Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1944)
8 SERVICE NEWS (Continued from page 7) aga Island, where he espent nearly eight months battling the elements, includ ing the "williwaws,” which Floyd says will blow through almost any amount of clothing. After a brief furlough, he will report for futher duty. Malcolm Cameron, MM 2 /c of the Seabees, now stationed in Hawaii, says that the Navy teaches young men a trade, and that by the time this shin dig is over he will know all there is to know about stevedoring and rigging. He also says that he is enjoying his stay there, with the exception of the work. Never a dull moment. Staff Sgt. John F. Hageman, who has had a bout with malaria and is at present in Australia states he hopes to get back to his old company one of these days. Fred has been so long amongst our English speaking brothers that he is acquiring the British prase- ology "no end.” Leonard Batzner, a former state em ployee, now a Machinists Mate 1/c with the Seabees, was home on leave in May. He spent several days in Salem visiting friends and relatives. He wears a . star on his service ribbon for action at Tar awa, and told us the fighting there was plenty tough. The natives, he remarked, were fine physical specimens and very intelligent. About 70 per cent can read and write their native language, Gil- bertese, whose alphabet contain? only 13 letters. Leonard was much interested in the OSEA, as it has been organized since he joined the armed forces. Good luck to you, Leonard. Lt. Keith W. Mathews, former State Highway employee, now a training in structor on fast pursuit ships at Craig Field, Alabama, was a recent visitor in Salem. Lt. Mathews, among other items of interest, said he has, on cross country trips, visited almost every state in the Union, but is hoping he can soon get back to Oregon, permanently, as it tops the rest of the country by a large mar gin. Sgt. Valdemar Johnson is now home on furlough and recently visited the Traffic Department and renewed old acquaintances. Val is now transferred to the Engineer Corps and at the ex piration of his furlough reports to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for assign ment. Seaman First Class Glen Boertscher of the Coast Guard is still in Vancou ver, Washington. Joe Gately, Shipfitter First Class, is in the San Diego area on limited active duty. Private First Class Sana Millett of the Marine Corps was recently home and visited the Department. She is in San Francisco working in the Fleet Post Office. Captain John Beakey recently wrote a letter from England in which he stated that he run across Captain Dick Anderson of the Engineer Corps in England. John is still in transportation work. Corporal Cecil Head in now1 stationed in North Africa. Marine Sergeant Vernal Busch has spent two Christmas holidays in the South and Central Pacific. He writes that he has seen enough monkeys, trop ics, natives, and south sea muck to last him for many years. On his first as signment in the South Pacific he says all illusions he had as to the romantic nature of those islands was completely shattered. The Central Pacific, how ever, was an improvement, with a bet ter climate, better living conditions, and (Continued on page 2 3 ).
