Page 34 - Mastheads Aug-Dec 1944

PAGE4 THE MASTHEAD, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1944

WITH A SONG IN THEIR HEARTS "The Roughest Guys in the World"
MARINE VETS RETURN -HOME Q
"A peace that will last" ... We of the silen:t but smiling Marines
have to make not merely a peace as they gazed hungrily at the San
but a peace that will last, is the Francisco skyline,
expression that may be found on "We just fought and tried our
the hardened faces of sturdy-built- best to beat hell out of those Japs
marines who arrived at Treasure wherever we found them," said Editor's N,ote: If y,ou have any
Island. Battle-scarred, tanned frorµ Sergeant Lutes. "Maybe the papers questions ,or problems, large or
many months of out-door weather had a little something of what our small, you are invited to send them
and rugged warfare, these God- outfit, which was one of the first to the Question and Answer Editor
fearing men of many a famed units of the Second Division to go_ in care of this paper. We will do
battle in the South Pacific are a overseas, went through with at our best to answer all questions as
happy lot, happy to once again set Tarawa and Saipan. We just don't soon . a,s possible.
foot on the shores of the good .old toot our own horns."
Q. My wife is planning to come
United States, and home. W-on Honors Hard Way
The 300 veterans of the famed Yes, these men won their honors out to California f.or a f.ew weeks.
Second Marine Division brought the hard way and even such a Whom -do I contact to make the
back mute evidence of their cam- statement is a gross understate- arrangements f.or housing facilities
during her stay?
paigns against the Japanese in the ment. Your reporter does not in-
form of tattered enemy battle tend to go overboard or distort A. The Navy has established in
flags, rifles, sabers, pistols, and facts, but the character and the San Francisco a housing service
whatever else the Japs might have discipline of these men reflect the located at 1095 Market Street
left behind in their flight. component lessons of the high (MA 3828) and 50 Post Street
(EX 1862).
Many Gone 31 Months ideals of the American way of life.
The attitudes of these men are Wearing their battle helmets, Q. Is it ev,er proper to use a 1-eft-
virtually the same-they do not clad in colors of camouflage used hand salute?
have much to say-there just isn't in jungle fighting, these men repre- A. Yes. If the right 'arm is in-
much to say according to them- sent a cross-section of American jured to a point where it is im-
they have done their job, done it fighting youth-many of them possible to lift it, it is permissible
well, and are now back in the under twenty-five years of age-- to render a left-hand s.arute.
states to see home again after as virtually from every state in the Q. I have recently been ad-
many as 31 months ' over there. Union. vanced in rating and would like to
When these fighting marines ar-
First American Girls in 2 Years increase my War Bond allotment.
rived on Guadalcanal, Tarawa,
Many of the returning Leather- In what office is this handled?
Tinian and Saipan, fate closed A. War Bond allotments are
tight and inexorable in on the taut, necks had not seen an American handled in the Disbursing Office,
girl for two years and some had
tawdry empire of the Japanese. located topside in the new Post
not seen a white woman for several
Squatting in the winding narrow Office building.
months until the ship bringing
tree lined lanes and jungles of th_e
islands were hundreds of tanks, them here from· ·saipan· docked. Q. I was 26 when I was drafted
guns and artillery· operated by There they saw a number of Marine but was still attending school. The
Women Reserves waving to them G. I. Bill of Rights states that its
those little yellow devils of the
'.Rising Sun, but they were soon on the docks. educational benefits apply only to
blasted from their positions by our "They sure look great," they veterans who were under 25 upon
chorused. entry int-o the service. However,
heroic fighters. The e n e m y ' s
ramparts shook and crumbled be- It remained, however, for Marine since my education was interrupted
fore the battering marine's might, First Sergeant Richard J . Baker, of by the war, I think I should be
for_ these American fighting men Marquette, Mich., first enlisted entitled to some assistance when I
man to leave the ship after it resume my schooling after the war.
slashed in dazzling parabolas to-
ward the last defenses of the docked, to get the prize. He was Do you have any inf.ormati-on on
enemy. These thundering men of warmly greeted; in fact, ki$sed by this subject?
steel have with them trophies, sou- two Women Reserves. A. If you can prove that your edu-
venirs of all kinds, to prove where "Worth fighting for, believe me," cation was interrupted, you will be
they have been and bear witness to said Sergeant Baker with a wide entitled to the benefits of the bill
in spite of your age when drafted.
the bitter, bloody fighting in four grin.
of the most important campaigns Receive New Uniforms Q. I-have a friend in the Treas-
of the Pacific theatre of war. The Marines will be reclassified, ure Island Brig. Is it possible for
Alcatraz Even Looked G-ood outfitted with new uniforms to re- me t-o visit him?
