Page Four
91 st Fire Tests
Ended by Divsrfy
Camp Adair Seni
Friday, February 25. 1944
Grasshopper Plane Directs 91st Artillery Through AGF Tests
Bns. Race Through All
Types Combat Firing
Problems During Week
By Pvt. II. I,. Sutton. 318th FA
Last week 91st Division Artil-
larymcn successfully went over the
last hurdle of their Battalion Fir
ing Tests, during which battalions
■ re raced through almost every
tvpe of combat firing problem. A
few things like the poison oak men-
nud "the driest winter in twen
ty years" were thrown in just to
””ke th«- job a little more interest
ing.
Ml three of the battalion tests
included the usual baekstrains for
’he cannoneers but each set out
different problems of fire.
Battalion Test I was a “speed-
go” with the III Corps umpires
holding stop watches, and officer«
and men cussing and winching the
guns into position. As one chief of
section put it, “I almost thought
• e were in the navy, we were erm-
ucting so many amphibious opera-
' oils. And let me tell you a howit-
r doesn't float without just a
"ttle help!”
The 348th Bn. had to take time
nt in the middle of the actual test
!iile a log train wheezed and lum-
ered across the range.
The problem itself is one of pre-
i«ion fire brought to hear on tar-
eta of doubtful locations. More
'han one forward observer was
ven doubtful of the existence of
be target — fearing that it had
■|<wted away.
The second test was also a speed
>n ami included some of the mir-
le« of modern artillery. Firing
f' om a photomap, a target was giv-
i which could not be observed. In
’ ite of the fact that the firing was
'¡nd, the shell had to burst not
• er 50 yards from the target be-
>re full credit was given.
The "Maytag Mexserschmidt"
• ime in for its share of glory —
flage was too damn good.
figures down to a gnat’s eye. and 1 chinery.
id for a while had more fire-
"When
it
caiue
time
to
post
a
their physique» covered with a
General Hospital made this
>wer than a Flying Fortress.
rash. The entire operations section statement after the completion of
When the air observer fired bat- guard," he Said wryly. "It took me ,
v of the 346th looked out at the .the tests:
• -ry salvos the tiny plane had, in more than an hour to find my
| world through pink lotion.
"When the game was over each
ffect, four howitzers mounted on men.”
her wings!
This firing test was not judged . At the crack of dawn, came the of the four battalions hung up
P’ttalion Test Ill was the climax by speed of performance but ra peak of the tests. The fire of 48 scores of which they could be
>f the tests, the entire division ar ther by accuracy and precision. howitzers was massed upon one proud. These scores indicate meti
tillery Ixdng coordinate«!. Camou Survey mea spent hours atop "Poi target, a concentration of sheer culous attention to detail in the
flage discipline was rampant. One son Oak Knoll,'* peering through destruction, figured as closely as preparation« for these tests.
first sei grant felt that the catnou- their instrument«, getting their 1 the tooling of a fine piece of ma- I "I wish to congratulate the bat
talion commanders and their or
ganizations for the fine results
Informality In Session After Newsman's Address
obtained?*
Each of the battalion command
itas received a letter of com-
ndation from the general.
91st Div. Phot
Red Cross Messages
Reach GIs Overseas
More than 20.060 messages
month, about equally divided I
tween inquiries from men overs
in regard to the welfare of tl
families and inquiries from fl
iiies concerning the welfare and
cation of men overseas, are pou
into Red Cross national headq
tors in Washington.
Red Cross points out that bee.
of war conditions long periods
elapse before a family will -L.
from a serviee man. Most oft
) try men See Some
families lose touch with their m
on foreign duty in the course
I Life' Right in
rapid troop movements or becau
Regimental Area
secrecy of location in a theater
operation or lack of facilities a
'here’s lots of wild life in the
time have prevented the famili
intry, men, but you seldom tret
from receiving a change of *
le enough to see it with your
dress.
i eyes.
However, if a family has not hi
!yea of EM of the 276th Inf.
any word for months and has re
ged this week when an authen-
son to be concerned about the "<
bit of wild life appeared right
fare of their man in the servic
the open spaces of Avenue C in
Red Cross will accept an irrquii
shape of a timid fawn.
for transmittal to the Red Cro
ieveral enterprising soldiers
Field Directar attached to the s*
'd to capture the animal to en- I
vice
man's unit.
its services as a runner. The
In cases of critical illne**
n. however, was under draft
other extreme emergency at hom
and departed on the double for
the Red Cross will accept nn*«ag
•a 30.
I to be sent by cablegram or radi
<»R HAY—FOR MARY ANN
grant
lollywood (CNS>—Edward M. | In communities throughout tl
Sheridan listed “Mary Ann” as a I U.S. and at field station* at hon
THOROIGHI.1 ENJOYING ONE of the few l.ath, h, h.» had
th.
. 2’*’
dependent in his draft question i and abroad, the Red ( roM
Rax mend P. Craain. recently returned to the I'nited State» after >1 harrow inr m »tuT *™ ¿Si’’
naire and his local draft board , provided twenty-four hour cove
pine Jap concentratio« camp, indulges in a little levity in the office'of Major General jLh2 F n LT
quist. Commanding General of the TMh Divtotem • ho i. »ho. n equ.lh eXv.ngThe mk^ n 7 J iT'’
classified him 3A. The board re age of its message centers.
of Mr. < ronin. On hu right are Hngadier General Robert N. Young a««i?tan hi >.iLL f
cently discovered that “Mary Ann”
and Col. CAarla. M Owens. Chief of Staff. Shortly aft« th., ptetune
iken tXZJi
A good salute is the mart of
was a horse. Now Sheridan faces a
•n hi. wpertence. to t amp Ada.r »oldier. in Theater i Mood*
’ “
federal charge as a draft dodger. good soldier.