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

Page 85 text:

A Chaplain Talks to Dischargees IIE TEH Next the separatee is counselled by trained enlisted personnel as to occupational, social, and personal problems that he must face as a civilian. Every effort is made to have the separatee mentally conditioned as to the changes that have taken place in his home town while he has been in service. Especially is this emphasized with those who have seen foreign service. Orientation and counselling are two outstanding features of the Separation Center. They are characteristic of the planned processing of separatees, as distinguished from procedure that followed World War l, in which a soldier was separated in his own unit without special regard for his future relationship in society. They mark the humane and:-regardful attitude of the Army for the outgoing indi- vidual. Besides the usual Separation Qualification Record a new War Department form is given to the separatee, enabling him to present accurate evidence to his old or new employer as to his civilian and Army occupational history. Duplicates go to State Selective Service boards which have the respon- sibility of reinstating the discharged soldier in his old job. The Veterans Administration and United States Em- ployment representative of the War Manpower Commission assist the soldier in securing a job under a new employer if the soldier desires to change from his old job. Represent- atives of the Veterans Administration, United States Employ- ment Service, Selective Service, and American Red Cross are always available to the separatee during his stay at the Center. The Commanding Officer of the Separation Center is Major O. D. Doehler, whose previous assignment was Com- manding Oliicer of the Armed Forces Induction Station at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. Counsellors Tall: to Separatees Fiscal Section, Separation Center Separaiees Receiving Final Pay and Service Badges

Page 84 text:

Officers of 'che Separation Center. SEPAH TIU uDischarge,,' that magic word that means homey to millions of embattled soldiers of the widespread fighting forces of the United States, became a reality at Fort Braggis Separation Center on November 6, 19-14, as this Wzir Department Personnel Center ollicially hcgan its func- tions. unit of the The Separation Center, Fort Bragg, is one of the seventeen Army installations set up in the nation to handle the discharging of military personnel. The administrative machinery of the Separation Center is expected to take care of hundreds ol' separatees sent here daily. Men and women report here for discharfr f h ge or t e convenience of the Government, or other military reasons, and are homeward bound civilians within 48 hours after arrival. The Center handl l es mae personnel, officer and enlisted from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia and 7 female personnel from the seven southeastern states of the Fourth Service Command, plus the- states, Virginia and Louisiana. Wheri the separatee Hrst arriwes t h , - c ' f a t c Separation Center, he delivers his papers and surplus clothing, after which he is billeted. His records are then initiated for the processing to follow. While items of his past civilian and military activities are being checked, he is given a thorough physical examination. In the event any contagious disease is present he receives 'I ,d' IHITIP lal1S COI'I'0CllV6 tI'CillI'I1CI'll to ll1C extent necessary. Having passed the physical examination the separatee is given orientation lectures explaining Separation Center processing, classification procedure, in- surance, the C. I. Bill of Rights, and what is expected of him when he arrives home. The-se lectures are given by officers of the Counselling Branch. Center: General Kennedy hands out 'First discharge. Bottom: Officer Separation Section.

Page 86 text:

nrt anfsosit OF an CAMP sim 1--W Exterior View Prisoner of War Camp Headquarters Q Right, left to right: Lt. L. M. Farr, Capt. T. A. McFarland, Major 21 J. Frese, Major M. F. Simmons, Capt. F. L. Leupp, Lt. A. E. Rose, Lt. S. L. Leblang, Lt. S. B. Odens. Q PHISU EH UF W H E MP The first contingent of the present group of prisoners of war at Fort Bragg made its appearance in May 1944, with the activation of the Prisoner of War Camp. These prisoners were not the first to be interned at Fort Bragg, however, for early in 1942 this Post was holding some of the very first German Prisoners of War to be captured by U. S. forces in the present war. At that time no attempt was made to Work the prisoners and late in 1.942 those prisoners that were here were transferred out and the Camp was in- activated. No more prisoners of war were confined here until May 19441. The Prisoner of War Camp is located in the Animal Area, on the south end of the reservation, covering approximately 42 acres. It includes barracks, day rooms, mess halls and the usual buildings found in a cantonment type camp. Since the activation of the camp, the increase in the number of prisoners of war sent here necessitated the establishment of three branch camps at Seymour-Johnson Field, New Bern, and Scotland Neck, all in North Carolina. When prisoners from a battle area are received at the camp, they are photographed, finger-printed, classified, and organized into companies. Clothing and toilet articles are issued and they are put to work. Prisoners are elassihed according to their civilian background and put to work on jobs that are similar to their civilian occupations. The prisoners are interned and worked according to the Geneva Convention of 1927. The provisions of this con- vention are scrupulously adhered to by the United States in order to give the enemy no excuse for mistreating any of our men that may be in their hands. Germany is a signer of the Geneva Convention. Prisoners of war at Fort Bragg have been employed on many projects. They operate the Post Bakery, and in the compound of the Camp there are shops operated entirely by them, supervised by American personnel. Their well- known mechanical ability is put to work repairing clothing, typewriters, tools, and other equipment. The Post Engineer detail builds boxes and other items made by carpenters. They operate a saw mill and perform many labor de- tails such as unloading equipment, clearing tire breaks, etc. ln the branch camps the prisoners work at harvesting crops, cutting wood, warehousing tobacco, and similar tasks. The prisoners are paid SOC a day for work that they perform. The full use of Prisoners of War' at Fort Bragg has resulted in the saving of thousands of dollars to the govern- ment and in the release to other more critical employment of hundreds of individuals. The good record made by Fort Bragg is due to its Prisoner of War Camp Commander Major Morgan 17. Simmons and his entire body of com- missioned and enlisted assistants.