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Show The l o ENGINEERS . By Pvt. Bob Kelly The National Guardsmen are sincerely appreciative of the lavish lav-ish attention the people of Springville Spring-ville showered upon them before their departure. Many of the business busi-ness men and organizations of Springville contributed their services ser-vices to entertain us royally. Besides Be-sides the entertainment the townspeople towns-people gave to the company as a whole, many of the Guardsmen were given farewell parties in their honor by their families and friends. With the proceeds from the banquet ban-quet and athletic carnival, approximately ap-proximately $375, the company is going to purchase athletic equipment, equip-ment, good books, subscriptions to the Springville Herald and some worthwhile magazines, and many incidentals to add to our comfort in quarters. The balance will be placed in the company fund to be used in case of emergencies, etc. Harrison Conover is generously giving us a column in this paper for the duration of our stay in training, so that the "folks at home" can get an immediate insight in-sight to our activities and camp life. Now it won't seem as if we are separated from our families by a seemingly immeasurable distance. dis-tance. The column will be entitled "The Engineers." We will give necessary that we'll have to train for more than a year. We will gladly stay longer, for the better trained we become the better we we will be able to protect our homes and families in the event of war. With this thought in mind we will train more assidiously that we might be of better service to our country and loved ones. We are here to perform that mission. It seemed as if the entire city "turned out" to bid us farewell. The tears of our mothers, the kisses kiss-es of our sweethearts, and the handclasps of our friends have impressed im-pressed this day indelibly upon our memories. The route here to San Luis Obispo was very scenic, through the beautiful Feather River country. coun-try. All day long the boys kept their eyes glued to the windows as they drank in the grandeur of nature from the passing mountains, moun-tains, streams, and forests except those who were playing poker. When we went through the San Joaquin valley many of the boys saw for the first time in their lives the palm trees, avocados, and California poppies. The camp is located in a mountainous moun-tainous region but it isn's very rocky. The mountains are covered entirely by a thick, luxuriant, pas- you intimate glimpses of the daily lives of the boys, camp news, sports events, pertinent foreign news, and camp chatter. All of the sacrifices that you and we have had, and will have to endure, will be amply repaid if the seemingly inevitable war is averted avert-ed from our shores. It might be ture grass. Since the camp is only four miles from San Luis, and nine miles from the ocean, the boys can enjoy surf bathing and other aquatic sports as well as a little "night life," to relieve the monotony of routine. When we arrived here, the camp was alive with activity from every quarter. Contractors were building hospital buildings, warehouses, and tent frames, leveling ground, and making roads. Scores of trucks were roaring through every road in. the camp and hundreds of men were busily engaged in unloading of the trains and arranging arrang-ing of quarters, while others were running crazily and aimlessly in all directions looking for their quarters. The dust raised by such a vigorous commotion hung in a yellow pall over the entire camp. By night we were established in our tents and ready to "turn in." The next day (Thursday) was allowed al-lowed us to straighten our tents and get familiar to our strange environment. The boys spent the forenoon building clothes closets, benches, tables, and shelves. Major Gottfredson, Major Curtis, Cur-tis, and Captain Colton of Co. "B", in the afternoon, gave some very interesting and instructive talks church, the services were strictly non-sectarian. Sunday afternoon, a reconnaissance reconnais-sance party sent to map a possible infantry road and bridge in a canyon can-yon nearby, found some water- turtles tur-tles and brought them back to camp. The turtles immediately came into much demand and prices up to 2 5c apiece were paid for them, then a turtle race was started. The race track was a circle cir-cle about eight feet in diameter, with a one-foot starting circle in the center. The turtles were placed in the starting circle and the first one to reach the outer ring was the winner. Pvt. 1C1. Mays Anderson Ander-son had the fastest turtle in the company. Sgt. John Smith's was second and Pvt. Bert Harrison's third. Co. "A" then challenged Co. "B" from Vernal to a turtle race. Mays' turtle, Oscar, won every time "claw down" by a good "three-turtle length" or more. All afternoon' Sunday the boys lolled around in their newly issued is-sued "government underclothing." Major Gottfredson told us that everything issued to us was to be on personal hygiene, camp regulations, regu-lations, our conduct both in camp and away, hospital and medical care we'll be afforded, our duties, and opportunities for partaking of religious services. Friday we began drilling in earnest and Saturday the boys were roughly introduced to that very unpleasant task of regimental guard duty. Some were granted passes to go into town, but only a few. No passes were granted Sunday, but the fellows had the entire day to do what they wanted. want-ed. The day was whiled away playing touch football, playing catch, sleeping, and a few attended attend-ed Sunday school. A very fine program pro-gram was given under the direction direc-tion of the chaplain, Major Curtis. Although the chaplain is a member mem-ber of the Latter Day Saints "scientifically fit." That may be, but the scientists must have changed the standard foot length to eighteen inches when our clothing cloth-ing was measured. The 32-inch waist measurements were 36 inches when we got them,, and the ches 38 was 44. As a matter-of-fact, the only thing that 'fit was the handkerchiefs. Even big Rex "Moose" Johnson had to take underclothing un-derclothing four sizes too large for him. Oh, well! It doesn't show, anyway ... or will it? Pvts. Dee Sanford and Wesley Baker are in the hospital for observation ob-servation about a little matter that came up during the physical exam we had back home. They were visited by some of the fellows fel-lows who reported that they were feeling "chipper" and quite okay. Today, Monday, we took a grueling ten-mile hike, with packs, in the mountains near camp. In the afternoon we pitched pup tents. While still in the field, Corp. LaVere Clegg and Staff Sgt. Wendell Wen-dell Dangerfield gave us some in structive prepared talks on first aid and hygiene. Since our arrival, the following men received specialist ratings: Pvt. 1st Class Mays Anderson to Specialist 3rd Class; Pvt. 1st Class Glen Fullmer to 3rd Class; Pvt. 1st Class Jay Nielson to 3rd Class; Pvt. 1st Class Dan Alleman to 4th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Wells Bring-hurst Bring-hurst to 4th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Fred Bird to 5th class; Pvt. 1st Class James Lindsey to 5th class; Pvt. 1st Class Tom Anderson to 5th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Joseph Olsen to 5th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Wayne Miller to 5th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Norman Bird to 5th Class; Pvt. 1st Class Joe Salisbury to 5th Class; Pvt. Billy Leslie to 5th Class; Pvt. Harold Giles to 5th Class; Pvt. Bob Kelly to 5th Class. w Everyone sends their love and regards. Boy! We are all homesick as the dickens! |