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Show .1 HIE SAMPLER 9:30 to 8 SATURDAYS: 9 to 6 WEEKDAYS: Friday, Mar. 12, 1982 O to 5 SUNDAYS: 11 ligways miSottary history 63 years old OSbmma 0. 0 j&&ir3ztl- 's .7$. 5T7 k'lv$ :?-- - 3'Pr '! ( W Vy iri- ? ry- . );T. .: - . 1 . ; jwfc'- - - !' IViE&on A REST BREAK near Carson City, Nevada, just a week before the convoy reached its destination in California. Eisenhower appears in the center of the photo in the light-colore- trousers. d List 57.25 by Dick Whitaker from the official report of the convoy written by Capt. Williams Greany, the Expeditionary Adjutant and Statistical Officer. The order of march has taken them from Salt Lake City to Onrs Ranch, located just to the north of the Main Gate of Dugway in Skull Valley. It is The Dugway desert was a proving ground long before the Army officially designated it as such 40 years ago. Endless acres of hot, dry hostile ter- rain presented a true challenge to those who would cross it; the trip demanded that the test of men call upon their best qualities to prove The convoy train departed from Orrs Ranch, Utah, at 6:15 a.m. pro- themselves. One of those who challenged and conquered the desert was a man who would later lead armies of millions into battle, and even later would become President of the United States. 23 yean before Dugway became a proving ground, Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Lieutenant Colonel with the newly formed Tank Corps, sta- . -t- o-coast by truck. Eisenhower later wrote, When I heard of the convoy, I was immediately excited. To those who have known, only concrete and macadam highways of gentle grades and engineered curves, such a trip might seem humdrum. In those days, we were not sure The route continued westward through Skull Valley, over the Cedar Mountains, and across a portion of the Salt Lake Desert, passing to the north of Granite Point on the northern slope of the Dugway Mountains. it could be accomplished at all. Nothing of that sort had ever been Shortly after entering upon, the desert, a sand drift several feet in height was encountered, the removal of which delayed the progress of the . crossed the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada before ending the journey at the Presidio of San Francisco, averaging 58.1 miles a day! During the progress of the convoy, 88 bridges or culverts were damaged or destroyed by the heavy trucks. All of these were rebuilt or repaired by convoy personnel before the expedition could proceed. Probably the most hazardous portion of the trip occurred here in the Great Salt Lake Desert. For a description of those two days we excerpt Through special effort a gasoline truck was sent ahead to Gold Hill, a small mining village, about thirty miles from the stalled convoy, and . tioned at Fort Meade, Maryland, when he heard of a planned transcontinental convoy of military vehicles to outfit prove that, a combat-read- y could be transported from coast attempted. I volunteered, and joined the truck train the day after I received my orders. The trip covered 346 miles and was completed in 62 days. 36 officers and 258 enlisted men started; 21 men became casualties along the route for various and sundry reasons. 79 Army trucks, cars and motorcycles left Washington, D.C. on July 7,1919, less than two years after the conclusion of the Great War, and anythere they found convenient. ceeding toward and across a portion of the Salt Lake Desert by way of Granite Point. The remainder of the distance originally scheduled for August 18; that is 22 miles, was undertaken, but was not accomplished due to deplorable road conditions, and the resulting ser--. ious dificulties experienced. However, 15 miles were made in 16.75 hours, at an average rate of .9 of a mile per hour. The weather was clear with an entire absence of mud. The maximum temperature experienced during the day was 108 degrees, while the minimum temperature recorded during the nig)it was 41 degrees. convoy train about one hour. Most of the Sieberling lowed for rest or sleep. Oh account of the terrific nature of the terrain, it .was not passible to make satisfactory arrangements for the distribution of rations or mess, and as a water famine existed, no cessation of the efforts to tempt to cook food for mess, and it was necessary therefore to serve cold baked beans and hard bread. The mere existence of the personnel was the chief and only concern of all. Due to the stalling of the baggage trucks it was impossible to distribute any bedding, and such of the personnel as were allowed short relief, ne- -. cessarily had to rest or sleep around August 21, 1919. . twenty-si- x cut-of- f, . water from Gold Hill, 14 miles distant from his camp, and placed his tractor equipment and personnel at the disposal of the expedition. The water tanks arrived at Black Point on the following day, and this relieved th? famine.' The tractor equipment loaned by Mr. Paul performed excellent service in hauling trucks onto the which western portion of the cut-of- f, was nearing completion and was in passable condition. -- . REGULAR SIZE TIELDERS GLOVE Ref. 19.95 hours, and not having had any rest or sleep for thirty or more hours, it was necessary to designate Comission, resident superintendent in then under The convoy train continued its efforts to force the passage of the Salt construction, was absolutely impassable. Detours were necessary on the Lake part of that scheduled for the salt marsh, which had a thin, hard 19th was undertaken, and since midcrust of mixed sand and crystalized night a total distance of 36 miles was salt, resembling very closely, and hav- accomplished in 13 hours, at an avering the sustaining power of hard, thin age rate of 2.77 miles per hour. ice. Practically every vehicle was The weather was clear with an enmired at one or more times, and the tire absence of wind. Hie maximum rescue work required efforts of the temperature experienced during the most strenuous and heroic character day was 98 degrees, while the minion the 'part of the entire personnel mum temperature recorded during from two oclock in the afternoon the night was 62 degrees. The route traversed was southwest throughout the night. The unexpected delay on the desert across Salt Lake Desert to Black Point caused a very serious situation in re- at the western edge of the desert, and ference to water and gasoline. The on the eastern slope of the Clifton water tank truck was placed under, Mountains. Due to the seriousness of the situaguard, and the water ration limited to .one cup per man for the evening mess tion, it was necessary to continue and through the night. The stalling of working throughout the night, no the fuel truck also prevented any at time other than short reliefs being al Genuine top grain steerhide glove with extra large open webbing made for extraeffort softball players. 