Page 60 - Mastheads Jan-June 1945
P. 60
PAGE4 THE MASTHEAD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1945
From Square-Riggers to EPIDEMIOLOGY UNIT HAS WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES Small Hospital Unit
Sky Ships Is Saga of Here Doing Large Job
T. I. Aviation Chief For Armed Forces
One of the busiest little depart-
"Early bird" is the expression ments in the Treasure 1sland Hos-
that best fits William A. Lamkey,
pital these days is the Epidemi-
chief aviation pilot who first took ological Team. Headed by Lt. C. L.
to the air in the days when air- Spingarn (MC) USNR, officer in
planes were little more than bamboo
sticks and haywire. charge and Ens. A. N. King, H (S)
USNR, the team concern!jl itself
He is ·licensed aviator number
183, having taken his initial train- with the problems of contagious
ing at Mineola, Long Island, in disease control, preventive medicine
1912. and sanitation for Treasure Island
and neighboring Naval Activities.
At that time he already had be-
hind him ten years in the Navy. He Dr. Spingarn was graduated
started out as ·an apprentice boy on from the Columbia University Col-
the square-rigger Essex in 1902. lege of Physicians and Surgeons.
At this college, Doctor Spingarn
Trained With Arnold was instructor and research worker
When he received his license, the in Pharmacology before entering
U. S. Army was forming its First
the service in 1942. Although his
Aero Corps, under the aegis of the contact with epidemiology i.s re-
Sig)'lal Corps. Young Lamkey cent, this type of work is .in keep-
thought it a good beginning. Join-
ing up, he went down to San Diego ing with his previous experience.
Ens. King holds a degree in Bac-
for instruction and studied in the
teriology from the Montana State
same class as "Hap" Arnold, later
College and was a member of the
to become chief of the USAAF. ·
Washington State Health Depart-
"After two years in the Army,"
ment in civilian life.
Lamkey recalls, "I saw a better In the Epidemiology Laboratory,
future in commercial aviation. I J. L. Coyner, CPhM; H. Spikes,
tied up with the new Glen L. Mar- PhMlc; and B. F. Spangler, PhMlc, ,
tin Company in Los Angeles as a assisted by D. Hoffman, PhM2c and
test and general flight pilot."
G. Smith, PhM2c, perform bacteri-
Flew for Pancho Villa ological tests on milk and water.
In those days Pancho Villa was They also engage in extensive sur-
leading a revolution against the veys for carriers of many con-
government of Mexico. He re- tagious diseases. The work these
quested Martin to send down a men do is for the protection of the
plane to be purchased if it passed personnel of the armed forces.
the test. In collaboration with the Sanita-
Lamkey was ordered to sell the tion Department .of the U.S. Naval
plane to Villa. Dispensary TADCEN, members of
Putting the . craft through its the unit inspect galleys, food
aerial paces, Lamkey also sold him- handlers and barracks on Treasure
self. Villa engaged him to be "the and Yerba Buena Islands. They also
general's aviator." exterminate rodents and various in-
PICTURE LEGEND-Top, Personnel of Epidemi- ler innoculating culture tubes. Bottom left: Chief
Nobody knew anything about ological Team, Front Row: Dr. Spingarn and Ens. Coyner counting bacterial colonies with a Quebec sect pests. With its mobile labora-
aviation warfare in those days. King. Second Row: B. Spangler, PhM1c; J. L. Coy- Colony Counter. Bottom right: Spikes reading the tory equipment, the team is ready
Strafing and bombardment from ner, CPhM; and H. Spikes, PhM1c. Top right: Spang- results of a bacteriological analysis of water. at all times to study and control
the air were a thing of the future. epidemics in neighboring naval ac-
It was Lamkey's job to take the nine of their bullets pierced the Warns Against Military 2,000 Enlisted Men tivities. It also keeps an extensive
airplane up in the early morl!ing plane." file on statistical data pertaining to
Pancho Villa was done for. He
hours and observe changes in the took to the hills with 200 of his Negligence and Slated for V-12 the incidence of common com-
disposition of troops under enemy municable diseases.
-Generals Obregon and Carranza. "dorados," his PElrsonal bodyguard. All the members of the Epiqemi-
Later he met Lamkey at Torreon to Concealed Weapons Training in July ological Team have been specially
settle accounts. The plane, at Villa's In a recent memorandum issued A total of 2,000 carefully selected trained for their work at the Naval
request, was returned to Martin. by Twelfth Naval District head- enlisted men will enter the Navy Medical School, Bethesda, Md. This
Hunted Subs quarters, personnel in this area are V-12 program on July 1, 1945 for unit is one of many stationed at
Not long afterward, when the again warned regarding violations training leading. ultimately to com- large naval bases in this country
Navy established Pensacola as an of the accepted rules of military missioned rank in the Naval Re- and overseas. These units are avail-
aviation training station, Lamkey discipline. serve. able as "trouble shooters" should
re-enlisted, took training there, and The memo is quoted as follows: Enlisted men will be selected for the threat of an epidemic arise.
in 1917 went to France. "A considerable amount of negli- this training next spring and start Whatever is done here, is only a
As a naval pilot, Lamkey was gence with respect to such military classes on July 1, 1945, in colleges warm-up for the job that the unit
stationed in Brittany, and flew on matters as uniform, bearing and and universities under contract to anticipates doing on the road to
submarine hunts over the Channel salutes among naval personnel in the Navy for training to become Tokio.
waters. French planes were used. this District is very noticeable. This deck, engineering and supply corps
Another Narrow Escape is largely due, presumably, to the officers.
