Centre Democrat. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, April 06, 1944, Image 9

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    April 6, 1944
Page Three
Doughboy’s Everyday
Experience In Army
Pyvl, John Kirkpatrick, son of Rev.
and Mrs. J. M. Kirkpatrick, of Coal-
port, farmerly of Centre Hall, con-
tinues with his interesting narrative
of his experiences in military ser-
vice, which he entitles: “We Travel
the Country Army Style.”
Murjory began to get accustomed
to the old city of Savannah and the
forty-three mile bus trip she had to
take each day to see me at Camp
Stewart. Of course it was only for
a few hours cach evening but she
felt it was worth it and I sure was
glad to have her.
I was starting out as range setter. |
Of course I can't begin to explain |
my job due to military secrecy awd
the fact that I didn't know what I
was doing half the time, The men
would be walting anxiously {o blast
away at the target floating majes-
tically through the alr in one direc-
tion while 1 was frantically trying
to reverse the range of the gun
which I of course had traversing in
the opposite direction. 1 was be-
ginning to doubt the value of a col-
lege education or the depth of my!
gray matter when the Battery Com-
mander, afler two weeks of turmoil,
relieved the nerves of the gun crew
by relieving me from my duty on the
range setter and sending me to my
first G. 1. Scheol, wire communica-
tions
School days In the army are swell
You go from 8:00 in the morning
till five in the evening then have a
required study period of two hours
each night. This rather long sched-
ule was made up for in some small
way by the fact that we got every
weekend off and there were no K. P.
or guard duty. There was, however,
plenty of study. I plowed through
the fundamentals of clectricity and
pondered over the phones used for!
communications since 1900 by our
armed forces. I spliced wire and
cut wire. [I fixed phones and tamp-
ered with phones in
age. I tapped wires
sples tapping mines. We took turns
operating the switch board and, of
course, every soldier st his outpost
had to call the switchboard at least
otice ang ask for New York or some
other impossible place. Of course
we were to practice correct proce-
dure but the usual procedure was to
call outpost 2 from outpost 4 (about
fifty feet apart), lie Jeisurély "neath
Georgia pine and croon or groan
the latest popular song to him while
the Captain in charge of the school
fumed over his phone, and told us
in no uncertain G. I. swearing to get
on the ball. Of course no one ever
kitew who making the trouble
but we n and learned
as little
I
ma
splicing
and hunted
Was
of fu
possible
had lots
a
well ntastic a
theor
cid
ecm
vt
pred
Lim
ihm Wire
phones,
and
switch-board
operation, but not as well when it
came to risking my with noth-
ing more than a foot of sharp point-
ed steel strapped to each leg and
trying to climb those lovely tall pines
that seem to sway so gently as you
work under them. You find as you
ascend the twitching trunk
height of 20 or 30 feet, that they ap-
pear to be lashed by 0-mile-an-
hour gale. And why do vou thu
risk your Hfe? We make this peril-
ous trip just lo fasten a thin piece
of wire high in the trée and thus
keep communications open. - After
several creepy climbs on Georgia
pines I decided that laying wires
along the ground in tall grass to hide
it from enemy spies was a more
sensible method. The instructor
however took a liking to me so each
day he saw to it personally (for my
own good of course) that I don the
gafls (climbers used by linemen)
and hit the old tree
Well three weeks passed swiftly
and luxuriously and the day of the
finals came. 1 received marks of
excellent or superior in everything
tll it came to pole climbing 1
tried to hide in the background
watching my buddies climbing like
monkeys the waying tees and
throwing tools and wire carelessly
to one another as though they were
tanding firmly on the ground
Another feat they enjoyed immen-
sely was winging cut from the
trunk on their safety belts, throw-
ing caution to the winds and emit-
ting gay peals of laughter because
they were proud of thelr accomp-
lishments
abd
Tit
Hie
to the
Oh horrible moment the instructor!
spotted me! “Take does galls, Kirk-
patrick,” he yelled “And git on de
ball.” 1 slowly started to strap the
gafls Wo my quivering limbs and
buckling my belt round my
stomach, strode silently toward
tree.
