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

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THE ADIUTANT Save He Serve, No Man Can Rule VOLUME XXII MAY 5 and 6, 1941 NUMBER 1 MR. NORMAN J. NELSON An Interview by LT. COL. JACK F. BENNETT, H. S. C. HE Washington High School Cadet Corps has a true friend in Mr. Norman J. Nelson, the principal of Woodrow Wilson High School, whose associa- tion with Washington schools and Cadet work has extended over nineteen years. lt was in 1910 that this young westerner, who was to accomplish so much in the field of education for his adopted city. CEUIIC to the Capital to work with the Federal govern- ment. He left his home in North Dakota, where the majority of his youth had been spent and where already he had completed two years of college. This education he continued in Washington by attending school at night, and soon the George Washing- ton llniversity conferred upon him a Bachelor of Arts degree. ln 1918 Mr. Nelson resigned from the Federal government to enlist in the armed forces of the nation. Almost immediately he was transferred to London, remaining there for a year and a half. Upon his return to America he again entered the employ of the government and for three years he served in an executive capacity. A deep ambition to enter the held of academic instruction was gratified in 1922, for in that year lVlr. Nelson withdrew permanently from the government and joined the teaching faculty of Central High School. A few years later he was advanced to the ollice of assistant principal. Here it was that his active interest in and deep respect for the Washington High School Cadet Corps originated. Central at that time, with its thirty-two hundred students, often had as many as ten companies, and the affairs of this great organization were largely in the hands of a military committee composed of eight teachers. lVlr. Nelson was made a member of this committee. Consequently, each spring he would with the other members judge all prospective commissioned officers in an oral examination and in an actual exhibition of commanding a squad. Later, while he was assistant principal. all cases of breach of discipline were brought before him. Leaving Central in 1928, lVlr. Nelson studied for a year at Harvard University and received a lVlaster,s degree in English. The next year, however, he re-entered the District school system as assistant principal at Western High School. Between school terms in 1930 he visited England again on a travelling scholarship, making a thorough study of the secondary schools of that nation. At its founding in 1935, lVlr. Nelson became principal of Woodrow Wilscmii High School, which under his good-natured. intelligent and inspiring leadership has in but a few years attained an eminent rank among the secondary schools of America. lVlr. Nelson entertains high regard for the worth of the High School Cadet Corps training. With pleasure he recalls the benefit it has been to boys whom he has taught and known well. Particularly clear is his memory of the second-place captain whose Cadet training had instilled in him such determination that, when, during his turn on the company competitive held, a sudden cloudburst drenched him and his men, he held his men in place and decided to continue the drill rather than to take the op- portunity of returning later. lVlr. Nelson considers that the Corps produces two primary benefits. One of these is the training in leadership which by placing unusual re- sponsibility on high school boys heightens their self-reliance and increases their stature -a value which may flow from other extra-curricular activities but from none to so many boys. The other is the stimulation to scholastic achievement resulting from a system of advancement which places so great an emphasis upon curricula achievement. The High School Cadet Corps is most fortunate and indeed proud to have the wholehearted support of a man who so well as lVlr. Norman J. Nelson understands its purposes. problems. and ideals. Seven

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MR. NORMAN J. NELSON Ilfl-lIl'I'1JlII of Woozlron' Wilsun High School

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EXCERPTS FROM THE HISTORY OF THE CADET CORPS WASHINGTON PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL Brought up to date by COLONEL DAVID A. RHODES, H. S. C. 1882--The Washington High School Cadet Corps was organized when two com- panies of 50 men each were formed at Central High School. Since only fifty Austrian rifles had been issued, the two companies used them alternately. George Israel, a Central High School teacher, instructed the companies. Later, Captain Burton R. Ross, who became Lieutenant Colonel of the District Militia, was formally appointed the first instructor of the Cadet Corps. 1883-The corps made its first public appearance in the parade of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1885-The cadets marched in the inaugural parade of President Cleveland and were present at the dedication of the Washington Monument. 1888-First Competitive Drill was held. Company A of Central High School won first place. 1890-Four new companies were added to the Cadet Corps with the opening of four new schools in September of this year: Business, now Roosevelt, Eastern, Mckin- ley and Western. 1893-The first Colonel was appointed. This honor was bestowed upon Luther Reichelderfer, now Dr. Reichelderfer, an ex-Commissioner of the District of Columbia. 1895-The Allison Nailor Medal was presented to the High School Cadets by Mr. Allison Nailor. The purpose of the medal is 'fTo stimulate a higher degree of pro- ficiency and skill in Military knowledge .... 1913-Colonel Ross, who had discharged his duties efficiently for twenty years and had won the respect and admiration of everyone associated with the Corps, died. Major McCathran was appointed to the position vacated by the death of Colonel Ross. 1914-The late Stephen E. Kramer, Assistant Superintendent of the public schools, originated the idea of holding an annual ceremony to present Commissions to the cadet officers. His purpose was to create a feeling of unity among the cadets. The first presentation was made by Brigadier General E. M. Weaver, U. S. Army. The ceremony has been continued and is now observed at each school every Spring. 1916-Major McCathran was called to the Mexican border for service. For a year the cadets were without an ofhcial Military Instructor. Major E. Z. Steever, U. S. Army, then a lieutenant. voluntarily gave the cadets elementary training in military science. Lieutenant N. B. Briscoe was appointed by the War Department to succeed Major McCathran. When war was declared with Germany Lieutenant Briscoe was assigned to other duties. His assistant, the former Cadet Colonel Wallace M. Yater, was pro- moted to instructor and Cadet Major Worth Shoults became Assistant Military Instructor. 1917-Cadet Corps was first organized as a brigade under the direction of Lieu- tenant Briscoe. The first ofhcial program of the Competitive Drill was published. It consisted of only twenty pages and contained the personnel of the brigade and the pictures of the officers. Miss Rebecca E. Shanley, teacher of English, who originated the idea of a cadet year book, founded in 1917 the year book we now know as the Adjulfml. Under Miss Shanley's direction the magazine has developed from a program into an ofiicial record of the history and regulations of the Cadet Corps. During the World War the cadets received numerous certificates from the War Department for service rendered in assisting the Registration for the Selective Draft. Many cadets joined the national forces and participated in actual combat. We are justly proud of the fine precedent set by members of the corps in such a crisis. 1918-Cadet Major Shoults was promoted to the position of Military Instructor. 1919-Lieutenant Richard R. Day, U. S. M. C., was appointed Military Instructor when Major Shoults resigned. Eight