ROTC Training Center - Sand Yearbook (Camp Custer, MI)

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learning of ceremonies. At the end of the week the entire organization was marched to liagle Lake, near the Camp's base hospital. A tent camp was estab- lished. In the Red Cross building that evening a splendid entertainment was given by the First Company. There were wrestling, comic boxing, a jazz or- chestra, and the First Company's quartet. The next day we spent some time in the morning atdrill. XVC also had ta lecture. ln the afternoon, we struck tents and were soon on our way back to the barracks. By this time Saturday inspections had become a part of our regular program. 'The fifth week, july 20th, was much the same as the fourth. Two days were spent by each company on the ritle range and the rest of the time in regular drill. Friday was a holi- day and in the morning a lield day contest took place. In the afternoon a ball game was held. Another part of the regular program for some of the students was the Friday night dances at the Community llouse. Saturday morning in- spection terminated the work for this week and every one began to look for- ward with eagerness to the day when we would all be going home. 'XVeek, July 27th. Monday things opened with a rush. NVe all marched to the ritl'e range and observed 'the demonstration of hand and rifle grenades, Stoker's 3-inch trench mortar, one-pounder gun and light and heavy Browning machine gun. This was like a second Fourth of .luly with all the booming, but it made us think some, and we were mighty glad we were not in No lVlan's Land. Next on the program was the platoon tiring problems at standing targets SOO yds. and kneeling targets at 500 yds. And at night in the Y. M. C. A. we finish a full day watching the First Company perform with their second show. They sure have talent-we hand it to them. XVe almost split our sides with laughter. XfVe topped off with ice cream served in cones and called it a full day. July 29, 30 and 31-three big days of maneuver and camp at liagle Lake. This is the life. The lasttday we got soaked with rain as we returned to camp driving in the rear guard of the enemy. A , l August l. liverything rush and clean up and turn in property for tomorrow we get our mileage money and tickets back home. This lasted until after taps and then WVill they serve us a meal in bed? or was l dreaming for I sure heard mess call. E . . August 2, VVe are off and camp is quiet once more. livery one got away some way or another either by train, auto or car line, and now there is nothing ahead of us until camp next year. 18

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Casey's Picnic ARTICLE WINNING FIRST PRIZE XYrittcn by Arnold llarcy Friedman, Co. 2, R. O. 'l'. C., Camp Custer, Michigan. Stn- dcnt Arnold ID. l ricdman's home is SIS NN. Sixth St., Little Rock, Ark. llefore coming to Custer for the summer camp he attended school at the University of lllinois, Cham- paign, Ill. The rakishly tilted electric leered at us from behind the lonely little station and the few girls that we saw caused us to have the painful recollection that there wcre seven hundred famished R. 0. T. C. youths to be fed. VVe fell into ranks from the force of habit, then shouldering our packs, trudged in the sand past the line of refreshment booths, the chugging motor boats and festooned cottages. XVe had almost arrived at the deep-rooted conviction that the shores of Gull Lake were simply a continuation of the Desert of Sahara, when we stumbled out of the woods into the weedy clearing which had been prepared for our camp. A long wrangling now ensued under the blazing sun as the front rank men absolutely refused to show the least particle of intelligence in lining up for the pitching of shelter tents. There were no ropes in packs where ropes ought to have been, the tent pegs driven in the ground just as resolutely came out again. And our hunger was in direct ratio to the heat, for it had been a good six hours since breakfast, and when one is accustomed to three army squares a day, a meal becomes noticeable by its absence. But still we didn't lose faith. Casey had said there would be .a great time for us and we knew that Casey never broke a promise. But just as our confidence was being tested to the utmost, the eats came upon us in all force. Wfhat matter if at first that gang ahead lounged along futilly attempting to grab everything in sight. One finally came to the three ladies from Kalamazoo, of the VVar Camp Community who we1'e dressed in pink, blue and yellow and who were dishing forth everything from veal loaf and pimento cheese to chocolate cake and mayonnaise dressing, handed out smiles and grub in equal profusion. In order to facilitate the handling of the immediate business in hand, we stretched ourselves out on the ground, keeping one eye on our food, and the other on the lookout for new provender. ln a few minutes, the cry went out that Casey was slinging lemonade and to a man the regiment made a rush attack in mass formation upon the stand, one-half of our eatables stuffed in copious mouths and the other half zigzagging around the edges of the meat cans. Gallon after gallon of lemon elixir went down, and there was little doubt that the gait would drink the entire lake dry if there was a sufficient supply of lemons and sugar to go with it. A fortunate huzza from the right Hank to the effect that peanuts and or- anges were being surrendered mercilessly by Casey, turned the tide of the at- tack in that direction. The rest of the day was just a glorious mix-up of fun and eats and eats and fun. Ifach man had already gotten away with enough picnic delicacies to fur- 20