The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 34

Miami Area Boys Now In Service In the Navy Off the Firing Line 1 JL MICHAEL KOLENDO ELVIS ALEXANDER GLEN BOURNE GEORGE FLEMING Reward Or the For Valor Unselfish 3bc iHiami Hcralb 'ig' Sunday October 5 1941 Page Six mu oughhoy Big lop By ARTHUR lfratd Mrvtr fditor this talk about parachute troops new to me In fact I knew the first one in the Armv back in It w-as the ex-sergeant rasing up to his accustomed portion at the eantren bar feed me said as he filled a glass with tle ex-sergeant's favorite brew not generally known Frank calm and sit tignt he wanted to come down and told the sergeant if he down in about two V- the Best Bet Miami Sailor Navy Say From AY Welchman Mho is on the USS Salt Lake City at sea: The navy offers many opportunities to gain a liberal education with plenty of instruction along with practical experience in many fields In times like these it is not so desirable though We spent most of the time at sea steaming in battle maneuvers and drills with all types of ships between the forces The islands are beautiful and minutes he would take his chances and jump Anw ay he had forgotten give the captain his and if he didn't deliver it soon career in the army was about ldasied sergeant with too manv drinks under his belt and Crarxer a frantic shouting into his ear advised Cracker that there was a parachute In the basket ard instructed him how to put it on and pull tlie rip-cord after count rg 10 Cratker as per instructions put on the parachute and looked over tre side It was a long drop and he hesitated He continued tohesiat mulling over in his mird that rrav-he the sergeant was right and rray-bo tlie captain wouldn't get sore head phone in the Ron cf the car squeaked and squealed and Cra kcr look it up and lstened to the sergeant What the sergea-t aid cast no doubt in Cracker mind that it was time to Jump A German plane was swooping out cf the clouds to blast tre balloon out of the It was co-i turkey and Cracker knew aid jumped He remembered to pull TETER HANSEN CLAIR BILLOW Tough Going in fact it's known to only a very few men who served overseas and hy none who served over here You see it was this wav we had a private in our outfit bv the name of Cracker Williams who would have made a good soldier exeept for the fact that he fell for French wine too hard happened in the Baerarat sector Cracker had been sent to Baccarat by the captain for a package and had brought a ba'loon observation sergeant hack wiili him in the rompanv Jalopy Back at the billets at Yacqueville the sergeant asked Cracker to have a drink with him in pajmont for the iiile Cracker to the cafe bpfore going to the captain ami there they had a few drinks 'I lie Lone Traveler drink led to another and another until both of thp hos weie prettv foggv and the oU-crva-lion sergeant slatted telling of lus experiences in the air The upshot of it was that Cracker was invited to take a trip in an observation balloon They went outside got into the automobile and drove as far as they- could up to the lines and walked to wheie the ground crew' was stationed in a wood crew was standing by in a small clearing waiting to send the balloon up Thev were out- 1 At I ranked by the wpranlandc ldn sav anything when he boosted Cracker into the basket Cracker with his hands on the side of the basket gazed bleary -eved into the forest Suddenly the forest dropped swiftly below him and the countryside began to spread out in front of him High in the air the balloon came to a jerking stop Cracker lookrd down with awe He had never seen anything as beautiful and voiced bis appreciation to the sergeant There was no answer He was alone Down below' him he saw pigmy figures running about a-paving their arms He cou If hear hat they were saving He would have given anything to have been down there The country-side looked more beautiful but the balloon was swaying something awful and Cracker wished be wasn't there He shouted for them to pull him down but nothing happened Cracker Is In Trouble shouts he heard a clicking noise in the basket and scrambling about lie discovered a head phone which hp damped on his head Then he lmaid the sergeant's voice nervously imploring hint to remain calm sit tight and do nothing until they1 could get the mechanism which had jammed fixed But Cracker didn't want to be to of vv Food Disturbed Sleep At Maneuvers Gripes Soldier so he could get out of this dump I think the worst part is over now though Service Club Is Fine From rv Ferdinand Terrell of Vero Beach who is in the Ar i moved Force at Fort Knox Ky: I am sending a few lines to the boys who are not in the service jet I came to the army June 16 and I would not be out now for anyone I was sent first to Camp Blanding Fla for my examination stayed there for 10 days then I was sent to the Armored Force Replacement Training Center at Fort Knox Since I have been here I have done a