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GATSKHX MOUNTAIN NEWS Friday, May 9. 19fl. OUTof theMAILBAG A RooUe's Review Dear Folks: I have often wondered what it felt like to be government prop- erty. I know now. I go around daring anycme to step cm me. So far, seven sergeants have walked up one side cl me and down the other. Someone said you jew the Aimy to better yourself. Lord knows there is plenty of room for improvement in me. I realize what a corset thinks aboot when it gets a lodk at a fat lady. There's a lot of it there, but the tridc is, to absort) and h<dd i t I left for Albany three weeks ago last Tuesday. Traveling on the train I had a pleasant con- versation with the conductor. He had woriced on the railroad for 57 years, and during the course of diatter I thoug^ht I detected his political views. We had been more or less disagreeing on different questions. As soon as we dis- covered eadi other were Demo- crats there wasn't a thing men- tioned but what we could agree aa. Traveling around nowadays you've just about got to be one or the other in order to get along. I stayed in Albany until Thurs- day morning. On the Wednesday morning I was sworn in, at 11:25 I was an ordinary citizen. At 11:25% I was a private in the U. S. Army Air Ck^. There was a great deal run through my mijld diuing that half a minute. One of the men that was sworn in with me had been divorced a couple of times, and when we said "I do" at the end of the pledge, he. leaned </ver and kissed the captain. Any- way, Thursday morning I left for Port Dix. In New York at about noon and not having to get the bus few Dix until three in the afternoon. I took in a show at the Paramount. On the way again and arriving at the fort at about 7:30 in the evening. There were two other fellows from Troy that made the trip with me, and after leaving ^ e bus we had to locate the air awps cwnpany. Now viiien you tiy to locate an army captain, after dark, in about 28 square miles of country, it's quite a prob- lem. But we finally located our quarters and went to bed around I I o'clock. We had to stay at Fort Dix one week before receiving our orders to go on to Lawson Field. We left on a Friday morning. There were 36 in the group, traveling in a Pullman coadi. It was the first time I had ever tried to eat OT sleep <m a train. We had supper at about five o'dock while going through North Carolina. I dMi't know what state it was we slept ttoough, but I woke up in the morning the worse for, wear. I had a lower berth but I didn't get mudi rest The place for your feet and head is fairly solid, but it's the middle part of you that takes the punidiment. To jiggle in the middle f w 300 miles really tears anyone down. I wouldn't advise keeping on a Pullman for anyone with a constitution that is allergic to veto. We arrived at Lawson Field Sat- urday afternoon and got settled in our tent So far, Army life is not so bad. The food is good and plenty of variety. There is only one thing that bothers. At 5:45 every morning you hear a whistle blow. It's a more disturbing sound than an alarm dodc, because you can't readi out and shut it off. Out of bed in a hurry. You have to be awake to get in your dothes in the length of time they give you. K you're not awake you may give the idea you're retreating when you really are advancing. Of course, that won't happen to me, because when I retreat there's no question about i t We were issued part erf our dothing at Fort Dbc. It only took about <me hour. You walk in one end of the building bare and c(xne out the other end with $100 worth of dothes on your bade. Right now its recruit school with mardiing and drilli^ com- mands coming from all directions. Received the "News" yesterday and sure glad to see a home town paper again. I saw one little item that surprised me. It was re- ported that I was a cousin of Senator James Mead. Now that may be true for aH Meads are shirt-tail relation one way or an- other. In fact, most of us Meads were sorry to hear that Jhn had gone into politics. It just makes it that, mudi harder for us honest Meads to make a