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

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CALVIN COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL SEPARATE BATTALION CALVIN COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL By MAJOR ROBERT MILLAR, H. S. C. HEN, last November, I received my commission from Roose- velt High School as Major, detailed as commander of the Coolidge Battalion, which had just been organized as a unit of the High School Cadet Corps, I immediately set as my goal, and I know the officers set as theirs, the placing of the battalion near the top in the annual Battalion Competitive Drill. That was six months ago. During the past six months we have been faced by many difficulties, among these, the problem of transporting the fourteen commissioned officers from Roosevelt to Calvin Coolidge each drill day, the problem of securing rifles and fitting out the gun room, that of devising an efficient filing and grading xsystem, and many others. Mr. Warren, our faculty military adviser, and Mr. Lee G. Gilbert, chairman of the military committee, undertook the solution of these various problemsg and a well-knit, highly organized battalion is the result of their efforts. As an example of the efficiency with which the organization of the battalion was handled, Mr. Warren devised a system of photographing each man in the battalion, and further- more, of learning each man by name. Cn behalf of the officers and men of the battalion, I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to Mr. Warren, and Mr. Gilbert, and to Mr. Holmes, our principal at that time, whose aid and interest in the battalion have been invaluable and who, through his personal efforts, secured new sabers for our use. In its infancy the Coolidge Battalion is fortunate to have as its company com- manders such efficient officers as Captain Jetton, Company Ag Captain Bateman, Com- pany B, and Captain Watkins, Company C. These three officers, aided by their lieutenants and non-commissioned ofhcers, have developed three companies which I know will make showings in the Company Competitive Drill of which we can be proud. I wish to-express my thanks to these three captains for their loyalty, their determined and successful efforts, and also to Captain Hubbard of our band, who has built up a very promising organization. To my lieutenants, Staffin, Selis and MacFall, Battalion Adjutant, Supply Officer, and Personnel Adjutant respectively, are due my most sincere thanks. They have of- fered invaluable aid to the efficient and orderly functioning of the battalion as have also my staff sergeants, Sgt. Major Cruickshanks, Supply Sgt. Wallace, Tech. Sgt. Murphy, and Color Sgts. Schweitzer and Cohn. Without the loyalty and support of the men our efforts would have been futile, for the officers could have accomplished nothing had they not had the unselfish devotion of their non-commissioned officers and men of the ranks. The fact that Calvin Coolidge won the trophy offered by the Washington Chapter, University of Virginia Alunmi Association to the high school having the highest percentage of enrollment in the High School Cadet Corps testifies to the whole-hearted manner in which the boys entered into the spirit of the organization. I never saw better spirit and morale, devotion and determination than that which is possessed by the men of our battalion, and so, for their excellent cooperation I express my appreciation. To these men, many of whom, together with the non-commissioned officers, will make up next year's set of officers, I wish the best of luck. Under these men, as officers, with whose ability and loyalty I am well acquainted, the battalion I feel is assured success in the future. 0110 hundred twenty-scvcn I

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HAND SALUTE l Military Instructor, Calvin Coolidge High School By MR. RYLAND M. WARREN HAND salute and con- gratulations are due before the present detached Battalion of Calvin Coolidge High School Cadets is dismissed for 1941. The Commissioned Officers from Roosevelt High School deserve special cita- tion for the enthusiasm, effort, and patience with which they have worked to train the three com- panies under their command. The organization of a new Battalion in a new school, with cadets from several former schools, presented situations which only very fortunate circumstances could have so successful- ly adjusted. The first, to mention, was the good fortune of having as Principal, Mr. Thomas J. Holmes, now a Major in the Infantry, Army of the U. S.g secondly, in having Mr. Lee E. Gilbert as chairman of the Military Committee, whose Mn. Itrrixxn M. WARREN experience, personality, and whole-hearted de- M l' '8 'f ' votion to cadet work made it possible to create, f'l ff l'l 'll'l Shi a lm M HW 'gl ' F no early, a complete and accurate system of per- forming the details of operation, thirdly, the student-body responded with interest and enthusiasm to such an extent that the percentage of boys enlisted was highest of the Washington high schools. We are proud to have won the Trophy offered by the linivcrsity of Virginia, for the first time, for having the highest percentage of boys i'III'UlIf'd. The response for service as guides in connection with National Registration for Selective Military Service is to be highly commended and is one of many indica- tions that the cadets of Calvin Coolidge High School will grow into an Eighth Regiment that will soon he known as winners of First Placev in many cadet competitions. CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING By SGT. MAJOR BENJAMIN CRUICKSHANKS, H. S. C. N Christmas Eve Colonel Rhodes and the highest ranking Cadet officer from each of the eight high schools acted as a Guard of Honor for President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the annual lighting of the National Community Christmas Tree. The tree was located on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. When the Presidentis car approached and the Secret Service men deployed, the officers came to 'Lattentionf' 'fPresent saberf' was executed as the President stepped from his car and held while he proceeded up the ramp to the speakcr's platform. At this time the officers were dismissed, but most of them stayed to hear the President's speech. In his opening remarks the President said that next year he hoped to have the Community Christmas Tree in the White House grounds. This was indeed an opportunity for the officers chosen to see the President of the United States light the beautiful tree, and a privilege to represent the Washington High School Cadets at this occasion. Une lulndrcd twenty-eight