US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Bragg, NC)

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PEHSI1 I-ll. AFFAIRS BH!-1 EH Wfhe Army cares for its Ownn is the guiding motto for Personal Affairs Officers throughout the Army. Realizing that financial worries are too often the cause of low morale among soldiers, the Army has always striven to do its utmost in reducing these worries to a minimum. In March 194-2, a private charitable organization, the Army Emergency Relief, was formed to assist all military per- sonnel and their dependents in need of emergency financial relief. Soon thereafter Fort Bragg established an Army Emergency Relief Office coordinating its work with the activities of the American Red Cross, these two agencies being the only organizations ofhcially approved by the War Department to engage directly in welfare activities for military personnel. ln February of 1944 a'Personal Affairs Branch was established at Fort Bragg. Functions of this branch in- cluded the services rendered by the Army Emergency Be- lief and Captain H. A. L. Harvey, who initiated the re- lief work in 1942, became chief of the branch. He is presently assisted by Lieutenant Charles P. Bigo. The Personal Affairs Olhcer, who is always available, gives information and assistance on all matters pertaining to financial emergencies, pay and allotments, soldierls bene- fits, dependentis benefits, insurance, war bonds, or any other matter of a personal nature. He maintains liaison with all governmental and private agencies engaged in relief activities. Since its origin at Ft. Bragg, Army Emergency Relief has administered relief in more than 600 cases, involving expenditures of more than 334-0,000.00, over half of which has already been repaid. The Womenis Volunteer Committee on Personal Affairs, headed by Mrs. Lucille A. Cubbison as chairman, is com- posed of wives and relatives of army personnel. This Com- mittee renders valuable assistance to the Personal Affairs Oflicer in all matters requiring a woman's touchf, The Personal Affairs Officer is also the Post War Bond Officer and the Post Life Insurance Officer. He is respon- sible for the promotion and dissemination of information relating to those two subjects. Fort Bragg personnel have purchased approximately ffSf'l,000,000.00 in War Bonds in their effort to help win the war. Because civilian employees here have surpassed the goal of 9051! participation and 1022 gross pay deduction in the purchase of War Bonds, Fort Bragg is entitled to fly the lVlinute lVlan NT Hag. Over 97f,Z of military personnel at Fort Bragg have either National Service or U. S. Government Life lnsurance with an average policy of better than 359,500.00 Top to bottom: Capt. Harvey, Lt. Rigo .... Office employees .... Minute man T Flag Presentation .... Women's Volunteer Committee.

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YW, Y i Interior views of Post Chapel. Col. Trexler and his assistants. Conducting services in the field. L34 '4Before going into battle the foolish, unmeaning oath is silentg with the bracing of the nerves there goes up a prayer for strength and valor and deliverance? PIQIST IIHAPLAI The Corps of Chaplains is specifically charged with the religious and moral welfare of the members of the Army. Chaplains are the guides, counselors, and friends of every oflicer, enlisted man and enlisted woman. They provide spiritual and moral leadership for all troops. The chaplain is also the advisor and consultant of his commander in all matters of religious observance and in matters involving the morale and character building of the troops under that commander. Regular worship services, as well as various religious ceremonies and functions, are conducted by Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Chaplains for the men and women of their respective faiths. These men have. by virtue of the high place that they occupy in the Army, exerted a very important influence on the morale of the American Army. Here at Fort Bragg every effort is made to provide for the spiritual welfare of the soldiers. The twenty-two chaplains allocated to the Post hold services not only for the Army Service Forces troops station here, but also for Army Ground Forces and Army Air Forces soldiers in the geographical boundaries of the reservation who do not have chaplains present. Of the twenty-three chapels on the Post, thirteen are utilized by the Army Ground Forces and one by the Army Air Forces under chaplains furnished by their own headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Albert Matthews was named Post Chaplain in the reorganization of 19412. He was succeeded by Colonel James L. McBride in April of the following year. Colonel lVlcBridc remained here until August 19-14, when he left to become Service Command Chaplain for the 6th Service Command, with headquarters in Chicago. The present Post Chaplain is Colonel Charles D. Trexler. a native of Pennsylvania and former pastor of the St. James Lutheran Church in New York City. The true extent of the work accomplished by the Chap- lains is dilflcult to gauge. Some measure of the appreciation that is felt for their efforts is best evidenced by the faith- ful and continued response given by the soldiers and their families.

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, W Views of Office of Military Personnel Branch Mejor Hochstim, Lt. Lamberth The establishment of the military Personnel Branch as a part of thc Personnel Division in August 1942, represented a consolidation into one department of all Military Person- 11el activities of the Army Service Forces at Fort Bragg. As such, the Branch took over the work that had been formerly carried on under the supervision of the Personnel Adjutant, a member of the S-l section of the Commanding Ceneral's staff. Major Henry S. Heath, present Director of the Per- sonnel Division, was the Chief of Branch until October, 19444, when he was succeeded by Major J. J. Hochstim, who had been Assistant Personnel Adjutant of Fort Bragg from early in 1942, and head of the Officers, Section since the organization of the Branch. Major Hochstim is aided in the discharge of his duties by Lieutenant Carl J. Lamberth, Assistant Chief of the Military Personnel Branch. Besides acting as the Unit Personnel Office for the de- tachment of Service Command Unit No. 1449, the Military Personnel Branch handles requisitions, assignments, re- assignments, promotions, and relief of military personnel for all Service Command installations on the Post. It prepares and maintains necessary records and reports, for all officers and enlisted men assigned to the Station Com- plement, including efficiency reports, classification Cards, service records, locator hles, strength reports, authorized allotments, payrolls and pay cards and the processing of various allowances, deductions and allotments.