Monday, October 1,
TUB LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER, LA GRANDE, OREGON
Page TAW Setit T
Eastern College GaVe
Much to War Effort;
Taught Nurses, Fliers
Eastern Oregon college feels a measure of pride in its record of
contributions made as an institution during World War II. In April
of 1840, the college contracted with the civil aeronautics adminis
traton for the training of its first group of regular college students
for their private pilot certificates. Ground school instruction was
offered by the college staff in civil air regulations, navigation, me
teorology and radio code. Flight instruction was conducted at the
La Grande municipal airport. This program was known as the ele
mentary training program for pilots and was limited to regular
college students who could pass the prescribed physical and other
examinations
This program with some modi
fications was continued through
out the academic year 1041-42,
with several groups graduating
from the elementary training
course. In the fall quarter of 1942
the civilian pilot training was
changed to the "war training
service" and became in effect a
semi-military program. The men
were issued uniforms and those
in the navy contingent were giv
en military pay.
Withdrawn
To the former elementary
course was added the secondary
or advanced course, as well as
ones in liaison pilot and Link
trainer pilot courses. This revis
ed, semi-military program in
cluded training in military drill
and army regulations. A total of
approximately 111 pilots gradu
ated from the CPT and WTS pro
grams for the army and navy.
During the college year 11142-4:),
there were enrolled in the college
2(1 students in the navy V-l pro
gram, four in the marine corps
reserves, and three in the navy
V-7 program. At the same time
there were five men in the army
enlisted reserve and eight in the
army air corps enlisted reserv,
who were assigned to the college
for instruction but withdrawn
into service at the close of the
winter quarter.
As a service to h I g h school
teachers in this area interested in
preparing themselves to teach
preflight aeronautics to high
school .students, a special course
was organized and taught by col
lego fuculty members. The course
was entitled "Teaching of pre
flight aeronautics in high school."
Twenty-one teachers and pros
pective teachers completed the
course, which was given evenings
and Saturday mornings for the
convenience of the students.
Homo Nursing
A war-emergency course In
"Home Nursing" was also added
to the curriculum in 1042. It was
taken by a number of college
girls and non-college women.
Recognizing the inherent re
sponsibilities resting upon the
colleges in the war effort, there
was appointed at Eastern Oregon
college Jan. 5, 1!)42, u college
wartime council. This council
gave timely assistance in connec
tion with various wartime serv
ices rendered by the institution
throughout the period of World
War II.
The CPT and WTS programs
concluded March, 1H43. On the
following day, March 31, there
arrived on the campus 500 avia
tion students under the army ait
forces college training detach
ment program. The accommoda
tion of such a relatively large
group of army trainees for a small
college, in addition to the civil
ian students, necessitated many
drastic changes, such as: (1) ad-1
dition of some 20 new instructors, !
(2) reorganization of the admin
istrative and supervisory staff to
adjust to the new program which j
involved instruction, housing,'
messing, transportation, and med-1
leal health services, (3) renova
tion of additional classrooms and
the acquisition of a considerable
amount of new equipment, and j
(4) leasing of the Sacajawea hotel
in La CJi ancle for housing some
of the 500 aviation students.
Conduct Course
During the period of approxi
mately 15 months until the pro
gram terminated June 30, 1944,
2,102 men were sent to this col
lege for instruction in physics,
mathematics, geography, history,
English, medical a i d, physical
training, a n d civil air regula
tions. In addition, the students re
ceived training in military con
duct under the tutelage of mili
tary personnel and learned the
rudiments of (lying in u ten-hour
course al l.a Grande ail purl. The
city council a n d city manager
were instrumental in providing
expansion of the airport to meet
requirements.
The program was originally
planned so each squadion of Hill
men would remain for a period
of 21 weeks, but in actuality the
length of time each group of stu
dents was in attendance varied
from only seven weeks for one
squadron to 22 weeks fur another
group.
Hew Cokw
During the time this program
was in operation on the campus
it ndded color, enthusiasm and
new experience to t h e atmos
phere. H?cogniii)g also, the need for
institutional postwar planning, a
committee for this purpose wax
created Aug. 20, 11KKV With the
following assigned functions: (1)
to analyze prospective Jirobkciis
and potential services of the col
lege in the postwar Auriod, (2)
to appraise the present progress
of the college with a view to
strengthening its offerings, (3) to
project carefully program of serv
ice to meet the needs of return
ing war veterans and other stu
dents, and (4) to devise and plan
the necessary steps to consum
mate improvements and possible
new programs, to enable the col
lege to serve fully its functions.
