US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Eustis, VA)

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an -'li Fort Eustis- O-D -Fort Eustis MEDICOS The preparations made by the Medical Department for the reception and physical examination of the ClNlTC candidates at Fort Eustis, onJuly8'brought back many vivid memories of the busy days spent in examining the draftees in 1917 and 1918 to the old timers in the Medical Department. The ease and lack of confusion with which the ex- amination was accomplished showed that those busy days were not in vain, however, and that the lessons learned then had not been forgotten. All the details had been worked out and two complete examining teams had been organized several days before the men were expected. These teams consisted of twelve lV1edical Officers who conducted the examination and sixty enlisted men who acted as clerks and laboratory assistants. Qn Thursday morning, July 8, all members of the examining teams were on the job at 4:30. It was an hour or so later before the first candidate appeared and by noon all except a few stragglers had been examined. Very few of the boys were ordered home because of some physical defect which might interfere with their training. The CMTC Infirmary was no doubt the most popular place in Camp. Nlajors Fitts and Freeland with their able assistants, could be found busy at any hour of the day giving first aid of some description. If one of the students had any ailment that was the least bit serious the Hospital took him in and the force at the Hospital knew that the CNITC boys were in camp. In spite of the number who came to the Hospital not one developed into a serious case and there was not a single case of a contagious disease. This speaks well for the sanitary conditions of the camp and much credit is due the Nledical Department for being on the job and preventing disease at the very outset. THE QUARTERMASTER The designation of a permanent post as a place for a CMT Camp means greatly in- creased duties for the Quartermaster Corps at that station. The Quartermaster is charged with the function of supplying all troops at this station with equipment, general supplies and laundry facilities, furnishing the necessary water, animal and motor transportation for the movement of personnel and supplies other than movements naturally connected with training and of providing proper housing facilities. For this purpose the Quarter- master personnel at this station consists of the Quartermaster and two commissioned assistants, three Warrant Officers and seventy-two enlisted men, together with approxi- mately one hundred twenty-five civilian employees. Upon notification that a ClV1T Camp was to be held here all three branches of the Quartermaster activities began functioning. The Utilities Branchirecommended to the Post Commander the place to be used to house the members of the camp and the Supply Service immediately requisitioned for additional supplies for the CMTC. Estimates were also made as to the additional amount of subsistence that would be required during July- August for the CMTC. At the same time the Transportation Service of the Quartermaster's Office com- municated with the various rail and water transportation companies and notified them of the approximate number of men who were to arrive from various points on July 8, so that they could make provisions for handling the heavy traffic. The Transportation Branch also provided for motor transportation to meet the trains and made plans for transportation activities during the period of the camp. At the close of the camp all supplies issued were turned back to the Quartermaster to go back to regular stock or to be stored for subsequent Citizen Nlilitary Training Camps. Page 1Vi11z'iy-iwo Q U .v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.vmv.wv.v.q.v.va.y.v,v.vmv.v.v.v u ' rn.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.vmv.v.v.v.v.vv.v.v.v.v.v.y.v.v.v.v.n

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ly f li JF TRIPS Fort Eustis- O-D -Fort Eustis Those YVednesday and Saturday half-holidays and the privilege of going out of camp after church Sundays afforded the CMTC candidate many opportunities of visiting the beaches and resorts in the vicinity of Fort Eustis, as Well as the famous historical shrines of the Lower Virginia Peninsula. Jamestown, VVilliamsburg and Yorktown saw CMTC men every Sunday. As soon as it was learned that William and Mary College was a co- educational institution, however, the CMTC transferred all of its affection to the campus and VVilliamsburg doubled its population every Sunday afternoon. 'While the policy of the Camp authorities was very liberal in permitting students to go on pass, they were required to be in quarters by eleven at night. No student could remain away from camp overnight who did not have proper written permission of parents or guardians. , Trips were organized for Jamestown and YVilliamsburg, every Wednesday and Sat- urday afternoons, the students making the journey both ways in army trucks at no ex- pense to themselves. The Peninsula Bus Corporation also organized two trips direct from the regimental area to Virginia and Buckroe Beaches. Undoubtedly the most interesting outings the CMTC men had were the two trips down the James River to Hampton Roads and up the Elizabeth River through the harbor of Norfolk and Portsmouth to the Navy Yard at Portsmouth. The first of these was made july 21 by the Second Battalion and the second July 29 by the First Battalion. Three hundred men were taken on each occasion as the guests of the United States Navy. The Regimental Mess Officer provided lunches and lemonade for each trip and the candi- dates had an old-fashioned picnic on board ship. On arriving at the Mulberry Island Wharf the students were transferred in groups by tender to the U. S. S. Owl, a mine sweeper, and by nine all were aboard and on the trip down the historic James. By noon the mine sweeper had docked at the Navy Yard where the detail was met by Officers of thefNavy representing the Commandant of the Yard. After brief talks' by these officers the shops and power plants were visited and the groups taken aboard the battleship Texaf then undergoing repairs. The largest of the huge dry docks, which was first put in operation by Albert, King of the Belgians and his Queen on their visit to Portsmouth, was of particular interest to the men from the in- land, counties. In the granite dock, the first ever built by the United States, was con- structed the Confederate ironclad ME77'imdC CVirginiaj in 1862. OFF TO IAMESTOWN HSHIP A1-Iovll, Page Ninety-one .-- . 1 s-nn.--.A 1- sn 1 1. n W'-'NpYnYNaV

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-: M JACK, MESS AND SUPPLY Fort Eustis-4:0-Dv-Fort Eustis 1 1 f Q ' 7231! ' .array is The Camp Commander at Fort Eustis knew the gf AQiJpi,Zgj'Qgj C3227 CMTC men needed a little pepping up after being ' fiSll3C?lNZ,fY?-25,313 pounded and punctured by the Nfedicos and filled and wififilhig?g3j'i97ij5f' , loaded down by the Quartermaster, so the candidates ,fxj-,FY went on their way rejoicing to their companies the morning ofprocessing with silver tinkling in the pockets f of the new breeches, O.-D. And how cl that first meal in cam tasted! Tafslli.1f9ff?Q 'M goo . - p uf if Nlonths before the CMTC came kitchen and table sup- ff 'e K it -Q ., plies had been drawn for the use of the students. On f the making of menus every effort is put forth to ob- I,,j ,w. tain a balanced ration, and, with the marvelous pur- ' Mmmr V 'W' 6 T chasing power of the army, that seventy cents per PORTRAIT OF RED-FACED SUPPLY man per day allowed by regulations may be made to SERGEANT go a long way. Wfhen you came into camp it was the job of one particular officer to see that your uniform, hat and shoes fitted. The shoes were not just what you wanted, for they were given to you somewhat larger to allow for that growth which comes to all rookies' feet. The ofhcer who inspected the fit of your uniform knew his job and few mishts escaped him. When you got back to your company, however, perhaps you felt that the uniform was not just right or that those shoes never could be broken in. You told your company commander about it, and the supply sergeant, in turn, through the Supply Officer for the regiment, exchanged your unsatisfactory equipment. It was he who sent your clothes to the post laundry and saw that you had fresh bedding. Do not blame him too much if you got the other fellow's socks. Delivering laundry for nearly 1400 men is no snap. Nlrass OFFICER AND His HELPERS Page Nizzfzy-llzree 6 V ,N,,.,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,,,,y,,,,,,,',v,v,v,,y,- 1 ' nv.v.v.v.v.v-mv.v.v.v.v.v.mv.nv.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.n 0 o