living. Would be glad to hear frmn any of you. My address is Private Pert Mead, 62d Air Base, Lawson Field, G^ Guess that is all for now. If I should pick up a southern accent dwon here, I hope she is slightly on the blonde side. Yours, Pert Fort Eustis May 1, 1941 Dear Mmn and Dad: The day is beautiful enough to usher in any May. Sun is bright but a slight breeze makes it com- fortable in the shade. The lieuten- ant and sergeant are setting up a Werner Swezy asmith instrument wWdi is a peep-sight affair on a tripod. At the moment they are havii^ considerable trouble in leveling the base ^^ch has been sprung a trifle in shipping. It is now ten of ten and we have had a couple of dasses and have dianged our dothes three times since arising. Eadi visit to the gun park calls for fatigue dothes, and then generally the O. D.'s are in order on return, sO the intervals between classes are no particular rest and afford very little opportunity to catch up on the correspondence. Another evening on our own time after 5:20 p. m. working for the non-coms all day. We have only recently finished evening mess and most of the fellows are still gathered on the steps. This has been our first day on field rations and although we were forewarned that there would be less food I have not felt any par- ticular shortage. If one has a reasonably healthy and varied aK>etite there is no diance of going hungry. Eadi day I am more indebted to you folks for not pampering my puerile tastes and for making me eat everything set before me and to like it. Any prospective draftees or service men would do weU to take pains to break themselves of any finicky tastes. The Army is not equipped to toady to an in- dividual's likes or dislikes. To be specific about field rations, our breakfast menu was tomato juice, co<^ed bran cereal, ham and egg omelet half pint milk, bread and butter, fried potatoes and coffee. I was agreeably suri>rised. Did I tell you that pay day was quite a ceremony? There is a special bugle call announcing the event. Then the battery person- nel lines up outside the cranpany office in alphabetical order. After a wait of a quarter of an hour it started moving in. First is an ante room whidi you move through gradually and arrive at the door of the captain's office. Your name is called by Lieut. Gruber sitting inside the door and up to within a foot from the middle one of three tables. Lieut. Trimble sits behind the one at the right with the full payroll and a drawn 45. He counts out the money and hands it to the captain who sits behind the center table and whom you saluted as you came to attention. He counts out the money and lays it on the table, after wWch you step forward, take the money, step back and salute him again. He returns both salutes. You then turn to the lefthand table and pay to Lieut Johnson anything you owe on laundry, canteen diedcs, dry deaning, etc. After that you turn smartly and leave the room happily. After being paid it seems to me that everyone makes a bee line for his creditors so that he can pay up all his old debts and protect his credit Apparently it is both unwise and unhealthy to be lax in repayment when you are known to be flush. May 2, P. M.—^We are turning in our comforters to the supply room this afternoon. They beheve that winter is over, bddentally I mig^it tell you that the sheets on our cots are full bed size and practically meet when tudced un- der the mattress. It makes a very comfortable and firm bed and takes a confirmed kicker to muss it up. We have again been drilling on the parade grounds and now it is my duty to give commands to my squad. TTiat looked very easy to me but now I find it equally as difficult as learning to march in the first place since it is absolutely essential that the command of ex- ecuticHi be given <m the correct foot <Mr else your squad lodes like a bundi of hayseeds and, oi course, that doesn't improve their tonpers. I have turned in the names <rf the fellows who have asked for leave (i>asses) over the weekend. All the fellows in my squad have asked because it is impossible to leave without