I was not sorry, because the work that followed proved to be very interesting. Then after five strenuous weeks’ work came the first big change. More than half of our company was notified at 5 o’clock one evening that we were to start south at 7 o’clock the next morning, and were confined to barracks in the interim to prevent anyone taking a flying trip home to hid good-bye to the folks, on French leave, or in army parlance A. W. O. L. (absent without leave). The thirty-six hour trip to Camp Gordon was a most pleasant one. We were placed in comfortable sleepers and fed on the regular army travel rations, beans, canned beef, bread, jam and coffee. The novelty of it appealed to all of us. Twice on the way down, at Bichmond, Va., and at Charlotte, N. C., we detrained to stretch our legs and break the monotony and were given a royal reception by the population on both occasions. At 2 P. M., Sunday we had our first glimpse of Camp Gordon through the windows of our sleepers. At seven we were CADET JOHN IIAKTZELL Aviation (Army) 13

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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

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marched from the train to the receiving station and there our spirits took a drop. Without any regard for friendship closely welded, due to a eommon bond of symj)atliy, since we were all from the same part of “Philly and felt like strangers in a strange place, wo were eomj)letely separated and assigned to ditlerent branches of the service and difterenl units, scattered all over the camp — and so big is this khaki city that many of us have not met since. Not finding fault, understand; conditions required the disposition made of us, hut it rather dampened our ardor for a while. But not for long — new ae([uainlanees were soon found to rei)laee the old; such huge melting pots are these eam])s, moulding lasting friendships out of all classes and types who hapiiened to he thrown together for a few months and who in a short time may he separated and never set eyes on each other again. 1 considered myself very fortunate in again being assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 320th Field Artillery. Once more I found myself thrown in with a real fine crowd of fellows representing over ten states of the Union, from Maine to Mississippi, and I soon felt perfectly at home again. Work was continued, drill, drill, drill, and more drill, as week followed week with fifteen mile hikes every Friday and a division review followed by inspection every Saturday morning, and very rigid inspections these are, both personal and barracks. Everything must be spick and sjian and in place. Any man whose jiersonal appearance is not as it should be or whose equipment is not laid out in an orderly manner and the vicinity of his bunk clean as a new pin is S. O. L. (sure out of luck) — denied his hard earned pass to town that night or some similar punishment. I speak from exjierienee. In the weeks that followed nothing unusual happened. We worked hard and steady and really made wonderful progress, and the more we got used to the life and to one another the more congenial it became. For eight hours a day we were kejit on the go with foot drill, artillery gun drill, signalling, reconnaissance work, etc., and the more we learned of our work the more interesting it became and the more pride we took in our jirogress. Our free time was well spent. Out of our company fund, raised by voluntary contributions, we bought a second-hand ])iano and a phonograj)!! and during the rough winter weather had many a j)leasant little social gathering, either singing or ])ushing back the tables in the mess hall and running a stag dance, d’here were some good shows and entertainments, both local and out- side talent, around the Camj), under the ausi)ices of the Y. M. C. A. or the K. of C. or the Camj) Theatre Company. Boxing, too, was one of our main attractions. Two or three good j)airs were matched together each night after sui)per and “mixed uj)” for the benefit of the crowd. There was ])lenly of comedy here loo, as when a lanky, raw-boned mountaineer from Tennessee would ])air 14