I drove cach gafl home with all the
force 1 possessed and clung to the
trunk with both arms as tightly as
possible. Up, up, up, ten feet,
my
fifteen feet: long pause; “higher up, |
dere Kirkpatrick HIGHER!" ¢
the Instructor and it sounded as
though he were miles below. My
legs and arms trembling, 1 inched
upward another five feet "OK! OK!
Now fasten your belt and sit dere till
I tell you to come down. And keep
your hands off dat tree! You aint
gonna’ fall
able” 1 felt like giving him a
tongue lashing for that crack but
didn't dare waste the breath. After
what seemed lke hours, my legs
numb and my brain too, I heard
faintly as from another world, “OK!
OK! Kirkpatrick don't stay up dere
Put 3.purpese
Va-tro-nol up ea
nostril, It (1) shrinks
or
{ nications group
mock esplon- |
sickly |
all day: let's see you come down
fast.” Oh how I despised that CG. 1.
tyrant, but rather than be ridi-
culed I started to descend the trunk
as rapidly as possible. About five
feet from the bottom my numb legs
refused to drive the gaffs home any
more and I found myself tearing
earthward and the wood flew from
the tree ag if a rip saw were cut-
ting it, as my galls grazed along its
side. My fatigue shirt and work
gloves picked up numerous splinters
as I clung desperately to the trunk
It was no use I made a three-point
landing as my gaffs drove them-
elves into the ground and my G. 1
back side tried to entrench itself in
the Georgia sand--thank God it
was sand! Needless to say it was a
most colorful graduation and I went
back to my old outfit a full-fledged
CG. I. linesman
The next week found
and me back in my old group, now a
communication man but still a
private. 1 had taken an examina-
tion to go to radio =chool but did
not know whether or not 1 would
get it. I spent most of the week
splicing wire with the other com-
munications men and getting the
equipment ready in general for the
coming night problem. The day
rather the night arrived for the big
problem. The men were loaded on
the trucks and guns made ready for
the "Match Order!" The commu-
was made up of
four other fellows besides myself
and we were sprawled over the
colled wire that was piled almost to
the top of the truck. It was a lovely
night and we took in all of the cool
breeze caused by the motion of the
truck as we bounced toward our des-
ination. We had to be the first in
and have the outposts all located so
guns could be placed and phone and
communications maintained between
all guns and the B. C. a
rough journey over forty miles of
washboard roads we arived at what
twas to be our comunand post (an
old broken down house that appear-
ed 0 be well haunted)
The communication Sgt. tied in
the first phone then, picking myself
and another fellow, he assigned us to
the job of following ulong behind the
truck on foot and laying wire as
they drove ahead letting the wire
play out behind them
In a moment they were gone and
I stood In the dark with my buddy.
We had a shovel, a flashlight and
splicing equipment For some
strange reason I found that I car-
ried the shovel and equipment while
toted the Hfashlight. I
know why I always pull a
Brick” for but
seems to fall. I had a ven
esting trip Wrudging along
load tn the dark while my
went merrily ahead (wbout a
red yards) with the only light
whole trip seven miles and it
was necessary fo bury Uw wire
whenever it crossed the road and to
pull if back from the road far
enough to be hidden from possible
abotage. We crossed
buried the wir he
OL and went °
I did
helg
est
ever did see. |
schoo] over
or
After
eo don't
“Coid
never
inter
my
helper
8
helper
with
nund-
The
As
0 it
thie work
thie
the flashlight
will say he did hokd
for me when: 1 wa
working but when it came to seeing
Ww walk w-e-l-l. As 1
be yards ahead and 1 would be care-
fully walking on solid ground laying
the wire trying to manage the shovel
and slup-you guessed it, waste deen
in the swamp. OR! night problems
are such fun. Next he would be just
holder
Ciuse CHOUEN
aid 1 11
aid he would
Har enough ahead to leave the brush ,
wing back and cut my {ace, but at
least that kept the gnats and mos
quitoes off for a brief second and
| that was some relief. Two o'clock in
{the morning finally, saw us finished
with our seven miles of wire laid and
{all phones in working order. 1 was
soaked with sweat and swamp water
| but—communications had been
tablished and our job was done
The Captain was pleased and 1 was
slushy to say the least, but fear not
the army does not let such sacrifices
go unrewarded. We were all given a
cup of coffee and a doughnut. 1
don't drink coffee 50 ! got a dough-
nut
The communications department
then spread shelter halves and went
{to sleep while the gun crews dug
furiously all night to place the guns
I did not put my pup tent up but
took it a few yards from the com-
mand post and laying it in tall
Iweeds oimouflaged myself 50 suce
cessfully that they did not find me
funti] ten the next morning. 1 got
up In time to gulp down some sauer-
{kraut and weenies and start out
{over those seven miles again (now
{In the hot Georgia sun) to take up
{all the wire I had carefully and
laid the night befere
CS.