one and you may want to walk out sometime. They are generally written frcan noon Saturday until 6 a. m. Monday morning, but very few stay away ovemi^t Your son, Dcmald M. Fentwi Where Our Soldier Boys Are Located Fort Bragg, N. C. May 4, 1941 Dear Editor: I would like to take this c^^r- tunity to thank you-not only for m ^ l f but for the other boys who enjoy hearing from hcrnie, for jrour kindness in sending us the local paper. When a person is absent f r ^ his h(»ne, news in any form is very much appreciated and the "News" takes care of this in great shape. The paper usually readies me on Sunday and every word and line is read and then read a g ^ . It seems Tm almost able to mem- orize the whole paper I have read it so many times. I particularly enjoy the Mountain Dew column wiiich expresses a ^ a t amoimt of philosophy and wittici^ <m the part of the author. His descrip- tions of the mountains and their surroundings bring about a feeling of homesickness whidi is difficult to f i ^ t down when you are some distance from home. Sorry, I'm unable to make this letter longer, so in dosing may I again thank you for your kindness and may you continue to enjoy success in your undertakings. Yours truly, Lloyd A. Roberts FLEISCHMANNS The Woman's Sodety of Chris- tian Service met at the lecture nxHn of the Methodist churdi Monday afternoon. Wednesday several members of the sodety at- tended the district meeting at Kingston. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Maple at- tended the antique show at White Plains Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Todd, Miss Jane Hasting and Miss Jane Riggs spent last weekend at their camp in Rider Hollow. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gorsdi, who have been in New Yoric dty during the winter, arrived at the hmne of her father, Ellsworth Reynolds, last week. William Mahaney, a member of Fleischmarins high school faculty, visited his wife at Rome over the weekend. Mr.^sind Mrs. Irving Brown of Manhasset, L. L, visited her mother, Mrs. A. H. Todd, and other relatives in town over last weekend. Mrs. John Wolfe entertained the Afternoon Bridge dub last week TTiursday. SHAVERTOWN Churdi services will be held in the Presbyterian diurdi this Sun- day as usual at 2 p. m. with Sab- bath sdiool at 1 p. m. Mr. and Mrs. Donald McCune visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, in Oneonta Simday. Mrs. McCime remained for a week's visit. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Greene and daughter, Nancy, of Fleisdi- manns were Sunday guests at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lodovice. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Conklin and Mrs. Edith Finkle of Beedi hiU visited Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Rus- sell Sunday. Mrs. George Smith and son, William, of Binghamton were guests of friends and relatives Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. James Noonan and family of Brodclyn are spending some time with Mr. and Mrs. By- ron Huggins. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Saunders and son were guests of Mrs. Aman- da Fletdier over the weekend. Mr. and Mrs. George FSrment are enjoyii^ a visit by her aunt and friends frran Chicago, m. Corp. Constable Comes Hcnne Corporal Jdm W. Constable of Fort Devens, Mass., was in Hal- cottvflle at his home over the weekend. John is a member of the band at Fort Devens. He re- turned to duty Mmday nKHning. —HalcottviDe Car. The N e ^ is listing below the soldier boys to wh(nn we are for- warding the paper weekly, free. The boys will also apfoedate let- ters from h(Hne. We will be glad to add to this list the names of any soldiers iitliose family sub- scribes to the News. This list will be printed occa- si(Mially so that the community may know where to write soldier friends. Space will forbid the printing each week. The News" asks we be notified at once of any change of address. Wilson M. Avery, Battery C, nth BN, F t Eustis, Va. Lynford C. Barber, 1229 R. C., Hq. & Hq. Co., Fort Dix, N. J. Virgil Barkman, Co. I, 106 Inf., F t McQeUan, Ala. Steve Bodnar, Batery C, 62 CA, (AA), Ft Totten, L. L R. D. Bryant Co. C, 17th Engi- neers BN, 2d Armored Div., Ft Benning, Ga. Corp. Milton Butler, Battery C, 10th C. A. TMG. DN, Ft. Eustis, Va. Joseph E. Castle, Co. M, 106 Inf., 27 Div., F t McClellan, Ala. Fayette Clark, Co. B, 27th Inf., Sdiofield Barracks, T. H. John Constable, 26th Inf. Band, Ft. Devens, Mass. Pvt. M. C. Davis, 23d Materiel Squadron, Hickam Field, H (HIO 1 U 1 U, T. H. DeWitt Day, 5th School Squad- ron, Barrack 441, Chanute Held, Rantoul, HL Fletdier Doig, Co. A, 106 M., Ft. McQellan, Ala. H. E. Dunham, A.SJ^. 