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

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Top left Interior View of Fai Rendering Plani .... Top riglwf: Baking Bread at Posi Bakery .... Cenler left: Breaking Down the Raiions Subsisience Warehouse .... Center right: Carcass Beef in Cold Sfordgli Warehouse. . . . Boifom lefi: Clothing Classification W'arel1ouse. . . Bottom right: Interior of Posi Laundry.

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WM xv P sk Ouatwlmas Q o toxins O . NP own Z PIJST U AHTEHMASTEH The proper feeding and clothing of the thousands of men that pass through Fort Bragg is the staggering job per- formed by approximately 1,200 persons, both military and civilian, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel F. G. Everett, Post Quartermaster, and his staff of eight officers. The magnitude of these activities may best be illustrated by the fact that, when Fort Bragg was at peak strength, close to 10,000,000 pounds of perishable com- modities alone were needed monthly to subsist the garrison, to say nothing of clothing, supplies and equipment re- quired to furnish these men. The Quartermaster Olhce was a branch of the Supply Division from August 1942 until January 1944 when, through the reorganization of that Division, it was made one of the Post's technical services. The Post Quarter- master became responsible for the operation of all Quar- termaster activities at Fort Bragg. V These activities include: the requisitioning, storing, and issuing of subsistence items, supplies, equipment, gasoline, lubricants, and forageg mess management, including the preparation, serving and con- servation of food, as well as the correlation of master menus with Post needs, and the operation of the Post Laundry. As is the case with the chiefs of other services, the Post Quartermaster confers with the Director of Supply on the maintenance, repair and warehouse facilities re- quired for Quartermaster items. Over 333,000 has already been saved through the Post Fat Rendering Plant, which has been in operation since the spring of 1944 under the direction of the Post Food Supervisor, Major Ormond K. Cummings. At this plant the rendered fat from the kitchens under the jurisdiction of the Food Conservation Program is re-rendered, clarified, packed in 200 pound containers, and delivered to the Post Bakery for use as shortening in lieu of lard needed for the production of bread. The Office of the Post Food Supervisor is also responsible for the operation of the Post Menu. ln the preparation of this menu special attention is given to nutritional adequacy, dietary balance, and pro- curement practicability. Approximately 60 messes, which are under the direct supervision of this office, are inspected regularly for sanitation, food conservation, proper cooking practices, correct mess management procedure, and garbage disposal. The subsistence Branch of the Quartermaster Office, directed by Captain Hugh B. Kohlmeyer, procures, stores, POST QUARTERMASTER OFFICERS Left to right: Lt. Williams, Capt. Roig, Capt. Kohlmeyer, Major Cummings Lt Col Everett, Major Loden, Capt. Bennet, Lt. Dinger, W. O. Felts. and issues the prescribed subsistence supplies for Fort Bragg. Seven large Warehouses are needed to store the non- perishable items used at the Post, while the Cold Storage Plant, a modern three unit freezer with a temperature varying from 8 degrees to 40 degrees, holds 1,350,000 pounds, or 52 carloads, of perishable items, such as meat. butter, eggs, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. At the Post Bakery is baked all the bread required for the garrison and Held ration issue. At times the production of bread has run as high as 50,000 pounds per day, necessitating a three shift operation. This branch is also charged with the operation of the Post Sales Commissary, where authorized individuals may purchase commodities at the same price that the Government pays for its enormous purchases of food from contracting agencies. The Fort Bragg Laundry, consisting of three modern units, contains the largest laundry facilities operated by the Quartermaster Corps on any post in the country. Employ- ing approximately 800 civilians, who are under the super- vision of Captain John R. Bennett, the laundry handles an average of 4,000,000 pieces of clothing each month, and, in addition to performing the work for the personnel and various organizations of Fort Bragg, it also services Camp Mackall and the Laurinburg-lVlaxton Air Base. Working in three shifts, the personnel prepares an average of 175,000 enlisted menis and 5,000 officers' bundles monthly. When during an emergency in July 1943 Laundry No. 3 turned out 191,210 bundles, it achieved the distinction of processing more bundles in o11e month than any other Quartermaster laundry unit in the country. The requisitioning, inspecting, storing, and issuing of all Quartermaster supplies, except subsistence, is carried on by the Property Branch, directed by Major Earl Loden. The classihcation of items turned in by combat and service organizations has resulted in full utilization of these. ltems found to be serviceable are returned, after launder- ing, to the shelves ready for reissue to troops. Those found to be unserviceable are turned over to the Salvage Branch for disposal. Others are sent to the Maintenance Shops, where they are repaired. When they are returned, they are stored for reissue.'The extent of the operations of this branch can best be understood when it is considered that in one month over 220,000 pieces were classified by the Clothing and Equipage Section, while the Shoe Section in- spected over 66,000 pairs of shoes.

