Washington High School Cadets - Adjutant Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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an '..t1:zii:f1H'w1'f +f'f'-. ' ft' Major Aaron Goldman, H. S. C. i Interviews Commissioner Luther Reichelderfer ECLARING that membership in the Wash- ington High School Cadet Corps oifers the young man an unusual opportunity to gain experience in responsibility and cooperation, Dr. Luther Reichelderfer, present Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and first Cadet Colonel of the High School Cadets, went on to relate his experiences and associations with that organization. In 1890 when I entered the old Central High School, which' was then located at 7th and O Streets, I immediately joinedthe Cadets. Membership was not compulsory, but we were able to recruit enough boys to organize four companies, each containing about forty cadets. We were obliged, however, to reject some of the boys on account of their height, or rather. their lack of height. At that time we used the old 45 caliber single shot black powder Spring- field, which was awkward for even some of the larger boys to handle. Dr. Reichelderfer holds the unique distinc- tion of having been the highest commanding, oflicer for two consecutive years. The high school course in 1892 consisted of only three years. In his third year he attained the rank of Major, in command of the Battalion, which was then the largest unit. It was at the end of this year that the high school course was extended to four years. Dr. Reichelderfer con- tinued at school the next year and was awarded the colonelcy, since this was the first time that there were enough companies to form a regi- ment. Commissioner Reichelderfer, in looking over the 1929 ADJUTANT, was very much inter- ested in reading the Competitive Drill Program. In my time. he said, the Drill consisted only of a manual of Arms, which was held on the stage in the Assembly Hall of the School. The only foot movements were marching on and off the stage. After the winning company had been awarded the coveted red ribbons, all the cadets were treated to a modest supper of ice cream and cake. There was no Allison Naylor Medal at this time: the captain merely received the red ribbon. I have .one somewhere that I won in 1890, when Irwas a private in Co. C, which was commanded by Captain Edward Duval. On the basis of his experience in the Cadet Corps, Dr. Reichelderfer entered the National Guard as a First Lieutenant in charge of Rifle Practice. He served in this organization for 23 years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the World War he was in France for one year, serving there as Colonel with the Medical Corps. We had no band either in those days, ob- served Dr. Reichelderfer, as he glanced at the picture in the ADJUTANT of the cup awarded to the winning band. The Marine Band us- ually played at our dress parade .... It is really astonishing how the Cadet Corps has grown from a Battalion of four companies and one military instructor to a Brigade of almost thirty companies and four military instructors. He glanced at my uniform. . The uniform has changed, he remarked, but the spirit of willingness, obedience, trustworthiness, and de- termination is now, and will continue to be, the same. It is that very spirit that has remained with me, and recalls in me those pleasant recol- lections of my association with the Washington High School Cadet Corps.

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DR. LUTHER REICHELDERFER First Colonel of the Washi'ngton High School Cadets, now President of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia

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Camp Life at at Citizenls Training Camp By Captain George Cawtbome, H. S. C EADY TO leave civilian life for thirty days, many boys who have reached the age of seven- teen are preparing to go to the Citizen's Mili- tary Training Camps all over the United States. One of the most interesting camps is Fort Eustis, located in a very favorable spot in Vir- ginia, with the famous James River on one side and the York River on the other. York- town, Jamestown, Williamsburg with the Wil- liam and Mary College, and Newport News are very close by. The very thought of being near these historic places prompts one to go to camp in this vicinity. Nearly fourteen hundred youths from the states of Virginia, Maryland. Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia go to this camp annually and receive the benefits which it offers. On the morning of July sixth, swarms of young men of all walks of life enter the gates of Fort Eustis, some by trains, some by bus and some in their own private automobiles to enjoy the wholesome work, the pleasure, and the friendship which they will derive from the thirty days of training. The camp officials are prepared to receive them. Hundreds of men of the regular Army are prepared to assist the ofhcials in going through the necessary routine in entering these youths to the camp and to place them in their proper places in the companies. It is surprising to the youths how quickly they are entered, assigned, assimilated and set to work. The daily, routine includes reveille at 5.45: breakfast at 6.30: inspection, 7.00: drill, 7.305 recall, 11.303 dinner at 12.003 recreational ac- tivities, 1.00g supper, 5.003 parade, 5.305 re- treat, 6.00: lights out, 9.00: and taps, 10.00. At ten o'clock a check is made by the officer in charge of quarters to make sure that every man is in his bed asleep-. The time between reveille and breakfast is utilized in preparing bunks and personal articles, issuing equipment, and pre- paring squad rooms for the inspection by the officers. Two candidate sergeants have charge of each squad room and are responsible for the appearance and the action of the men under them and are responsible also for the squad- l12l rooms at all times. Drill time is utilized first in the teaching of subordination and discipline. Then infantry drill without the rifle is taken up. Every boy who puts his heart and mind into this work is benefited and learns very quickly. Those who have a hard time under- standing the infantry drill have special practice until they understand thoroughly. Then rifle drill is taken up. Opportunities are very great for those who especially like rifle drill, since a medal is given to the best drilled private with the riiie at the end of the thirty days. This infantry drill is very beneficial to all the candi- dates because it makes them act quickly and exactly. Football, baseball, tennis, golf, track and swimming are taken up during the recrea- tional activities period. The camp has a fme swimming pool in which everyone has an op- portunity to swim each day. The afternoons of the last week of camp are given over to con- tests in athletics. The contests are very inter- esting and show which company is the most outstanding in athletics. After retreat each day the youths have the opportunity to write lettersof their experiences to their folks at home, or to go to the moving pictures which are located in the camp grounds, or they may read in the Post Library, fully equipped with interesting books. Lights are out at nine o'clock and most of the boys are in their rooms telling each other of their ex- periences at homeg but when ten o'clock comes. and taps are sounded all is so still in the camp that the notes ring clear in the ears of every- one in the camp and they go to sleep to dream of home and friends. Then quickly taps soothes them to sleep and just as quickly reveille awakes them the next morning. At camp everything is done in a systematic manner. It is hard for the new men to get accustomed to this: but when they do, they find themselves at home in the same systematic way they did in camp. This alone is worth the four weeks in camp. Add to this training. the gain in health, vigor and citizenship to prove the worth of the C. M. T. C.