At the opening of the fall term
in 1943-44, a contingent of 30
members of the U. S. cadet nurse
corps began preclinical nursing
program at the college, under an
affiliated arrangement with The
Dalles hospitul school of nursing
in The Dalles. The program pro
vided for nine months' training
ut the college followed by 21
months at The Dalles hospital.
Prospective nurses pledged them
selves, health permitting, to con
tinue their training and later
service.
34 Mot
With the opening of the spring
quarter in March, 1944, an addi
t i o n a 1 contingent of 34 cadet
nurses entered upon their train
ing, under an affiliation arrange
ment with Deaconness hospital
school of nursing in Spokane. Re
quired courses pi-escribed by the
U. S. cadet nurse corps were
tuught at the college and the
necessary supervised hospitul
practice was provided at St. Jo
seph hospital. A new 10-bed nurs
ing arts laboratory wus estab
lished and additional equipment
was acquired.
On Oct. 1, 1944, under arrange
ment with St. Elizabeth hospital
at Baker, a new beginning group
of 17 cadet nurses began its nine
months pre-cadet training. At the
same time, o second class of 34
for The Dalles hospital also start
ed. Grande Ronde hospital was
added to the program.
Unified Program
On March 16, 1945, additional
classes of 18 cadet nurses for St.
Elizabeth hospital at Baker and
18 for St. Anthony hospital ot
Pendleton began training. This
completed the original plan of
having a beginning made in a
unified nursing education giro-
T. B. LUMSDEN, Manager
W. R. WINTERS, Acting Aui. Manager
La Grande Branch
Office of The
United States National Bank
28 BRANCH OFflCIS IN OREGON
MIIMIN riOtRAL DIPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
As ivVNV h
x, . . C , I
V
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP of Mrs. T. B. Lumsden, the Union
county chapter of the American Red Cross is doing a notable
piece of war work. Mrs. Lumsden majored in journalism' at the
University of Oregon aftor which she completed the course of
occupational therapy at Reed college. She then spent 18 months
in the medical department of the U. S, army during World War I.
; "The task of restoration from war to peace is goi.ig to be even
a bigger undertaking." says Mrs. Lumsden, "and we do hope all
of our people who have so loyally supported the chapter in war
time will continue their efforts."
gram involving t h e schools of
nursing at The Dalles hospital.
St. Elizabeth, and St. Anthony.
'.In summary, there might be
listed a number of iK'nefits:
j 1. The probram gave life, vig
or, and coloi.
2. 'Hie faculty was kept intact
throughout the war period.
.3. A considerable proportion of
the faculty ucquircd valuable
professional oxXTience in the
adaptation of curriculum mater
ials. 4. The college as a whole was
enabled to discharge its wartime
obligations.
9. A creditable addition to the
good will of the general public
toward the college accrued.
.8. The college has cause for
pride, in which each alumni and
returning veteran students can
join.
7. The clarification of the aims
of tin.' college in serving fully its
funi) ion of higher educational
leadership in its area.
A Solid
Foundation
rr Jofo. E-G on' - m
For many years it has been the
policy of this bank to serve the es
sential interests of the State. This
policy has been instrumental in
developing' the agricultural, com
mercial and industrial facilities of
Oregon.
8. A considerable amount of
valuable instructional equipment
and materials was acquired.
9. The reputation of having
consummated contractual obliga
tions creditably wilh several or
ganizations. 10. The carryover into peace
lime college instruction of some
of the instructional procedures,
including the greater use of audio
and visual aids.
11. Temporary addition of 20
new faculty members provides a
reservoir of demonstrated capa
bility upon with to draw.
12. Potential peacetime contin
uation of the nursing education
program in affiliation with hos
pital schools of nursing.
PLENTY OF WATER
"Old Faithful" geyser, in Yel:
lowstone National Park, spouts
more than 1,500,000 gallons of
water at each display, and could
supply the water needs of a city
the size of Denver.
SNODGRASS
FUNERAL HOME
TOWARD A
NEW WORLD
Not as did Columbus whose discovery of
our shores we celebrate this month but across
a sea of h um an understanding and achieve
ment we sail' toward a new world.
Ouk armies lay down their guns, having ful
filled their duty to humanity and preserved
the foundations of our civilization and we may
devote our energies toward a greater civiliza
tion a new world, the atomic age.
Our prayer should be that misery and suffer
ing may be diminished that each race, nation
and individual may find his place in the
scheme of things and that man may stand in
his full stature in the light of the world.
AN rN'DKRSTANDINC
SKUYICH
In time of tribulation, friends are need
ed as at mi other time. We extend our
friendliness and our counsel to those
bereaved, Uhowitiv; that need.
)