In 1921, in France, Lamkey was lack of sufficient indoctrination and Basic requirements include the Navy Pilot Training
made manager of the garage of training of individuals who are new following: be an enlisted man on
the American embassy .. Here he to the service. ~ctive duty; a citizen of the United Program to Undergo
performed a minor miracle of auto- · "The hand salute is an index of States less than 23 years of age on
mobile repair which so impressed efficiency and morale. It should be July 1, 1945; unmarried and agree Sharp Increase
an American officer that Lamkey given smartly and at proper dis- to remain unmarried until commis-
was selected to go to England, tance, should never be rendered sioned; a high school graduate or Former aviation cadets and stu-
where a group of U. S. Navy men with cigarette, pipe, cigar, or tooth- have been in attendance at, or ac- dent aviation pilots, who were sep-
were being trained by the British pick in the mouth, or with one cepted for admission by an ac- arated from the pre-flight stages of
in lighter-than-air flight. hand in pocket. Coat should be credited college or university. He the Navy's aviation training pro-
W. A. Lamkey, CAP "The British were constructing a buttoned. When rendered by a per- may apply through his Command- gram since June, 1944, when the
dirigible for us at the time," Lam- son not moving, the position of "at- ing Officer. No waivers 1Jf general scheduled output of fliers was re-
"The plane," Chief Lamkey re- key stated. "When the ship was tention" should be assumed. It sea duty physical requirements will duced, are being given an oppor-
lates, "was carried on flat cars on ready, it was decided that on her should be given to all superior of- be granted. tunity to reenter the program. Re-
the railroad. We had 11 'cargadores' trial flight part of the crew would ficers-Army as well as Navy. assignment will commence during
who would load and unload it. Al- be British and part American. At "The necessary education and the spring and summer of 1945.
though I held no military rank, my first I felt slighted because I was admonishment of juniors in these If You Are Getting a Approximately 7,000 aviation
mechanic was a major in Villa's not one of the Americl:j.ns slated matters rests with the immediate cadets and students were affected
forces." to take her up. Discharge Read This by the June cutback. In order to
superiors.
"On that flight she broke in two return to the program, they must
Villa's Fall "The uniform for enlisted per- The Information Division of the
One morning, about four months over the Humber River and burned sonnel while on liberty is dress blue Office of Price Administration, San have been in good standing at the
after he joined Villa, Lamkey had immediately. More than 50 men baker. Francisco District lists the follow- time they were shifted to other
were killed. It was a narrow escape duties, or elected to withdraw vol-
just come down from a reconnais- "Identification cards and liberty ing suggestions for ~ischarged untarily to other duties in the Navy.
sance flight when he heard the for me." passes will be carried at all times. servicemen: A letter from the Bureau of Naval
sound of heavy artillery fire close An Inventor Too "The possession of knives or guns Apply to your War Price and Personnel will shortly notify all
at hand. Between 1928 and 1943, when he by enlisted personnel while on lib- Rationing Board in your home com-
was called back to active duty munity for War Ration Book Four eligible personnel that they now
"We waited anxiously for de- erty is prohibited." have an opportunity to reenter the
velopments. Soon peons with their Lamkey worked with airplanes, a (food book). program. They will then have to
wives and children came" streaming good part of the time as a civilian Apply to your Board for Book submit applications. Each man's
down the roads. That is always a employee of the Navy. No. 1 on this week's Wolf Pa- Three (shoe stamps). application will be considered on
sign of disaster. Over my me- Listed in "Who's Who in A via- rade: "I'll be loving you in hall- If you are buying or resuming the basis of his record, the Navy's
chanic's objections, I ordered the tion" and inventor of a tow-target ways." title to an automobile, apply to needs, and his availability.
cargadores to load the plane. repeat mechanism used by the Navy your Board for an "A" Book (gaso-
to train aerial gunners, the chief line rations). Re-accepted students will be en-
"The poor civilians, looking for is now attached in a general utility "My uncle was wrecked on a If you buy a used car be sure you tered at a stage of training com-
an escape to safety, clambered all capacity to the Naval Auxiliary Air desert island with 25 beautiful girls do not pay over the ceiling price. mensurate with their position at the
time they were separated.
over the trains. I gave the order Facility on Treasure Island. He is and when they found him he was Get an OP A certificate of trans-
to start. Hardly had we begun to 57 years of age. nearly dead." fer and turn it in to your War Price
move whenObregon's cavalry broke "But now and then I feel my "From exposure ? " and Ration Board. This is im- Clothes may make the woman,
out into the open, headed right for oats," he declared, "and up I go "No-from pulling down the dis- portant as no sale is legal without but they certainly can break her
us. We made it just in time, but for a flight again." tress signals the girls put up." a certificate of transfer. husband.