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About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1944)
7 COMMANDER HARR’S ARRIVAL CREATES UNANIMOUS FEELING OF WELCOME (Excerpt from an Aleutian Weekly) "Through the Eighth Special area strides a familiar figure— a man whom the officers and men continue to look up to, figuratively and literally. "The anticipated visit of Command er A. B. H arr became a reality on Thursday of the past week. Before any of the men had seen him, the grape vine communications had it well estab lished that the Commander was aboard; and, although it was impossible for each mate to extend a personal verbal greet ing, the generating of a hospitable wel come was evident in the remarks echo ing in each and every hut; and, fur thermore, if the Commander could have ‘tuned in,’ he would have heard heart-warming comments of respect and admiration which are paid only to fine leaders of men. "Upon noting that the visor of his ‘undress’ cap was not carrying the ‘scrambled eggs’ to which he is entitled as a full Commander, this typical re mark was made and overheard: ‘He knows he is all right* without that.’ Commander H arr has a distinctive and outstanding personality that decorative braid could do little to enhance. “Since the Eighth Special was div ided into two units, Commander Harr has, for the most part, been stationed at our Island X -l as Officer-in-Charge of the Eighth Special Battalion, Section Two. In recent months the second sec tion has been split with Company ‘D’ remaining at Island X -l and Company ‘B’ moving to Island X-2. Now the Commander’s position reverts to its or iginal status as ■ Officer-in-Charge, Eighth Special USN-CB (All Sections) with each section, including the First, operating with its OINC. We of the first section consider ourselves fortun ate in having him with us.” Perry F. Conner, SK 3/c, Camp Perry, Virginia, writes: "I gratefully acknowledge receipt of 'The Oregon State Employee.’ A real thrill to read of the men I knew at home in the De partment. I met Lt. (j.g.) Kenneth Klein here in camp. He is now going to school at Camp Endicott, Rhode Is land.” John E. Howry and Charlie Camp bell are stationed in Australia with the Seabees. Both say that Australia is a fine country, but about 40 years be hind the times. Should pick up fast af ter the war though, as people are fast finding the advantages of the country down under. Both men are of the opin ion that the war will be over and they will return by July, 1945. Some things are plentiful—liquid refreshments, for example, according to John, but some things are very scarce, cigars for in stance. Lt. (j.g.) Floyd Simon was a recent visitor here after 17 months with the Seabees in the Aleutians. Floyd left the Highway Department where he was foreman of a bridge maintenance crew, to enter the service as chief warrant officer. After several months on Ko diak Island, he was assigned to con struction of an advanced base on Tan- (Continued on next page)