492 continually during the previous Paul, of the Utah State Highway cut-of- f, 595 n The personnel was utterly exhausted by the tremendous efforts exerted Word was also dispatched relative to the shortage of water. Mr. Walker charge of the construction of the who had a conSierberling struction camp at Black Point, on the western edge of the desert about fif-teen miles distant, took immediate and energetic action to assist in relief of the convoy. He arranged for the hauling by horse team of two tanks of move forward were justified. The kitchen unit of seven trucks readied the emergency control station at 3:30 am., the first section of the convoy train arrived at 8 a.m., the second section and the service park repair unit arrived at 2 oclock in the afternoon. SOFTBALL FIELDERS GLOVE Made of steerhide leather with cowhide leather lining; semi-opewebbing. Full size pattern; straplock padded wrist strap. 9820 . was gotten back filled. . EXTRA LARGE THE SB SPECIAL the remainder of the day a rest period for the purpose of recuperating and reorganizing the expedition. In the passage of the Salt Lake Desert, most of the personnel had demonstrated to themselves for the , and in a striking manner, the significance of the terms desolation, isolation, and solitude. The excessive heat, the relentless flood of sunligfit from the cloudless sky, the terrific glare, the absense of wind, vegetation, or any sign of life, the excessive demands of duty, the lack of sleep, and poor supply of food and water, exerted a depressing effect on the morale of the personnel. It had taken the convoy two days to travel from the eastern edge of Dugway to the Western edge. It was also during this period of the convoy that LTC Eisenhower was to show the traits of leadership that would lead him to the White House. Full steerhide leather glove at an credible price! Features open web 494 lacing, - indesig- n,-rawhide NYLON & LEATHER CLEATS Apot-bi-lt baseball Values from 30 to 50 first-time- . . Outstanding value on assorted steel cleat baseball shoes. Your choice of breatheable nylon mesh uppers or full grain leather uppers: Both styles designed for optimum comfort. Afr- (f&L W&Wjfr UTILE LEAGUE WOOD BASEBALL BATS Reg. to 6.95 Your choke DUDLEY RESTRICTED FLIGHT LEATHER SOFTBALLS Our reg. 5.95 Capt. Greany described the scene. As the convoy floundered in the desert, water running short and temperatures reading over 100, tempers also soared. Fist fights-brokout and some men even showed signs of going mad from the heat and strain. Just as it appeared the experiment might collapse in disaster, the observer with the Regulation sizes and weights. e BIKE GYM -- shorts a J Reg. 4.88 gg Fantastic price savings on high ASA quality polycotton shorts. approved White with royal, scarlet, or helty green trim. SB12LRF SWEAT SEPARATES kCM boyish smile stepped in. Talking Exercise with ease and comfort in Russell Fleece Sweats. Made from a soft blend of 50 quietly, firmly and without emotion, young Eisenhower stopped quarrel after quarrel." Greany said, I never saw anything like it. The way he could quiet the men. He was a natural peacemaker. And all that was just 63 years ago this summer. cotton50 these high quality sweat clothes come in 4 sic colors-whitroyal, grey and navy. poly, clas- e, CREWHECK PULLOVER HOODED SWEATSHIRT Reg. FULL-O- P JACKET 195 Reg.13.9S 95 fSSSSSS11 WRIST SWEAT PARTS V roCKET Reg. $195 Reg. 11.95 The Deseret Sampler y i : KS. - .A - Sj 4 - i . : ' ' ' ' i . JT--- . ; .'If ' ' v 'V' WHEN THE SOLDIERS accompanying Eisenhower, lined up for chow in the 1919 expedition, many times all they got was cold beans and hard btead. Todays soldiers have it much better. For example, on March 22, 1982, the. IIHC dining hall is sponsoring a Super Supper for all military and their dependents. Featured dishes include Steamship round. New York Strip Steak, Strawberry Shortcake and other tempting dishes. For further information on the dinner, and to make reservations contact the card holders and dependents, dining hall at 2278. There is a fee for non-meand anyone attending must make a reservation for menu planning purposes. al . - J The Deseret Sampler is published Publishing by the Transcript-Bulleti- n Company of Tooele, Utah as a civilian enterprise in the interest of personnel at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, creed, color of national origin of the purchaser, user, or patron; A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by the advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Business and advertising matters concerning the paper should be addressed to the Tooele Transcript-Bulleti58 N. Main St.. Tooele, Utah 84074 or call (801) 8824)650. r News items for publication should be sent to the Public Affairs Officer, Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah 84022, or call (801) 522-211The Sampler is published twice monthly by offset mhod. to - j BA U)i&on . OFFICIAL WGB LEATHER BASKETBALL Reg. 14JS DtVCRStFICO mooucTs n, leather panels for soft touch, deep pebbling for sure handling. Panels are permanently bonded to carcass. Full-grai- n Official size and weight basketball is constructad of rubber with 2H miles of ."hiding in the carcass. ly and weight Size 4 215 HO.r.lAIH, sport V a Red, white, and blue panel soccer ball is official size 6. y flRl lit SYNTHETIC LEATHER S0CCERBALL Our rag. 12.95 US - DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTS SUPERSTAR RUBBER BASKETBALL Our ng. CENTERS i 95 |