32043304, Co. E, 4th Med. Battalion, Ft. Benning, Ga. W. J. Dunham, 102 Engineers, Co. D., 27 Div., Tent 20, Fort Mc- CeUan, Ala. Forrest Fairbaim, Co. E, 18th Lif., Ft. Devens, Mass. D. M. Fenton, Battery C, 11th Battalion, Fort Eustis, Va. P.F.C. Robert Finkle, Hq. & Hq. Squadron, 40 B<»nbing Group, Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. Pvt. Clinton Furman, 1320 Serv. Unit, Eng. Sec. Sta. Cwnplement, Ft. Belvoir, Va. MUton Greene, Co. B, 8th Medi- cal Battalion, Fort Jackson, S. C • Scott E. Greene, Co. E, 105th Infantry, Fort McClellan, Ala. George F. Gregory, 26th Laf. Band, Fort Devens, Mass. Louis C. Hull, 53d Sig. Mtn., Hickman Field, Honolulu, T. H. L A. Humphrey, 18th Reconnais- sance Sq., Langley Field, Va. Stephen Kaptiko, Bat C, 12th Battalion, Ft. Eustis, Va. ayde E. Kittle, 260th Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Training Center, Battery F, Fort Bliss, 1*GX&S* W t . Sid Levine, Co. A, 4th Engr. Bn., E. R. T. C., Fort Belvour, Va. Irwin Levy, Barradc 444, New Construction Area, Chanute Field, Rantoul. HI. Pvt. Percy Mead, 62d Air Base, Lawson Field, Ft. Benning, Ga. ^Tmcent H. Meade, 324 Sig Av, Ifickam Field, Honolulu, T. H. James E. Miller, 5th School Squadron, Barradc 444, Chanute Field, Rantoul, HI. Pvt David Marion Morse, MTO Detadiment 1208 Stati(Hi C(»n- plement. Camp Upttm, L. L Pvt. Lloyd Roberts, Co. B, 60th Inf., 9th Division, Ft Bragg, N. C. John W. Roney, 5th B<Hnb. Sqd., Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, care Rio Hato. \^cent H. Stevens, Battery B 5 C A C, Fort Kann, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. Pri^te Marshall H. Stouten- burgh, 20th Airbase, Nichols Field, Manila, P. L Virgil Valk, 102 QM Regt., Co. B, Fort McCellan, Marion Vredenburg^i, State Ranger Sdiool, Wanakena, N. Y. KELLY CORNERS | Frank Felter and friend of Warren, Ohio, were Tuesday guests of his brother, Ralidi, here. ^ Mr. and Mrs. James McEInany of Hudson and Mrs. Floyd De<^r of Prattsville were Tuesday guests of their sister, Mrs. Grace Peet and family. Mr. and Mrs. Judstm Dunk» re- turned to their summer home nere Friday after spending the winter in the dty. ANNOUNCEMENT ! S.ABRAMS Tailor HAS REOPENED HIS STORE FOR THE 23D SEASON. Phone 127 Flelschmanns, N. Y. DANCE Benefit Maigaretville Hospital At Hakottville Mnafcs by TODD'S ORCHESTRA FRIDAY, MAY 25 Proeeeds for Improvemratts in M&rgaretvllle Hospital Nurses Hmne Admission 35c Canadian-American League "Opening Game— Pittsfield Electrics Versus ONEONTA INDIANS NEAWAH PARK Friday, May 9 5P.M. Same dubs Play at Oneonta May 10 Admission 44c and 30c (Tax IndnOed) BOICEVILLE INN BOICEVUXIS, B017TE 28 Your Friendly Nig^t Club of tbe Motmtains Invites Yoa to Dance to the DeUghtfnl Bliythm of Bill Shann HIS ORCHESTRA AND RADIO VOCALIST Every Sat. Night Under New Management SpedaUzliii; in GOOD FOOD, BEEat» WINES AND UQUOBS JOHN BACHOR, Prop. Fleischmanns Scouts Plan Show The Boy Scoots of Troop 31 an plumring an Amatpbr Slrnw for Friday, May 9th »ttiie High School Auditorium Arthur I>e¥Htt has ctmsented to act as master of oei-anonies for flie evening. The show should be very enter* tahring as a nnmber of vailed acts have already been scheduled, sndi as Popular Songs, Hill-Billy Numbers, Tap Dancing, Cowboy Songs, Magic Tricks, and even the Old Barber I^iop Quartet. PHIZES WILL. BE AWARDED FOB TBE BEST ACTS The Sconto oeed j b v aappart. and iMve Med liard to vnpipn » worttmrUle entertoiBneat wMeh m y t M wm be wtO attanded cpjoyed.
