Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

Page 17 text:

LIFE U IV T H like every other institution in the notion, hod chonged: it wos now o wor-time Villonovo functioning under 'ex- tremely adverse conditions. The presence of uniformed men. attending courses stressing specific navol needs, showed conclusively that Villonovo was doing her part in the country-wide war effort. Semester followed semester without pause for the formerly customary vacations. Trainees completed their courses of study and left for active service, but new men were always on hand to take their places. Clubs. E E A M P U S societies, and seminars were subordinated, os never be- fore. to the heavy class work. The high caliber of Villa- nova varsity athletic teams diminished. Intra-mural sports became more popular and extensive than in previous years. Programs designed to emphasize the necessity of physical training were added to the already packed scholastic schedules, and carried out on a strenuous daily basis. Reveille, roll call, drill, and inspection be- came the ordinary routine after class hours. Though preparing men for war. Villonovo did not Fother Stanford. president of the college. and Commander Milner, first V-12 commanding offi- cer. discuss the progress of the newly.estab- lished naval unit at Villanova. Father Stanford served on the board of civilian educators which helped organize the reserve training programs, and was fully aware of the Navy Department's objectives. Commander Milner was a Noval Academy graduate seosoned by many years of service and well acquainted with the traditional requirements for naval trainees. 13

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WORLD CHANGES WAR II A practical concession to the heat of the summer is the removol of jumpers for all class- room and laboratory work. Skivvy shirts and trousers are the uniform of the day, and yet it is not easy to concentrate on bookwork in the drowsy midsummer weather. noted much of the former social life. As the school year of 1942-43 progressed, more and more students left the campus for service in the armed forces. Those who remained joined the various reserve programs and continued their education while awaiting call. In the early part of 1943 both the Enlisted Reserve Corps and the Air Corps Reserve were placed on active duty, thereby removing a large percentage of the stu- dents from the college. At about the same time plans were completed to institute a Naval V-12 unit at Villa- nova during the forthcoming summer. It was to be com- posed of Navy-Marine Reservists who were called into uniform at this time. On May 30. 1943. the command- ing officer of the new unit arrived at the college, and by July the program was in full operation. Villanova, The outbreak of war in December. 1941, provoked an almost complete change in the educational program at Villanova. Courses of study were accelerated so that it became possible for the students to finish the regular four year course in three years. A third semester was added, beginning in the summer of 1942. to facilitate this change. There was now evident a new and imminent goal and a feeling of grim determination that elimi- Coptoin Morgan takes o group of newly-arrived civilians down to the Field Houso to bo transformed externally into morines and sailors. Early arrivals have already been outfitted and are return- ing to their rooms to examine this strange assortment of gear which hos been issued to them.

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19 4 1 TU 1 9 4 K Militory ospect of V-12 troining wos most plainly «vident on Sat- urday mornings when the weekly inspection and drill was conducted on Mendel Field. At regular intervals a formal review was held by the commanding officer ond his staff. Other Saturdays were devoted to the weary business of mastering the standard formations ond maneuvers of close order drill. In the early days of the unit, trainees with previous military experience were called upon to sup- plement the efforts of the ship's company in explaining the funda- mentals to the newcomers. forget her sons already in the service. Masses were of- fered regularly for the benefit and intentions of these men. News reports and letters brought word of their world-wide activities to the campus. With the end of the war. Villanova proudly looked back over her four years of war-time accomplishments, ond then began the gradual change necessitated by post-war demands. June. 1946. sow the termination of the Naval-Marine V-12 unit, and the organization of a permanent Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Ci- vilian dress once again predominated on the campus os veterans, both former ond new students, prepared to resume their interrupted careers. 14 Deference to the notional colon forms on important port in the routine of any military organixation. The color guard crosses the reviewing line, followed by the entire novy detachment. The en- sign is lowered ot evening to the accompaniment of a navy bugler, as trainees all over the campus come to attention ond salute the flag of their country.