little of everything there is to do in the service and I like it When we first got here about all we did for the first three weeks was drill and boy it sure was bad here in the summer but you soon get used to it For the last few days we have had a lot of rain and whpn this clay gets wet it sure is muddj' Has Fun On March Last my company went on a motor march as about 125 miles and stayed over night and everyone had a lot of fun It sure is nice to be here at this post because- we have a nice service club we have dances three times a week and have all "the girls out from Louisville Then have several movies here on the post and you can go' to any one of them you want to We are not sure but I think we will be stationed here on this post so as to start the Fifth Armored Division because the First Armored Division left Sept 1 for Louisiana on maneuvers We have plenty of tanks here but I have not gotten in those yet but hope to I have been driving trucks half trucks motorcycles and scout cars and I sure enjoy it What I hate most is a road march over these hills with a 50-pound pack on your back And forget we still have here and that is not a very pice job For all the boys Mho are not in now why J'ou had better get in and have some fun Also the eats are great mantle but living in them is high There are so few white people in regard to the Japanese Chinese Filipino and Hawaiian and mixed races that the 10000 service men are seen quite fiequently with girls of the other races In regard to your comment on how lucky we boys are to be in the navy Traveling and adventure are fine but it's not a bed of roses Life in the navy is very dull especially at sea when you have so many watches to stand all hours of the tiav For the next five months I must study very hard for the stiff electricians mate examination They seem to be giving tougher examinations as time goes by There are lots of things that I could writi you but I because the new navy censorship regulations are in full force and effect Likes the Week-Ends From Prt Thomas II Crawford Jr 1203 Seventeenth terrace who is in the engineers at Fort Leonard Wood Mo: in the engineers with a chief rating but right now' carrying a rifle At Blanding the whole Miami group was assigned to Fort Wood without regard to qualifications We have drill marches work projects rifle practice inspection and a million other things to do At first I thought I was going to die but now I have the rhythm and it so bad The week-ends are fun We have picture dances and a service club At first the meals were terrible but they are a little better now One time we came back from a march and had boiled black-eyed peas boiled carrots and chopped cabbage No bread or anything The morale Isn't too good and I think better food would help We really have a variety of men her Some have never been to school and some have had six years in college Some are laborers and some are executives One boy in my platoon chopped off three fingers of his right hand GUY WILLETTS get something to eat between 8 and 9 tonight Wednesday- morning We had supper last night at 10:30 o'clock consisting of beef stew cabbage (raw) mashed potatoes butter pineapple (one slice) and bread (it was molded) This morning w' breakfasted at 2:45 a and had one hard boiled egg one spoon of grits and two slices of bread Oh jeah coffee without cream or sugar If it get better I know hat are going to do We were expecting a tank attack this morning but so far everything is quiet We are still in the same position as last night Yeah I just thought? of something Last night I made a hammock by tying the ends of a blanket to two trees The only two trees that were close enough were across a branch1 or creek I came back from supper Officer Candidate Schools Offer Chance To Trainees The Marines Tell You THE MOTOR of a seaplane piloted by a naval fiver roared noisilv over the flving field at Pensacola Fla where Private Albert Smith was walking his post as a sentry on a February morning in 1921 From time to time other planes skimmed over the naval reservation and descended to safe landings on the water again Suddenlv the plane piloted hy Mate went into an erratic spin and crashed to the flying field imprisoning the pilot Almost at the same instant the gasoline tank exploded and the plane burst Into flames Without a hesitation and without knowing whether the pilot was alive or dead Smith hurried to the burning plane worked his way under the wreckage cut the pilot loose and dragged him out The plane flamed up like tinder both rhelps and his rescuer were badly burned Before they were clear of the wreckage however a second gasoline tank exploded spraying both men with the flaming liquid but fortunately both recovered from the ordeal Smith could have performed his full duty by merely seeking help in the emergency His heroic conduct was and beyond the call to and he was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor When the mpdal was pinned on his uniform some months later Smith was in far-away Santo Domingo earning out his duties In the traditional manner of the Soldiers of the Sea Old Prophecy Comes True Now In Navy With Dad Eighteen years ago last July The Herald published a picture of an 11-month-old baby' boy Above the photograph was the caption Sailor to The caption was based on the fact that the father Edgar Robert Lewis sr 2723 AA Thirteenth street had served with distinction in the navv in the first Wot Id war pnt to France where hs the launch and attained the rank of quartermaster first class After visiting poMs of the Mediterranean and Black spas he was The present program of Officer Candidate Schools will be expanded foprovide opportunity for one In each 100 soldiers to receive a commission it is announced by the war department Under the new plan the annual From Pvt Elmer Park Miami Springs vho is in the 91th Antitank Corps on maneuvers in Louisiana: Well the real war started today We will be maneuvering for the next 10 or 12 days if nothing happen and then we go back to Fort Penning The Third Army (Blue) which 1 am In is fighting the Second (Red) We have the most men but the Second has two armored divisions We have about 330000 soldiers and they have about 120000 Each side started about 50 miles on each side of the Red river When one side pushes the other back to where it started the war will he over Everything is governed by umpires and we use blanks We started off bright and early Monday by getting up at 3 a We went into position seven times and drive more than 160 miles before night This eating proposition is getting pretty bad We ate breakfast at 3:43 a and took lunch with us which consisted of two sandwiches and an apple We had supper at 11:43 ni Monday night then got up at a and had breakfast at 3 a I had one canteen of watch to last all day I am getting along pretty good considering Tuesday afternoon We do very much today just moved two times but had to dig our gun in position I was supposed to dig a fox hole but Avoid Clash day there were four captain killed The captain in an airplane crack-up men in an automobile last night I saw a ditch all four wheels up Guess you all our driving at night I think we will stay most all night We a meeting with the so far and hope to Naval School Rainwater 760 Twenty-ninth terrace who training school at Calif: at the navy training was put in a detention Unit I stayed there weeks drill time given thorough ex- This station the station its halls which seamen three we to a sailor We then North Unit where more privileges includ- the rjpord and was dnfurg some distance avvav as the roaring irass fabric flamed downward landed witn ro dfL-cultv except a slightly spraared ankle and got in his car and ce- 1 I I iUb 111 thP ackapp to th caPTan 1 ithout 'returning to than tre sergeant for the ride" didn't he get In troub for taking that balloon Frank said the ex-sergeant walking slow ly to the door see the enlisted men in the ground wouldn't say anything the sergeant was scared too and the who was to have gone up that morning reached the fieki as the balloon came sading down but before he could ask any questions and rai-e plenty of hell division head- rte capd to sav that he bping recomcnded for a being medal for remaining at his post cf duty serving his country to the lat minute at the risk cf hu life" 10000 Are Added To A nil In Week Since last week the strength cf the army has been increased by approximately lboo men the war department has reported The hu of the increase was in the selective service tiainpes The total strength wa placed at 1599500 offirers and men in the regular army rational guard reserve" officers and selective service trainees father who was stationed a sisted in obtaining his discharge ami lie returned home In to having the distinction of carrying the colors cut the state first after war was declared the Lewis familv has another distinction Captain Lew 13 was in command of the las company of soldiers to leave France for the United States after the war Fingerprinting Not New To Him 'Fingerprinting was not a novelty to Private Milton Klein of Miami Fla when he rolled his finrers on the army records for hs indaclcn at Camp Blanding lat rrorto Klein who formerly rial firger-priniing work in the Miami pof department and now is in the Engineer Replacement Training Center at Fort Leonard AVood related tnat once (luring his career he worked for six days taking fingerprint? fiom the dead left in the wake of -the disastrous Florida keys hurricane of 1935 He was among the first to Use tne technique of removing the epidermis from the fingers pla mg it 011 lus own fingers then rolling out the prints The onlv prims he making now are footprints on Oark hilUidet but as soon as he completes his ba'ic training he hopes to do clerical work for the military police CECIL PERDUE LOUIS CROFOOT hart breakfast at 3 a The feeding