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Show Page 3 THE DESERET SAMPLER, Friday, February 29, 1980 Is really e dying art? spit-shini- ng Leonard C. JBrostrom by Dick Whitaker One of the riches that blesses Dugway is the wealth of stories about people youll find here, These stories about real people and hard times can be found if youll take the time to ask, and think, listen. One of these stories is about courage, a ship, and the Congressional Medal of honor. Dale Brostrom who works in the Directorate for Management Information Systems (DMIS) doesnt talk of his brother Leonard very much, Rather soft spoken. Dale will mention casually that his brother was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in November 1944. THE CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding the ac-tion that led to the award reads like something from a John Wayne movie. The citation itself tells story best: PFC Leonard C. Brostrom, Company F, 17th Infantry, was a rifleman with an assault platoon which ran into powerful resistance near Dagami, Philippines, October 28, 1944. From pillboxes, trenches and spiderholes, so well camouflaged that they could not be detected more than 20 yards, the enemy poured machine gun ami rifle fire, causing severe casualties in the By Unda D. Kozaryn Associate Editor, ARNEWS Over the past 200 years, soldiers have spent 9,478,542 hours spit shining combat boots, accord-in- g to the U.S. Army trivia research agency (USATRA), Fort Uttlefax, Ark. Gathering the information was a formidable task, said Mr. Minor Detail, USATRA project officer. Some people have mastered the ait and can to a glossy shine in 20 bring a pair of jump-boo- ts minutes. Of course, these individuals have a tendency to spend another 20 minutes gazing at their reflection in the toe, he added. For others, the process becomes a frustrating chore requiring hours of patience, countless cotton balls and elbow grease, he said.' In the three years weve spent studying -- - ng spit-shini- the time and patience involved. Ive come to recognize this skill as an art requiring a very special talent, Detail said. This art. Im afraid, may well be lost,. he prophesied. Our fictitious Mr. Detail may well be right. Future soldiers may never have to develop this talent - master this art. Theyll never have black polish under, their fingernails, g staias on their hands or cherish the sight of a . REALIZING THAT a key pillbox in the center of the strongpoint would have to be out if the Company were to advance. Pvt. -- edge-dressin- mirror-- toe and heel. By 1986, soldiers may be wearing boots that finish need no polishing an earth-browrough leather hoot resembling a good pair of hiking I loots. In fact, the sole of this boot of the future was designed in Italy and has been used by mounn, tain climliers for about 40 years. Some may say, 'Were going back to the brown shoe Army. Brown in color, yes4 but hopefully thats where the similarity will end. The new brown boots being developed by the Natick Army Research and Development Command (NARADCOM) will have the rough side of the leather on the outside making them more water repellant. Soft, glove leather will line the inside forcomfort. Brostrom, without orders and completely ignoring his own safety, ran forward to attack the pillbox with grenades. He immediately became the prime target for all the riflemen in the area, as he rushed the rear of the pillbox and tossed grenades through the entrance. Six enemy soldiers left a trench in a bayonet but he killed "My Mon the ahipn Broatromt father reminiacea on the bridge of the fS charge against the heroic American,rifle fire. As he .with others off drove and the one Leonard C. Broatrom named poatumoualy for hia aon. more grenades from his completely exposed he was wounded several times in the abdomen and knocked to the ground. He slowly rose to hisfeet and once more hurled his deadly missiles at the pillbox. . . ' Like the comliat boot of today, the brown boot will have a cut-onotch on the ey elet row flex ankle the to allowing normally. A snow tire tread heel and sole will give better traction and stability. Shielding the bottom of the foot will be a spike resistant insole plate, and for all the toe-- st libbers and hammer droppers, a steel toe has been added. will become a task of Although the past, the new boots will need some care. A kit dye and a silicone containing an earth-brow- n water repellant will be issued. A hard bristle brush will remove most dust and dirt while soap and water will clean most stains. A shiny spot caused by repeated rubbing will, The boots are designed for in fact, lie a No-nwear with the new camouflage uniform and the rough surface serves a purpose. The black shiny surface of the combat boot now in use can be detected by electronic surveillance equipment. Black stains will lie replaced by earth-brow- n and cotton balls by a stiff stains dye brush. The art of spit shining may well be lost. When asked to comment on the boot of the future, Mr. Detail was unavailable. Since our interview he had retired and is now working as a marketing specialist for KeeWee Polish Company. ut spit-shini- at vice. ANOTHER FOOTNOTE, it is odd that trom would be honored by having what is now a Navy ship named for him. The Navy, as. well as the Air Force,-turnehim down when he tried to list. He had bad eyes. He then turned to the Army and was accepted. After