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PUST E EI EER Major Bryant, Major McLawhorn, Lt. Col. Mann, Capt. Solomon. The maintenance and repair of all buildings, structures. roads and grounds, as well as the operation of all utilities at Fort Bragg including Pope Field, is the responsibility of the Post Engineer. The scope of this work can readily be seen when one realizes that these activities include the up-keep, care, and improvement of more than 4,000 build- ings, 100 miles of paved roads, over 200 miles of primary stabilized earth roads, walks, hundreds of acres of im- proved grounds, all target ranges, and similar training aids. The maintenance and operation of water supply and dis- tribution, sewage disposal, electric power, central heating systems, refrigeration plant and units, sanitary fill for dis- posal of wastes, storm sewer systems, and insect, rat, and vermin control fall within the range of Post Engineer ac- tivities. Approximately 850 civilians, including engineers, mechan- ics of all trades, skilled technicians, and clerical personnel, supervised by Lieutenant Colonel Carroll L. Mann, Jr., Post Engineer, and a staff of four officers, are engaged in main- taining buildings and utilities systems, in furnishing heat. fuel, water, electricity and in disposing of sewage and waste. Six fully equipped maintenance shops, one located in the Main Post and one in each of the five outlying areas, are manned by the tradesmen necessary to perform quickly and adequately continuous maintenance requirements for every section of the Post. Special heavy maintenance equipment, such as power shovels, draglines, bulldozers, tractors and pans, air com- pressors, transit concrete mixers, and other similar items are serviced by skilled mechanics in the large Post Engineer Garage. These services are also extended to a fleet of over l50 trucks and other vehicles required in performing main- tenance to the extensive svstem of roads, runways, grounds, and developed areas on this Post. No Army Post can boast a more modern, well equipped, water filtration and sewage disposal plant than are in operation at Fort Bragg. A steady ample supply of potable Filter Gallery-Water Filtration Plant water, and an efficient sewage disposal system are of prime importance, and these two plants, each capable of handling seven million gallons per day, adequately supply the re- quirements of the Fort. At the area laboratory additional services are rendered in analyzing water samples for other Army installations in both North a11d South Carolina. A well organized and well trained Fire Department for the entire Post, supervised by the Post Engineer as Post Fire Marshal, has been responsible for the very creditable fire loss record achieved here. This department, consisting of 96 trained firemen, operates 14- Hre trucks from eight strategically located fire stations. Included is one station and three crash fire fighting trucks for plane crashes and other emergencies at Pope Field. A continuing mosquito contirol progrlam, eliminating breeding places on many miles of streams and swamps is carried on by Post Engineer personnel under the tech- nical supervision of the Post Surgeon. Other insect, rodent, and vermin control measures are also performed by this group, if required, for adequate health and safety of troops stationed at this Post. ln addition to maintenance, repair, and operation of utilities activities, the Post Engineer organization is respon- sible for many other important duties. Over 120,000 tons of coal consumed annually at the Fort are received, stored, and issued to the various units stationed here. The readiness and usefulness of combat troop equipment are dependent upon the packing and crating for overseas destination, which duty is performed by Post Engineer personnel, trained and skilled in this work. Finally, the Post Engineer must prepare plans and estimates of costs for requests of projects of a non-recurrent nature, involving additions and alterations to existing build- ings, structures or utilities, as well as reconstructions of facilities damaged or destroyed by fire, storms, etc. After approval by higher headquarters, the work is performed by either Post Engineer personnel or by contract.