is getting better Had a real good supppr last night but it made me sick I ate too much and get any sleep The lunch was better today considering what it has been We hart an apple orange and two sandwiches ham and egg and cheese Just received word tanks were coming You can get on a hill and see the dust they are making about three or four miles away Will have to move pretty soon I guess Friday morning Well that tank attack we were supposed to have turned out to be a large convoy We are still in the same postion as yesterday Had supper a little closer to the right time about 8:30 consisting of meat loaf corn (it was good) mashed potatoes cabbage (it was made into some kind of salad) pineapple hi part butter coffee and there was all we could eat Breakfasted at 4 a Boys Get Rest Lieutenant McCoy came bv and said the tanks had camped about one and a half miles northwest of here and that we could expect an attack some time this morning There are Red planes fixing overhead now1 about 10 or 15 of them If we see some action this morning I guess we won sop any this maneuver Just now about 16 Blue planes came and are having a fight The Blues chased the Reds away Saturday morning We staved in the same position all day Frida and even see one tank We get to fire a shot so far but one hoy was playing with a blank and it went off and hurt him pretty badly He was sent to the hospital Thov are letting us have a three-dav rest then we Matt all over again It is getting pretty cool down here in the rally part of the morning sleeping on the ground Dense send tins to so it will save me writing two letters dance Thursday night I feel rather honored and hope I do a good job I caught a cold while in Cleveland but ill sing any wav' If I do stay here I will do noth- ing but stage shows and direct a chorus a 'k job to get a chorus together the box and go AVe are working on a musical that BALL ill be something if the company split tip soon AVe have a swell hand and a lot of good singers The director I am working with is from York and has directed many plays Onlv the soldiers connected with the morale office and the officers gpt passes They take vis in in ing trucks and tiling us hack Tonight the fellows in the morale office are having a picnic and swimming but I have to see a couple of new singers so be able to go CURRY DONALD and got in You guess it it broke and 1 got wet I went to town Saturday (Derid-rier La) to get something to eat and see a picture show but get to do either I never in all my lfp saw so many soldiers in one place Th? stores locked their doors and w'hen one soldier came out they let another in And they were lined up in front of every kind of store and picture show Tanks Arrive Didn't do any night driving last night anil got a little sleep between times I getting ready to eat and getting back to sleep Thursday noon We staed in the same position all flay Wednesday and moved out about 5:30 We drove about 50 miles northwest and went into position on Texas line We had supper at 11 20 hours between meals and then Works In Morale Office From Pvt Curtis Ball 2988 Mary street Coconut Grove who is at Fort Knov Ky: I had a three-dav pass and spent a wonderful time in Cleveland Ohio I went there with two buddies of mine AVe have friends there who treated us swell I began work in the morale office today 1 only hope it is permanent I think I would like to stay here since I he in Florida I sure do miss Miami and am looking forward to tie day when come hack I hope tb get a furlough and intend to spend it in Miami I am singing for the I 32 -Y 2 2 22 332 i2 23 22 23 2' 2241 Letters From the Boys A'ou are invited to submit let- ters from men in camps for inclusion in this feature Send your letters to the' Service Editor The Miami Herald Miami Fla Indicate if you wish those portions which you do not want published All letters will be returned Be sure to inclose the return address t3'3V32'3rT2'2 222323 2 2 23 23 5 CARITHERS JOHN of non-commissioned officers to privates In the army of the United States 307000 enlisted men are noncommissioned officers Candidates for officer training schools are now selected on the basis of qualities of leadership as demonstrated by actual service in the It is without lights the opinion of the war department that an observation period of six months is necessary to assure the selection of the best qualified men for officer training as the candidate normally spends three months in the replacement training center and three months with his unit Training Big Help During this period of training the trainee receives basic individual in- struction enables him to develop his natural qualities of leadership along military lines with military units prior to attendance at a school Experience during the World war showed that students in the training camps generally had a better chance for commission simply because of thetr hasic military training than trainees who came