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

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N N W A H ,Q ,I ,Ar t Y, kb? H -wif-we 1 f '- e l . f e 1 K s , , .f A v - , . The 119311 Short Story Contest By Rosemary Arnold, Chairman of Judges HIS year there were more entrants in the short story contest than usual, and the stories submittedwere of such variety of theme and style, even though all on a military subject, that the decision as to the best was difficult. The judges, Miss Rosemary Arnold, Miss Ruth M. Denham and Miss Miriam Selah, differed in their opinions as to the story to be given first place, but by the point system the prize, four dollars' worth of books to be selected by the author, was awarded to Virginia Hoffman, of Eastern, for her story, Brass Buttorfs or Red Ribbons? This bright little tale is printed elsewhere in THE ADJUTANT. Very close to first prize comes The Real Competition, whose author, Elizabeth Whit- ney, Eastern, receives two dollars and fifty cents' worth of books of her own selection. This story is told in a truly realistic way. Why, by Joseph Moore, Eastern, and Reveries of a Rookie, by Roberta Young, Eastern, may be said to tie for honorable men- tion. The former is remarkable for its clever surprise ending, and the latter for its humor and good psychology. BrasscButtons, or Red Rilblbons? By Virginia Hoffman,- Betty Vay, E. H. S. First Prize Short Story ' ACK was a sophomore at the Northern High School. He was a corporal in Company F. He was, moreover, the ,best looking cadet in his company-or in several others, for that matter. Mary was also a sophomore. As you can prob- ably guess, she was the girl of his dreams. He was her hero, too-was, that is, until she met Bill. Bill was a mighty senior. He was captain of Company E. He was, too, a very popular young man about school. In spite of all this, he fell for Mary-Jack's Mary, with the enticing curls, the dancing eyes, and the roguish manner. Needless to say, he had no trouble cutting in on Jack. School idols do have a very great appeal, you know. This is enhanced, too, by handsome uniforms almost covered with brass buttons. Mary used to come and watch the cadets drill. Afterward, Bill would take her home. Jack would see them as they swung off together, the tall captain in his uniform. the lovely girl clinging to him worshipfully. Brass buttons, Jack would mutter bitterly, as he trudged home alone. This Went on all during the spring training. Finally the day came for which all cadets had waited, hopefully and fearfully. The Competi- tive Drill! The ball park was packed with a swarming' mass of excited humanity. Proud parents were there, looking in astonishment at their tall young sons, wondering how they had grown up so quickly, remembering what a short time seemed to have passed since they were 191 g babies. Girls were there, too, waving their arm-bands and pennants wildly, trying to find their cadets in the ever-moving lines, telling each other who was going to win. Non-cadets were there, looking enviously at the boys in uniform, trying in vain to get a little attention, wishing they hadn't been too lazy to join the regi- ment. Bill was therefvery proud of the com- pany that he had trained. Mary was there, very proud of her captain. Jack was there, trying to get a smile from Mary, envying Bill who got them without trying. Finally, the individual company drills were over. The brigade formed on the field. The quiet was intense. The immovable judges re- fused to be hurried. After an interminable wait. they sent the adjutant on his way-on that short walk that always seemed to take an eter- nity. He stopped. He actually appeared to be rooted to the spot. Mary felt that her heart would burst with suspense. Would he never move? Everyone was tense, eyes glued to that motionless figure in blue, trying to read the se- cret that it held. The hopes and fears of every- one in the park rested in the decision known only to that boy. He realized that. He knew the winner. Still he didn't move. Still his face and bearing revealed nothing. Was he absolutely inhuman? At last-he turned! A murmur swept the crowd. The cadets of two schools stood on that side toward which he was walk- ing. To which was he going. The Northern fContinued on Page 325

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History of the Washington High School , Cadet Corps By Colonel Daniel HIS year the Washington High School Ca- det Corps celebrates its Forty-Eighth Anni- versary. For forty-eight years this organization has flourished and grown, benefiting the thousands of boys that have served in its ranks. Every year at the close of the last school term a company competitive drill is held. This is the greatest crisis of the school year, the cul- mination of a year's hard and faithful work. With this final decision, the spirit of the Cadet Corps is revealed. The rejoicing victors are happy in the thought that they have brought honor to their school and corps. The many losers who gave their best, but lose to those who put forth a shade better than their best, resolve to try harder next year and outdo their former efforts. The Cadets are men-they win and lose like men. Above all this dominates the spirit of service, self-sacrifice and loyalty, ideals handed down these forty-eight years by those who have served in the ranks. Through the years to come, this honorable and distinguished organization, the Washington High School Ca- det Corps, will preserve the best of the old, un- dertake new and better projects. and carry on the splendid traditions of the past. The Washington High School Cadets Were first ,organized in the fall of 1882, when two companies were formed and drilled under Mr. George Israel, a teacher of Central High School. Fifty old Austrian rifles comprised the equip- ment of the organization. The companies al- ternated in their use. ln May, 1883, the Ca- dets participated in their first real parade, that of the Grand Army of the Republic. In this same year, Lieutenant Colonel Burton R. Ross. of the District Militia, was appointed as In- structor of the Corps. On March 4, 1885, the Cadet Corps marched in its first inaugural pa- rade. The Cadets were present at the dedication ceremonies of the'Washington Monument. A short time afterward the Corps received a dis- tressing blow in the death of its helpful instruc- tor, Colonel Ross. Major McCathren was then appointed to fill the vacancy, in which position he served efficiently and well until he responded to duty's call in 1916. Under Major Mc- Cathren's instruction. proficiency of drill and sincerity of spirit took a decided step forward. ln 1888 the first Competitive Drill was held, the winning company being Company A, Cen- tral. The year 1892 was marked by the ap- pointment of the first Cadet Colonel. The honor was won by Dr. Luther Reichelderfer, now one C. Pollock, H. S. C. of the Commissioners of the District of Colum- bia. With established ideals and principles, a corps with a real purpose was now rapidly being developed. Increasing enlistments soon made it necessary to consolidate the various units. Therefore, under the supervision of Lieutenant N. B. Bris- coe, U. S. A., the Cadet Brigade was organized. When in the autumn of 1917 Lieutenant Bris- coe was called into active service overseas, Wallace M. Yater, his assistant and former Ca- det Colonel, took charge of the Corps. The Cadets were of great service to their country during the World War. They either entered into the actual Conflict or assisted the War De- partment in draft work or in other administra- tive fields. Colonel Yater was succeeded by a former cadet, Major Shoults, and he in turn, by Lieutenant Richard R. Day, U. S. M. C. It was under Lieutenant Day that extended drill was introduced to the cadet training. During this period the Cadets participated in many different ceremonies and were showered with favorable comments and words of commendation. Through the years of drilling and cooper- ation, the bonds of comradeship and fellow- ship, among the various institutions forming the Corps, were cemented, and time only made the Cadet spirit more outstanding and raised the ideals to higher levels. The War Games were introduced in 1920. This activity has since grown to become very popular. In the latter part of 1921 our own Colonel Craigie became Professor of Military Science and Tactics. Captains Strecker and Johnson became his assistants. Doctor Yates was placed in charge of the Medical Unit of the Second Regiment. Another activity introduced this year was the Brigade Rifle Team. Throughout the year the Cadets participated in many important ceremonies. As one exam- ple, they were selected guard of honor in the inauguration of President Harding. Captain A. J. O'Keefe and Major B. O. Kennedy were made assistant instructors in the fall of 1922, under whom the corps continued to flourish. In the spring of this year the important Battalion Competitive was introduced. The following year another important drill was introduced, that of the Regimental Competitive. In this year also the Brigade Band was formed under the supervision of Master Sergeant P. E. Hess. fContinued on Page 315 181

