Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1942)
Not lust A Song To Officer By MARGIE ROBINSON “Deep in the Heart of Texas” Is more than a song to Captain IP. G. Macomber. To him it repre sents the location of Camp Wel ters, one of the largest infantry ^replacement-training centers in the U. S., where he is classifica tion officer. In the middle of his fourth year on the University faculty, Cap tain Macomber was called on Jan uary 13, 1941, by the stentorian voice of Uncle Saip. Then a re serve officer (first lieutenant) in the army, the former professor went to Washington, D. C., to en roll in a special adjutant general school for classification officers. After this he was exported to Camp Wolters where he was pro moted to the rank of captain. Selectees Chances Last term the captain, in the .northwest on official business, look advantage of a couple of days’ leave to visit friends at the University, including President Donald M. Erb and the educa 1 ion faculty. Brimming' over with ■facts on camp life and inside dope on chances selectees have *•<> “make the grade,” Captain Macomber reported that a college education offers great possibili SENIORS Caps, downs, mid ('ommoiH'emoiit Announeomonis should be ordered ;<t the 'Co-op' AT ONCE All Orders Must Be in by April IS Q spring Frocks Fresh as New ' risji, cool prints with bright. cheerful patterns tiro insured ol‘ long life by onr careful ami effi cient service. PHONE 252 148 W. 7th Ave. HORACE ROBINSON . . . . . . directs huge Junior Weekend musical. ties for leadership and advance ment in the army. “I’d say that a college educa tion is a very decided advantage in the army." He leaned back comfortably in a swivel chair. “In fact, right now the college stu dent who has definite leadership ability stands a very good chance of being selected for officer' train ing," he stated confidentaly. The captain added that most of the boys in his office working on classification are college grad uates. At Camp Wolters the cap tain's job is to find out the quali fications of men who come in “raw” from induction centers and to determine what type of spe cialist training they are to take. Of course, some previous experi ence does help the draftee when he specializes. • Training' Pays “Selection is determined by the requirements of the training the men are to receive,” Captain Ma comber explained. "For instance, to be placed as motor mechanic you have to be already trained, because in 13 weeks a man can't learn enough to become skilled,” he* said. To become a radio opera tor one need not have had pre vious experience, however. For this post men must have had at least a tenth-grade education, must have fairly high native ability, and must rank in the up per third in intelligence tests. Captain Maeomber named 11 types of specialist training: auto mechanics, truck drivers, buglers, cooks, armorers (general mechan ics and repairmen), clerks, pio neers (“He is a sort of a rough engineer; does demolition work and that type of thing”), radio operators, wire communication, intelligence platoon training, and message center. The responsibil ity of those at the message cen ter is to see that communications are delivered to their proper plac es. There are three types of bat talion training for actual combat; machine gunners, anti-tank gun ners, and riflemen. Not Enough Cooks “Not nearly enough cooks have had training—we have to train them,” the former University fac ulty member said, as the sun shin ing through the window made a bright pattern on his olive-col ored coat. Evidently those who become cooks really want that post and it isn’t at all a soft job. The cap tain reported that many unskilled persons want to get training as cooks because it will serve them later in civil life. The schedule at Camp Wolters allows six and three-quarters hours or more of sleep a night. Men get up at 5:45 a.m. in the winter and eat breakfast at 6:30. NOTHING i BUT \ FUN AH Fishinsy Suppl io> Hendershotts SPRING TERM PICNICS o Paper Plates—lCc O Potato Chips—10c and 15c ® Olives—15c O Pickles—15c MILLS GROCERY Wo Deliver Phone 14S> l'Uli ami llilyard They have dinner at noon, supper at 5:30 p.m., and must be in bed by 11. Sports in Arenas Recreation facilities at the camp include a big sports arena (“The floor space is as large as that of the Igloo”) and a recrea tion hall for each battalion. The sports program gives men oppor tunities to box, and to play soft baseball and basketball although they are not in camp long enough to develop much competition. Soldier’s also have a service club, “like the student union Ore gon doesn’t have,” and in this there are reading rooms, a li brary, a cafeteria, and a large dance hall. Two expert camp or chestras play for dances on Fri day nights. Some members of the orchestra personnels are out standing, having played in big name bands. Captain Macomber reported a vocalist formerly with Ted Weems was in camp at one time. When the orchestra came to Texas it made a special trip to the camp to see the draftee, who proudly had his picture taken with the musical group in his new uniform. Equality the Rule Other notable personalities at Camp Wolters were formerly All American football players, ma jor league baseball players, and golden gloves champions in box ing. While papers often give these men much publicity, the captain said, they are treated equal in the sight of officers and men at the camp. “For after all,” the captain added, his leather belt creaking at each move, “the thing that makes a soldier is what he can do with rifle and bayonet. If a man is a good leader and is well qualified, it doesn’t matter what he did in civilian life.” Camp Wolters, which gives ba sic infantry training, places em phasis upon marksmanship and training of individual combat skill (with bayonet, hand grenade, etc.) There is not much group work at the camp, but men learn how to defend themselves and wage offensive warfare. After they leave the camp soldiers are assigned to infantry organiza tions all over the country and go into maneuvers. Texas Break In Captain Macomber said that the Texas climate was “not as bad as he had expected,” adding, eyes twinkling, that temperatures in the summer were from 95 to 105 degrees in the shade. North FQR YOUR PARTY I Spring Specials Spring Picnics sandwiches to order. Cold Meats. Salads. Salt Kis ng' Bread. Pickles. Olives, Potato Chips, Cakes and Pies. Picnic Plates. Spoons, Cnps, Napkins. FREE DELIVERY Elliott's GROCERY 13th & Patterson. Ph. 95. ern boys have to be “broken in” rather carefully so no heat pros trations will result. “Complain? Soldiers are al ways complaining about some thing,” the captain smiled, swiv eling dexterously in his chair. “They say if a soldier doesn't complain he isn’t any good.” Captain Macomber reports that the morale at Camp Wolters is exceptionally high. After 13 weeks of training a great ma jority of the men are pretty much reconciled to army life and even like it, he said. Pedagogy Calls At intervals, former colleagues of the captain stopped in to shSSte? ham’ with him and to say that they wanted to be sure and see him before he left. Dr. Freeman Glenn Macomber at the Univer sity, the now-military man was professor of education, director of University high school and’the placement bureau when he was at Oregon. He said that he is “finding the change interesting,” but is “an xious to get back to teaching” as soon as he can. Captain Macom ber said that the men at camp call him “sir,” no nicknames. The other officers call him “captain,” and he, in turn, calls the Qolonel “sir.” RIP-EOARING FUN! Abbott & Costello in 'RIDE 'EM COWBOY' A MUSICAL HIT! 'Birth of the Blues' with Bing- Crosby Mary Martin Also 'HENRY ALDRICH FOR PRESIDENT' with Henry Aldrich Jimmie Lydon nsnEf COMEDY OF THE YEAR! Hugh Herbert in 'DON'T GET PERSONAL' Also Bill Elliott Tex Ritter in 'KING OF DODGE CITY' A WAR DRAMA! The Bugle Sounds' with Wallace Beery and Marjorie Main Also Charlie Chan in 'Castle in the Desert' CLASSIFIED ADS • Lost LOST—Alpha Gamma Delta pin, If found please phone 1780, Helen Skjersaa. WINE velvet belt between McAr thur court and the Lemon O. If found, phone Mrs. Davis,^ 4916. ON 13th street, a small black key case, with one snap. Re turn to Evelyn D. Johnson, Susan Campbell hall.