spending several months he was sent to the Philippines, assigned state-sid- e after was sent to the front he was 8 he days Just killed. When Dale was asked why his attack the Japanese brother would stronghold, he said that Leonard was a highly motivated young man. Dale said he cared a lot for his fellow men, and he wasnt surprised that Leon-threaid would do such a thing. Dale Brostrom is viously proud of his Medal of Honor winning brother, I guess anybody would lie. Bros-platoo- n. ed 25-year-- single-handed- ly w ob-positi- on As he collapsed, the enemy began fleeing from the fortification and were killed by riflemen of his platoon. Pvt. Brostrom died while being carried from the battlefield, but his intrepidity and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice, himself in a one-ma- n. attack against overwhelming odds enabled his Company to reorganize, again attack and annihilate the entire enemy position. PR0TEIN Weider and Hoffman Naturade VITAMINS Richlife NuLife Thompson Shaklee THE SHIP HAS quite a history. Built by the Sun Shipbuilding Company in Chester, Pennsylvania, it was christened in 1943. For the next three years it carried military cargo to the Pacific Theater of War. It was mothballed in 1946, then trans- - The Council also provides $25 to the Library each month to 'buy new books. These books are listed in the flyer that the Librarian provides the Weekly. Bulletin, see WB No 06, dated 14 February 1980, for the most recent books purchased. Revenue for the Post Restaurant Civilian Welfare Fund Council comes from the operation of all vending machines on post. The Council provides support for activities enjoyed by commuters as well as military and civilian residents of Dugway. If you have any questions. 882-448- (I EHE&n'Sn IS SPK!SE!DC'J... Andrew DiCarlo, ext. 5276; and. Evelyn Campbell; ext. 2222. MtoOesaOeS Chevrolet Caprice 4 door sedan "Beautifully equipped, elegant transportation. Low miles. Loaded. ...If you have enjoyed the warm weather this week. .. KEEP BUYIN THOSE TACOS, FOLKS! ... And well bring you more of it as the year progresses! wl $981 9.95 Manufacturers List Price Winner of .Time Magazine's "Quality Dealer Award"' CMttbIMO Dennis F: Fuller, ext 3538; Gregory B. Adams, ext. 3521; Debbie Porter, ext. 2324; Don C. Weatherhead, ext. 5301; Jill Duncan, ext 2241; Dean S. Perry, ext. 2435; Bobbi DiCarlo, ext. 2181; Kenneth P. Jones, ext. 3561;. Dixie L. Zumwalt, ext. 2125; James G. Beck, ext. 2495; Howard Smalley, ext. 5454; Charles E. DeWitt, ext. 5276; Mary Fagerland, ext. 3331; Daniel M. Fletcher, ext. 5220; - SAVE $3424.95 1 979 YOKIE 8 comments or suggestions for the Council just contact any member. 0IIHIHMIHIIMHIHHIHHIHHMIHIIIIHHIMNIHHHHINIHIHNHIIIHHIIIUIHIHIHIINHIHIIHIII Tlftiain) YA5 Schiff, Vitasun nia. CWF keeping busy with projects Less e, - Check them out work area lounges on post. If you realize a need, and have a location to place a lounge in your building, please contact a member of the Council. Two work area lounges have just lieen furnished. One in the center wing, upstairs in Building 5330, and one in the Transportation Building. If you are near either of these buildings and have time, please stop by and check out the lounges. . Sometim later,' in 1950, another honor came to the Brostrom1 family as the result of Leonards heroic action. The U.S. Army Transport Ship, Marine Eagle,"- was rechristened the SS Leonard C. Brostrom. Dale and Leonards father attended the rechristening ceremonies in Oakland, Califor- ng providing furniture for different 10-to- and father, Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Brostrom in Preston, Idaho, where the family made their home. Oddly, it was the second time the little town of Preston, population 3,300 was to be recognized. Just a year, before PFC Nathan K. VanNoy received the Medal of Honor. He died in action on Scarlet Beach, New Guinea. ng The Post Restaurant Civilian Welfare Fund Council is presently po-an- the Army made the award to Leonards mother -- . ferred to the Navys Military Sea Transportation Service and overhauled as a heavy lift ship. For a time it held the record for lifting the heaviest load for a vessel of its type. She handled a 116-to- n Navy turbo-electr- ic d turbine generator car, a 101-to- n diesel-electri- c 11 and locomotives weigh werplant tanker ing 85 tons each. Later it lifted a 1 n 'fo from Yokohama, Japan Taiwan, motiring buoy In 1968, the elder Brostrom revisited the ship with other members of the Brostrom family. It was to be Mr. Brostroms last Visit to the ship named for his son, the elder Brostrom passed away shortly afterward. The SS Leonard C. Brostrom continues to sail on the Pacific, however it may be on its last voyage. We learned the Brostrom sailed from Oak-th- e land on Saturday, February 16th for Subic Bay in the Philippines and then to the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean: It is due to return to Oakland in April.. A decision to once again moth-Leytball the veteran drip will be made before its re- turn, according to officials of the Pacific Area Command of the Military Sea Transportation Ser-- 1.ESS THAN two weeks after Brostrom died o. edge-dressi- of courage A story KrawoiLaTr 23 South Main 882-314- 0 . . . And Be Sure To Watch This Ad For Future Specials To Celebrate The "Rites Of Spring Courtesy Of. . . ui 125 S. 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