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

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Program at Gull Lake, july 4th, 1919 Mmiao No. 37 1. Boating around the Lake starting at 1:00 1'. M. and ending when every one has had the fourteen-mile trip. - 2. Dancing from 2:30 P. M. until 5 :30 P. M. Music by live-piece Jazz Band from Kazoo. H . 3. l'lenty of ice cold lemonade, over stock of fresh-roasted, douhle-jointed peanuts, boxes and boxes of stick candy given away. Ice cream cones un- limited. . ' -1. The following contests will be held at 3:00 o'clock, with cash prizes for the less aesthetic events and canteen credit at the R. O. T. C. exchange for the events which are ordinarily held under the auspices of the A. A. A. A. A. tl'ie eating-No. entries per Co., 43 1st prize, 32.00, 2nd prize, 31.00. Sack race-No. entries per Co., 2g lst prize, 32.00. Three-legged race-No. entries per Co., 2 fpairslg lst prize, 33.00, 2nd prize, 31.50. . Potato race-Free for all tunder 18jg lst prize, 32.005 2nd prize, 31.00. Best quartet-No. entries per Co., 1 fQt.j 3 lst prize, 32.003 2nd prize, 31.00. Hop, stepiand jump-No. entries per Co., 35 lst prize, 32.005 2nd'prize, 31.005 3rd prize, 50c. V Assembling rifle-N. C. O. Instructors, lst prize, 33.00, 2nd prize, 32.00. Best article written on impressions of day--lst prize, 37.005 2nd prize, 33.00. CANTEEN Cmcnrr 50-yard dash-No. entries per Co., 25 lst prize, 32.00. 100-yard dash, No. entries per Co., 25 lst prize, 32.005 2nd prize, 31.505 3rd prize, 50c. 'tlfree medical attendance will he .furnished the winner, if desired, in lieu of, cash prize. H Special cars will transport the students to Gull l.ake. i Leave your money at home. The K. of C. and Colonel XVestmoreland will attend to that. b A Civilian View of Camp Work Th' Mounts limvalums, Staff C0I'l'L'A'f7l7Jll1'l'1lf, T110 1llll1ltllLlIf'0HA' Situ' Beaucoup l'ep! 'That is the all-pervading element of the Reserve Officers' Training Camp. livery ofhcer and man in the entire area was fairly tingling with this uncanny intiuence, and the wim and wigor which was displayed in all the things done hy those connected with the camp, hranded the spirit as nothing short of very unusual. W'ith youngstersvlilce this, care-free, and every one the picture of perfect health, and each one in the proverllial pink of condition, it is not surprising - 23

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nish a day's supply for a corporal's guard, yet the quantities of oranges and peanuts and ice cream that were consumed caused the native population of Gull Lake to gather around in awe-stricken circles. Get ready for the boats, was Casey's new exhortation and the most active, holding' on to peanuts-stuffed pockets made a flying tackle on the tirst boats. The most of us hied ourselves over to the dance, where we joyfully tripped or stumbled along with three or four hundred girls from Kalamazoo. Meanwhile boatload after hoatload of R. O. T. C. and newly acquired female friends from the dance, were contin- ually leaving for the lake trip. Everywhere the cheerful Casey was in evidence. Lost your boat ticket? sure here's another one. Everybody hurry up for the pie-eating contest, Hang around for the races, called out Casey time and time agam. VVe held our sides from laughing at the frantic endeavors of the pie-eaters to destroy their portions, not caring whether the most of the pie went into ears and nose rather than their mouthsf Although we had not yet ceased to marvel at Casey's generosity in throwing this thing on such a large scale, we drew in another gasp as we saw him gleefully handing out greenback after greenback to the winners of the various contests. Then back to the dance, and the refreshments, and the boats. And, oh, that boatride, when it tinally came one's turn to go. The fair damsel from Kala- mazoo very attentively listened to the account of how one was permanent stu- dent captain of Company 2, and how the folks had just bought another Packard in addition to the two already at home, and so on for the entire blissful four- teen miles. , 'I Now the water of the lake took on all the colors of the rainbow from the setting sun, the cooks rattled away the few barely-touched mess outfits, and the cloud of dust from her departing car was all that remained of the one girl. The Fourth of .luly was over. Off with the old shirt, a kick to the snoring hunkie, and we were ready for the night. The ground was hard and lumpy, and the mosquitoes tlitting in and out through the ill-titting net kept one awake for what seemed eternity. llut finally. the little star twinkling brightly through the flap of the tent grew fainter and fainter, until at last assuming the distinct shape of Casey's good red emblem, it faded from view. 22

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that big things were accomplished and that determined punch and activity were shown. There is one little psychological factor which makes it very easy to deter- mine the morale of the members of any camp, and that is the songs they sing. XVhen these lads, fresh from school, and nervous from reserve energy, first ar- rived on the Camp Custer reservation, the only songs in stock were XVild XVim- men, Jazz Baby, and the other snappy song hits of the day. This up-to-date song fever lasted for about the first two weeks, and then, after having been away from home that long, in the long twilight of the Michigan evenings, from the innermost corner of some isolated barracks, the tuneful wail of some lone- some lad singing Carry Me Back to Old Virginnyf' or Back Home Again in Indiana, could be heard. But is this getting back to the old favorites anything for the boys to be ashamed of, or for which an apology should be given. VVell, I should say not. It merely means that the boy's home life has made such an indelible impression on his mental processes, that after a comparatively long absence this artificial de- sire for the ultra-modern has vanished and that he yearns for the home and friends to which he has long been accustomed. Thus it is only natural that a boy should be homesick, and it is no sign of a weakling or anything out of the ordinary for any young lad to want to croon the tunes of home. Another thing that would possibly make the boys long for their accustomed surroundings is the primitive life which one is forced to lead while in camp or camping in the iield. After the novelty of living in crude barracks has worn off, it becomes monotonous to the city lad not to have all modern conveniences near at hand. So, by taking all the things into consideration which the boy, among strang- ers, must face, it is not to be expected that he would not be at least a trifle homesick, and it should even be safe to say that if he were not slightly home- sick that he was somewhat unnatural. 24