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THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 194TTHE BRiTankers Keep Busy1TrainOfficersft(Another letter from wayout went in Ft. Lewis, Wash., where Brainerd’it national guard company Ih training arrived today. Written by Sergeant Don Paine, it tells more of the activities of the Brain-erd lad* who are in theirEnglish Spoken HereWriAcNlt;fourth month of training with Co. A, 194th tank Imttalion.)BY SGT. DON PAINEWell, friends, it has been a long time since I have been able to find the time to sit down and write to you, It is a shame, too, because so many things have been happening that I know would be Interestingto you.I’ll try to give you some kind of a picture of the layout of the camp. Starting from Tacoma, we will travel south by a big army special buswhich is crowded to the doorswith soldiers. Riding for about 20 minutes we come to a big vine covered stone gate which is patroled by M. P.’s at all times. Proceeding for a block, we turn to the lep into California avenue which will fin-lead us to our destination.ally lead us But first we pass by many of themain points of interest.The bus depot is the first spotbecause thereyou would noticeyou would have to transfer unto ajitney” which makes a trip around the “loop” every hour during the day and nearly every half hour after 4 p. m. The main post exchange I* right across the street and includes the vegetable market, clothing store, soda fountain and nearly anything else you wish in store for the whole fort.On the other side of the street iathe “Sergeants’ Club,’’ a very exclusive place which no one but mem-beis and their guests dare to enter. The Post theater is a block further down and is a fine building seating about twiee as many as either of the theaters in Brain-erd. The shows are very good usually; of course they are not the latest but they are not very. old. On the opposite side of the block you should not miss seeing a very beautiful church, which one could never ordinarily expect to see in an army camp. The big brick buildings which we pass as we keep on our way are the permanent bar-raks which are very convenient and just about like an apartment house.About a half mile further on, thestreet curves north around the end of the airport, “Gray Field.’’ Opposite the end of the field—our •jatialian is situated, in area No. 12. with a branch post exchange i.ght across the street. We occupy a section of land about the size of12 two-BER Italian day thi Germaibiddenvere pi official of or r ler, Blt;high pfThe eign cc It foiports urelease*gardin?tweenGermaristers, J Count (tary mlt;♦}IIIr♦Briton and American get heads together as Lord Halifax, ambassador to Washington, and J. P. Morgan talk at dinner of EnglishSpeaking Union in New York.outside reports, it seems we arc getting the best cooking in the imttalion.Pvt. Id. James Clevenger wassent to Ft. Knox, Ky., April 5 forlt;4training in mechanics and Pvt. lcl.William Smith left on the 10th forthe same destination to take clerical work. They will be gone for about three months and then re-t irn to the battalior for service. These men at Ft, Knox can be rrached by writting to them in care of the “Armored Force School Detachment,” Ft. Knox, Ky.* And thank the Lord we don’t have to tramp),We all get out of our iron wagons, And then the sergeant begin* to naggin’.It’s grease this up and lubricate that,”Until you’d like to give him a bat. And when you get that work ailthrough,There’s a lot of writin' you gotta do.An Emarshrrconteststhe Frilt; tion. W tests ^ Joyce I GuestsLillie Btin JohMarblin fullperiods.Jerry day to i where tl Mary all the 1Lack inThe fthisfour city blocks which hasstory wooden barracks on two sidesand supply houses on the other two.We have an anti-tank battalion cn our west and the 15th infantry on our east. (The 15th is moving out today to other quarters.) Mount Runicr shows up in the east as beautiful as a picture and on fine days seems so dose that we could hike toLoat Monday was as most of you know “Army Day.” We all expected to have a vacation that day, but as they are trying to rush our training because of the “selectees’ coming, we only had time to attend the exhibitions put on at the parade ground* for the public. I pt rsonally could not attend because I was in charge of quarters while i veryone w as away. Our battalion sent six tanks over, two manned* by each company, to put on an ex-hibitional tank attack upon theanti-tank battalion. A squadron of bombers supported the attack andwith all the roaring of motors and *iring of blanks by the 75mm guns they really thrilled the spectators. The program lasted all afternoon, ending with a colorful ceremony at “retreat.”*t s how* much gas we usedtime,And someone says, “It’s no businessof mine.”And *o we begin to pass the buckUntil someone gets it and then they’re stuck.That’s how it goes in the old tankarmy,Lots of work and lots of blarney; We work like hell both day and night,We re covered with grease andwe’re sure a sight.We stew andfuss when wewework overtime,What we re thinking could be considered a crime.But if we were offered a differenthorse,We'd refuse to desert the armoredforce,We work but we’re healthy and have a good tan,And were loyal tankers—to the last man.each goi Six wlt;f his weeFred from dii on Monlt; Mrs. lt;Britton Friday.Mr. a and Aili Lasher’s Donna Chambei Violet Britton Mr. ar were to Mr. aat Chanicnich othere.Mr. ar to ChamThe Si m CroatITANK SERVICEBy Pvt. (First Class) MaxwellWe’re aware of our homecomfng what the folks will say—sons',Agnes night at Elfie EBritton ’Fred C‘ That guy’s hitch in the army was hong spe only play.Dobson, Co. A, 194th Tk. Bn.A tank is sure a funny thing,up and bark, your | Pedestrian Deaths areit in a few minutes. It is actually more than 70 miles away.Several of the men are going to school here in camp. Those going to officers school are First Sgt. Guin, Sgt. Clabo, Sgt. Swearingen, Sgt. Lowe, Sgt. Veillette, Sgt. Johnson and Sgt. Paine. These menaround and makesare competing with 16 men from the rest of the battalion for commissions as second lieutenants. Sixteen of those who pass will fill vacancies In our battalion and the icst will get inactive certificates and their commissions as soon asIt shakes you shin*;It slams you you ache And a few other things it makesyou take.But when you climb in those oldiron waggons,You're as safe as in church andI’mMost Numerous in AreaBritton’sJohn 1 were toMr. anST. PAUL, Minn. (I’.Hi—A reportby the safety division of the state highway department show’ed today that more than 51 per cent of the people killed in traffic accidents during the first quarter of 1941 werenot braggin For Uncle Sam haspedestrians, and more than 50 per made them I cent of the pedestrians killed wereviolating the law.Out of 78 persons killed during January, February and March, the safety division reported, 40 met Nowr when we all get back to camp'death as pedestrians.Tostronglead the advanceand right allwrongs.there are any openings. These men are getting a chance that few people get, except in times like these, when office!s are needed quickly to fill all the vacancies caused by so many promotions,Sgt, Porw’oll, S”t. Goodrich, Corp. Saarinen and Corp. Strobel are going to a ‘chemical warfare school” preparing to teach us how to wear gas masks and about all the gaaes which might be used in war.e ’ mV■VHf:MPvts. lcl Walter Davis and Ilenry Turner, the regular cooks, and Pvt. lcl. Ross Burrows and August Bender, the relief cooks, are attending cooking school and the mealshave been showing signs of improvement right along. Fromv(©he ncof the
Newspaper Details
Brainerd Daily Dispatch
Brainerd, Minnesota, US
Thu, Apr 24, 1941
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
James O.
USA 03 Nov 2019
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