"Gee! Even old Alcatraz looks place those they quit wearing be- A. Whether or not you would be
good to me," said Marine Private fore going into battle overseas, and able to see him depends somewhat
First , Class Earl Mefford, of Mor- then, those not classified as hos- upon his sentence. However, only
gantown, W. Va., who was return- pital patients will get the long- on very unusual cases are the men
ing after being overseas for 32 waited thirty day furloughs home. not allowed to have visitors. Visit-
months. The 22-year-old Leather- "Then it will be like'we are liv- ing hou_rs at the Brig are on Sun-
neck fought at G)ladalcanal, Tar- ing again- home, Mom, Pop, and day between 1300 and 1530.
awa, Saipan and Tinian and lucky the girl friend," they agreed. Q. What is the difference be-
fellow that he was, he was never Reluctant to Talk tween ' a right-arm and a left-arm
wounded. M;.tny of the men were reluctant rating badge?
"How're things back in the to relate the1·r battle exper1·ence A. The sleeve designations of
States," was a general question but they have one consensus of petty officers are worn on the
asked by many of the Marines. opionion-war is what Sherman right sleeve of petty officers in the
"Shucks, we don't have any said it was, perhaps the heat was seaman branch and on the left
heroes· aboard," said Marine First a trifle more during the "simmer- sleeve of all others. ,
Sergeant Lewis W. Lutes, of Los time."
Angeles, Calif., when pressed for When asked whether or not they
detajls concerning any tales of in- would return to their grim business S
dividual heroism among the men of of warfare in the South Pacific, wi mm ing at T. I.
his command. Other Marines stand- one "leatherneck" replied, "I'm (Continued from page 3)
ing around shook their heads. not anxious to get back but it's stead of pulling him through the
But leaking out here and there not too tough fighting those Japs
- water as he intended and he begins
were tales of the heroism of many - it's tougher to sustain the heat."
to use his arms correctly and swim
further without tiring out. He
learns that it is easier to swim on
THE MARINES HAVE LANDED • • • the back than on the stomach for THRILLING, TERRIFIC-these scenes will be re-enacted at the Treasure Island Gym
Smoker September 20.
most people-that it is easier to
· breathe and the arms and legs
work together in a manner to give Treasure Island Navy Contract Calls For
a big drive and then a rest. "Like '
slowing down to a walk when you Boxers Entertain Purch11se of136,000,000
are tired of running."
The WAVES and Nurses have lniured Veterans Articles of Clothing
their own hours for recreational Monday, September 4, Chief Cap- According to announcement from
swimming and instruction. As a
ers of the Treasure Island Gym- the Navy Department, a contract
rule they learn to swim almost im- nasium went to Letterman Naval has been made to purchase 136,-
mediately and in a few days are out
of the shallow end of the pool and Hospital at Presidio with a grand 000,000 articles of clothing for en-
having a grand time learning to athletic show to entertain the in- listed personneL The quantities or-
dive and swim new strokes in the jured war veterans. Boxing bouts dered include 52,000,000 handker-
deep end. on the show were "Mighty Midget" chiefs, 30,000,000 underdrawers,
Joe Sworek vs Ben "The Bull" 23,000,000 cotton undershirts (that
Officers and petty officer person-
Calla; Jackie Burke vs Bob Marsey means, no doubt, somebody will
nel on Treasure Island are coming
more and more to the pool, both (all Armed Guard men) , a battle have pants but no shirt), 30,000,000
royal, trampoline tricks by Ronald pairs of black cotton · mercerized
for recreation and for an instruc-
tive workout. Easter and Johnny Lundberg; and socks, 1,300,000 bathing trunks and
a judo exhibition by Jimmy "Judo" 5,000,000 watch caps.
Check your opportunity for swim-
Collier and Harlow VanMeter.
ming at Treasure Island! The pool
is handling from 6,000 to 8,000 per- He swore that he loved her, that
he would go through Hell for her-
MARINE VETERANS LOOK ' EM OVER-Dressed in well-worn fatigue uniforms vet• sonnel a week now. Are you taking A shoulder strap is a piece of
eran Mar!nes, just home on leave after many months of battling the Japs ii{ the advantage of your opportunity to 'ribbon worn to keep an attraction and now that they're married, he's
Pacific, give the once-over to Marine recruits as the "Boots," resplendent in new swi·m ?, keeping his promise.
uniforms and field packs, enter a building at the Treasure Island base September 6. from becoming a sensation.