Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Paxton High School Reflector 7 FORTY-NINE GRADUATES OF PAX- TON HIGH SCHOOL NOW ON OUR SERVICE ROLL OF HONOR CLASS OF 1903. CAPTAIN H. B. BUSHNELL, P. H. S. '03; U. OF I., ’07 So far as the writer has been able to learn, Captain Howard B. Bushnell has the distinction ot being the only representative of the class of 1903 in the war service of the United States. And. ro far as information has been obtain' d, the class of 19 )3 is the first, or oldest class, to be directly repre- sented in camp or on the battlefields of this World Contest between Autoc- racy and Democracy. Howard, as he is still familiari' known in school circles and in Paxton generally, applied and was examined for a commission as a U. S. Army Engineer some time in May after the declaration of war. He was honored with a Captain’s Commission, which came to him early in July. On the 5th a! September he war sent to the Engineer Offlcers- Training School at Fort [ eavenworth. After the completion of his special training period hero, was assigned to the Twenty-third Engineers- Highway Regiment at I anP Mead Md.. and on an unannounced day near the close of January. 1918. he sailed from Hoboken. N. J.. for France. By the time this hP ars in print. word of his safe arrival will doubtless he received by h:s family and Since Mr. BiishneU’s graduation from the U. of I. In 190., he nas very successful In his chosen profession of Civil Engineer. Since • «“•»»« • he held a position as a District Highway Engineer of Illinois. The district to h he was assigned flue years ago, and of which he was the chief engi- neer. included twelve counties in the northern part of the state, with head- quarters at Aurora.

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6 Paxton High School Reflector INTERESTING LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT B. CONRAD BERG. Camp Grant, January 25. 1918. Paxton High School Students and Alumni: — For a long time I have been awaiting anxiously to see a copy of the Reflector for I am interested in reading the excellent material that has al- ways been characteristic of it. Now it is to be a Service Number; but those who are clad in olive drab are not the only ones in the service. Those who are preparing to meet great responsibilities in a Reconstruction period are also in the service of the state. If the war lasts long enough, we will find that those who are now in the secondary schools will also have to shoulder the duties of those whose places are vacant when the count of man power is taken after it is over. Training for reconstruction is as important as the train- ing for destruction which engages the soldier. Since August 20th, all of my time with the exception of the week-ends ha3 been spent here at camp. Life runs on a schedule here similar to that of a school program. Each period of the day is devoted to some subject or work; a period of training on the bayonet run, a few hours on the grenade course; close order drill, gas instruction, signalling, scouting, days in the trench system, days of shooting out at the rifle range, and practice marches. Life in the open is great but the cold and fresh air make many sort of drowsy when it comes to the eight o’clock officers’ class each night. I ast week our regiment spent a day shooting at the range at a temperature of twelve below. It seems as if the tales of the beautiful sunny plains of Texas and the soft mild winds that drift thru the cantonments and camps in the south were mentioned a little more than usual on that day. All winter, rumors have been floating around camp as to where we go from here. Of course we do not want the war prolonged simply for our sake, but look at the German lines from a closer range would be appreciated be- fore the war is over. Camp is only about forty miles from home so in a way I have been fortunate in being able to spend week-ends that I am not on duty with my folks. About this time those wonderful semester examinations are approaching for your benefit. I know how much the students appreciate the half-holidays that come with them and what an easy time the teachers have without any classes.All they have to do is to make out questions, read innumerable volumes written on those questions and weigh it all carefully and justly and copy grades down in a half a dozen places and give one or two or more specials to those who might be in need thereof. Those piles of neatly folded papers never had any charms for me. 1 don’t know how my classes felt about them. Thru the “Reflector” T wish not only to extend a hearty greeting to those now in the high school, but to all with whom I have worked in the class rooms and who now are scattered thru our armies and to all who from the camps look back to high school years spent at Paxton—the Best of Luck. Sincerely, B. CONRAD BERG.

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Paxton High School Reflector 8 Lieutenant Glenn C. Bainum, ’05. CLASS OF 1905. The graduating class of 1905 numbered in Its membership but five boys. Of these, two are now in the army. These two arc Chester Raymond Bear, of Ludlow, 111, and Glenn C. Bainum, of Carbondale, 111. Lieutenant Glenn C. Bainum. Glenn C. Bainum, who for a number of years has been the head of the Department of Music in the Southern Illinois State Normal University at Carbondale, made early application for admission to the U. S. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He was accepted, and entered the Fort Sheridan Training Camp, May 15, 1917. He completed the course of instruction and training there August 15th, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant. On August 29th, he reported at Camp Grant, and was assigned to Co. M, 342nd Infantry. He is still at Camp Grant with his company, but will not be surprised should the order come at any time to be ready