| painfully
ried FThink not that this foolish lay-it-
{down, tear-it-up, tear-it-up, lay-it-
{down process Is totally without rea-
ison on the part of t B.C. as it
often appears, for it Is not. If you
| are told once In the army you will
ibe Wid a thousand times that the
army has & reason for everything it
Anyway your expend-|does, but sometimes [ wonder what
itis.
Since everyone survived the night
{problem we werd allowed to lle
around and do only obstacle courses,
infantry drill, splice wires, and clean
guns trucks and equipment, just a
couple of days with nothing to do.
THE CENTRE DEMOCRAT, BELLEFONTE, PA.
|
i
i
i ,
Eg
|
In North Africa ;
L wr
Tech, Sgt. Earl Lykens
Sergeant Lykens is the son of Mr:
Isaac W. Lykens, of Owego, N. Y
formerly of Port Matilda He en-
listed in 1641 in the Medical Unit
and is now in North Africa. He |
brother of W. Lyken
Valley View
George of
" Now In Louisana
Cpl. Marvey Dobson
Harvey “Qua:
Dobson
Jame ! |
Dt
inducted on Ju
went 10 Camp MeCain
imine: training
ocuve
day a
Hulen
Dobson
Dobweot
been
Harvey
De Lie
Can Pp
Cpl
Clarence
year ha
Pacifi
former 1
ville. while
married t
Workmar
absence th
Ming i
MONUMENT
Bowmaster is hot
5
Pic. Robert
furlough from
is spending a
his sister. Mr
fam Confer
home
Delmas McCloskey was called
Williamsport on Friday to see his
father who is very lll
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Peter
Blanchard, were Sunday guest
the homes of James Confer and her
father, John Mann
Mrs. Nancy Hanley has returned
home from the Lock Haven hose
pital
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Heaton and
family of Orviston, and Katherine
Heaton of Mill Hall, Mr. and Mr:
Raymond Shope and family and Miss
Ellene Merryman of Monument
were visitors at the William Hea-
ton home
Mrs. Doyle Runes and son spent
Sunday at the home of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Shady
Cpl. James Young is home on a
furlough. He returns to camp on the
11th
On the sick list is Bonny, small
| granddaughter of Mrs. Charles Sto.
ver
Mrs
Harry
{Is In the hospital in a serious con-
| dition. Mrs. Bchenck was down to
see him on Friday, and also took
Geraldine McCloskey home She
had been - visiting her sister here
for the past several weeks.
Jesse McCloskey and wife and
Mertis Schenck were down to Wil.
Hamsport hospital on Sunday to see
Jesse's father
North Caroling
ouple {
James (
spent the
GRY
oni
weekend
ot
Mertis Schenck’s father,
I Chosen Honor Man |
- »
James Linn Blackford, Jr. of 48
Reynolds avenue, Bellefonte, has
. been selected as honor man of his
recruiting training company at the
U. 8, Naval Training Station, Bain-
bridge, M:
| ord will graduate soon at
time he will be advanced from
" seaman to seaman first
His wife resides
avenue address
for Viglory; Buy Bonds,
McCloskey of Williamsport, |
Three Yanks in Solomons
Bellefonte Brothers in Armed Forces
 —
Donald G. Neff
Hazel
Wit
furiough witl
M and Mr Ira Plu
Mrs. Pred Pluebell and
Marie, spent with
Mrs. William
of Moshannon
Mrs. R. L
Sunday
Pluebell
Schmoke spent
days this week in Altoona, visiting
with her brother, Wesley Ramses
who will leave for the Navy on Wed-
nesday, and also attended the fu.
neral of her aunt, Mrs. Walter Con-
rad
Miss Laura Hoover, who is employ -
ed at Mill Hall, spent the weekend
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs, Bd
Hoover
Pvt. and
son Ronald
Mr. Polmar's parents, Mr
Irvin Polmar
overall
Mrs. Carl Polmar and
spent several days “with
and Mrs
- - » -—
Coeds Outnumber Men,
Women outnumber men by nearly
2 to 1 in the civilian student body
Lat the Pennsylvania State College.