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Life at Cadet Camp, 1930 By Captain Joshua H. Skinner, Adjutant, Second Regiment HROUGH the courtesy of the District Na- tional Guard, Camp Simms was obtained for the use of the High School Cadets, Camp Simms is located in Congress Heights, D. C. It is on a large tract of Government land which is equipped with a rifle range for the use of small arms. The camp has been authorized for use by the High School Cadets for a number of years in the past as a summer camp. The army officers assigned as military instructors in the various high schools are present at camp in the summer as supervisors, and they enjoy the va- cation as much as the boys do. The camp is run at the smallest possible cost to the boys so that as many as possible may be able to attend. The length of the camp session last summer was three weeks, lasting from June 27 to July 19. Besides the rifle range, the camp property con- sists of the guard house, barracks, officers quar- ters and headquarters oiiice, supply building, kitchen and mess hall, shower rooms and a swimming pool. The arrival of the boys on the iirst day lasted from early morning to late at night. Some af- ter registering and securing a bunk among their friends inthe barracks, got out their baseball equipment and started playing ball. During the rest of that day and the next, which was Sun- day. the boys were making new friends and accustoming themselves to the camp. On Monday morning the boys were organized into two companies by the Cadet officers of the past year who were at camp. One company was made up of Tech and Eastern boys and the other of boys from Central, Western and Business. The regular daily program started at 6.45 A. M. with setting-up exercises. Shortly after- wards breakfast was served. After breakfast the barracks were cleaned up and put in order for inspection by the camp commander. Starting about 8 o'clock there were two forty-tive min- ute drill periods with a fifteen minute interval between. When the drill periods ended, the boys attended two forty-five minute lecture periods, in which one of the camp instructors spoke on the handling and management of men and of a company, behavior in private and mili- tary life, and how to take care of ourselves. Fol- lowing the lecture periods, there was iust a short time in which to prepare for the mid-day meal. This was probably the best meal of the whole day, especially after working so hard in the morning. We had the rest of the day to our- selves to play ball, read, sleep, or for anything else we wished to do, except for fatigue duty which came at one o'clock and lasted about lif- teen minutes. The main attraction of the after- noon was the swimming pool. About two o'clock everyone would head for the pool, and what a swell time they would have. At five o'clock a bugle call was sounded, thereby end- ing swimming and all other forms of recreation. The boys would then dress for dinner. In the evening the uniform was required, but without the coat. A few minutes after dinner Retreat was sounded and the flag lowered. Shortly afterwards the Old Guard was relieved by the New Guard, and then we could do as we pleased until nine-thirty when Taps was blown and and everyone was to be in bed and asleep. Really no one ever went to sleep until ten-thirty, and what a racket would be going on in the mean- time. Night guard duty had its fun also. All pros- pective officers had a chance to be either the Oflicer of the Day, or the Oiiicer of the Guard. The privates of the guard were as- signed their posts and duties, and had to walk their posts throughout the night on shifts. Storm or no storm, the guard had to be on duty, and once in a while those on duty got a good soaking. We also played several war games, not on maps, but on the terrain around camp which seemed to be made for just that purpose. One or two games were played at night and one was played in the daytime. They were a great deal of fun and afforded much amusement. Usually the two companies played against the instructors. The boys at camp celebrated the Fourth of July as the rest of the nation was doing, but in a different form. In the morning there were Manual of Arms and Saber Manual com- petitions. Throughout the afternoon there were field events and swimming events. While one is at camp, he feels that he is do- ing a lot of hard work for a vacation, but the fun really balances what work there is. Anyone who was there always looks back on his stay at camp with the pleasantest of memories. It will be a treasure which he will keep forever. and will have the greatest of pleasures in review- ing his camp activities with some former Cadet pal who was at camp with him. l10l