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.
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