:
Robert I. Brown
Hi
1
:
Busy Getting Used to
Tropical Sun and Rain
ecutive
Your paper
and 1
new back
Seems rather
land here in the
Sincerely
CAM
IA .
u u
from this |
South Pacific
f f
far away
WM. ¢
-
Receives Promotion
oid Lieut. H. Kurtz Welser, son of
Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Weiser, of Spring
Millis. R. D. and husband of the for.
mer Evelyn Blerls of Rebersbury
has recently beep promoted to 1st
Heutenant. IX. Welser is a pursuit
pliot in the 3rd Perry Command sta-
tioned at Romulus, Mich
i rr MP —————
What ever became of Lhe moves
; ment to take the profits out of war?
CRUMLISH
Henry J. Taylor, New York World.
Telegram war correspondent, warm
ing that “Germany does not pro-
pose to bleed to death,” predicted
last week that the war in Europe
Clermany is prostrate.”
Speaking at a Town Hall dinner
for foreign in New
y will aot fight it out.”
All estimates on probable
Declares War Will End Long
Before Germany is Prostrate
Cermany's militesy machine,
tretiched on the continent and Cer
many does not propose to bleed to
(death
| “Therefore, 1 predict that al some
jUme, and long before Germany is
fend suddenly and in some Kind of
a surprise :
Dorothy
Thompson, columnist,
whatever It may be at
me will not be prepared, and of
which, unless we change our pfesent
shilly-shallying we shall certainly
on.
Pvt. Lewis E. Kelley
Ks 1
"Air Corps Mechanic
url Be
Cia
ungart
Is Enjoying England,
But, Oh, You U.S. A.
¥ HOM
SNOW SHOE
M1
ited
Wingate vise
RA
Mabe]
with
Lucy
oer
daug hts
family
Mi
ond
anda
Mae France prem
with her sister, Mr
and family of Winburmne,
Miss Phyllis McNamara, who
been employed at Niagara Falls
turned home
Mr. and
Bellefonte
with Mn
land family
Mrs. Harold MceClosky, daughter
Sudene, spent the weekend with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Thomp-
ison of Bellefonte
| Mrs. Ella Houseman
{and James Park of Bellefonte, spent
Saturday evening with the former's
{mother, Mrs. Anna Locas, who has
[eens seriously fll at the Mrs. Mabel |
Lucas home
James Swarts,
the week
Paul Kuz
has
re.
Mrs. Jame
spent Friday
Pinge's brother
Pinge
afternoon
Roe Cole
ol
Jr, visited his
would end suddenly “long before prostrate, the war in Europe will grandparents, Mr. and Mr. Quick
[at Moshannon
Mrs. George Hall, Mrs. Rex Lucas
York, Taylor sald that when tradi. predicted an “all-Europesn revolu- Burns and daughter Vickey, spent
tonal German foresee an early de- tion, for which the United States Tuesday at Philipsburg.
and daughter Lydia Mae, Mrs, Dick |
Advertising has assisted the nae
Uon's war effort, thanks 10 the co-
operative spirit of American news
papers and business men,
Die By Jap Fake Surrender
|
of Altoona
entertained
McElhattar
REPUBLICANS!
NOMINATE
Honest Worthy
Capable Fearless
J. H. WALLIN
MOR con
A SECOND TERM
AS MEMBER OF THE
House of Representatives
By his devotion to duty he has won the friendship and
esteem of the Administration and of his colleagues in the
House.
His nomination and election would carry out the tradition
of returning a worthy member to the House of Represen-
tatives, and by so doing assure Centre County the benefits
of a capable and experienced Legislator during these trying
times and in the period to follow. .