directly from civil life Because of mechanization intrirate weapons and instruments and rapidity of movement the training of personnel particularly of officers in a modern army presents a problem which haS never before existed For this reason comparison of personnel-training procedures of 194 1 with those of 1917 usually leads to erroneous conclusions One important difference is the urgency with which officers were needed after the declaration of war in 1917 compared with the ample supply of reserve officers we now have The first men and a was killed and the While driving truck in a sticking straight know we do in this position have avoided Second Army To Enter From Jimmy AY is in the naval San Diego After arriving station I or South three learning to During this we were shots and a physical amination' part of the is completely divided from rest of the having own chow and is surrounded by a fence is guarded by guards I After weeks of this were changed from a civilian were sent to were given program will be increased from 10400 to 14280 men Candidates become eligible after six months of militarv training and spend another three months in Officer Candidate Schools Advancement during the first year of training will be available to slightly more than 58 per cent of all trainees On the basis of 1420 officer candidates a year 10 of each 1000 men in the service have opportunity to qualify for appointment to the rank of second lieutenant Five of each 1000 may obtain the grade of warrant officer Of each 1000 men 276 or approximately 28 per cent are privileged to reach commissioned warrant officer or non-commissioned grades involving command positions with increased paj' An additional 307 or 31 per cent of each 1000 men may reach the grade of private first class with am increase in pay Only 417 remain in the grade of private although 331 or 45 per cent of the 724 privates and privates first class gain ratings which carry increase In pay Shortage Of Enlisted Men Trainees are now holding some of the highest enlisted grades in the army The man for whom Knox stepped aside and who drew the first number in the recent selective service drawing was a staff sergeant who entered service as a trainee With the great shortage of experienced regular army enlisted men many trainees have been promoted to key positions and used as a nucleus around which new units have been organized Opportunities for promotion within the enlisted ranks are dependent upon the proportion fe 2 3 REGEVAIX ROBERTSON Toduv both father and son are in the navy and are expected to be in Miami tnrtiv on leave from different navy yards Their visit is anticipated bv Mrs Lewis and tlie grandfather Capt I Lewis of the Civ de-Mallory Iines who himself served in France as a captain in the army The father a chief quartermaster is stationed at Jacksonville while the son a first-class seaman is at the Key AVest navv- yard The father was called from the reserve to active duty June 13 and the son a few days after he grad- uated from Miami Senior High school enlisted in tlie navy Joined Up At 16 Bv having his father state that he was IS years of age Uhtef Lewis entered the Florida naval militia at tlie age of 16 and left Jacksonville with his detachment on April 5 1917 as a color heater He was first to carry the colors out of the state after war was declared From the Charleston navv yard he was sent to the USS Louisiana on which he served in the Gulf of Mexico off Aera Cruz He then served aboard tlie last of the monitors the CSS Ozark During the winter of pe served with live sub-chasers off tlie New England toast and was aboard a 110-footer on a trip across the Atlantic to Gibraltar in a fleet of 28 of the small craft He was eight months at Gibraltar in charge of rAUL A SALTER ing liberty which none of us had received so far AVe stayed in North Unit for three weeks and then came the day of graduation the day that everyone looked forward to because this meant we have to drill or wear leggings any more Passed School Test After graduation came our tests to go to school I passed and was sent to clerical and communication school because I had some experience in this work This a big day for me being proud of myself for making school Those who go to school were sent to Texas for transfer to sea I thought I never would get through basic training but 1 finally did The basic class consists of 200 students divided into three classes 150 radiomen 30 quartermasters and 20 yeomen storekeepers Everjone wanted to be yeomen so you can see what competition I had I have been in yeoman class now three weeks and like it very much Upon graduation I will be sent to the fleet or back to my division as a qualified yeoman striker and given my preference over any one who has not been through school It was all work but a Jot of fun PULLEN JACK Metropolitan Miami Is Well Represented In Uncle Ever-Growing Navy KELLEY PAUL GEORGE AY DUNCAN CLIFFORD RAYMOND.