OREGOM '"Ti* TE LIBRARY
Vol. 1
No. 33
Abbot Talent
Featured on
KWJJ Show
CAMP ABBOT, OREGON
Camp Abbot, Ore., Jan. 1, 1944
IT'S A FIGHTING '44
Problems Give
Trainees Idea
Of Actual War
By S/Sgf. George S. Fly
Camp Abbot talent hit the
W ITH AN ERTC T R A IN IN G
ether waves last night in the
B ATTALIO N IN THE FIELD —
weekly “ Victory Parade” radio
A battalion of ERTC trainees,
program, broadcast from the
but a few weeks removed from
Service club through facilities
civilian life are today living un
der simulated battle conditions
of Station KWJJ in Portland.
in the h e a r t of the Cascade
Sponsored by the Barde Steel
mountains.
Company, the program will or
They are living in foxholes,
iginate at Camp Abbot every
dug in snow and are engaged in
other week, with alternate
engineering operations to assist
a division that is momentarily
broadcasts originating f r o m
expecting attack from a simu
Vancouver Barracks, Wash.
lated enemy which has landed
Devoted to W AC recruitment,
on the coast and is proceeding in
last night’s 45-minute program
rapid order to occupy the pivot
featured a brief talk by Col.
points in the state's communica
tion system.
Frank S. Besson, ERTC com
The battalion left Camp Abbot
mander; selections by a WAC
early Monday for three weeks
octette, singing by Company B
training in the field. Their first
of the 52nd Battalion, and music
bivouac was four miles south of
by the Camp Abbot dance or
Camp Abbot, on the little Des
chestra.
chutes river. Here the battalion
The overseas music program,
spent a day and a half on non-
camp project through which sol
tactical bridge training.
diers are given training in song
Tuesday evening the battalion
leading and pocket instrument
commander was notified that an
playing to enable them to enter
enemy, estimated at a reinforc
tain in combat zones, was out
ed corps, had established beach
lined by Lt. Albert P. Willis, su
heads on the west coast and
pervisor of classes. Company A
were marching on Salem and
of the 52nd demonstrated effect
Portland. The Ninth Service
iveness of the program by sing
Command assigned the battal
ing the “ Camp Abbot Fight
ion now in the field to the 91st
Song” and the “ 52nd Battalion
Division and ordered them alert
Fight Song.”
ed for further orders.
They were not long in com
Other vocal selections on the
ing. It was soon after midnight
program included two solo num
that orders were received from
bers by Lt. Robert Herring,
the Commanding General, 91st
Service Club program director,
Division to move to a bivouac
and selections by the Arkansas
in the vicinity of Luna Butte.
Trio, members of which are Pvt.
The battalion broke bivouac
Jack Gullege, Pfc. Joe Bull and
in the icy blackness of early
Pvt. James Stevens. A novelty
morning and departed at 3:30 a.
number was presented by Pvt.
Buddy Hyde, former Hollywood This scrappy youngster pinch hitting for the more tractable representative o f the New Year is m. on a forced march for their
ready to kick the Old Year out on its ear and get on with the uar. Our N ew 5 car stand in states new camp site, which was pre
emcee and pianist.
flatly that it’s going to he a "figh tin g ’44” and makes no Isines about it. He's Richard Hansen -lr., pared by the troops after their
T/Sgt. Ardelle Carter of Port son o f First Sergeant Hansen o f Company B, 59th Battalion.
arrival. At mid-morning Wed
land gave a brief talk as repre
nesday the battalion moved
sentative of the W AC recruiting
into the Luna Butte area, pitch
office for this district.
ed camp and awaited orders.
In addition to both military
The enemy executed a haras-
and classical selections, the in
; sing attack about midnight by
strumental portion of the pro
dropping parachute troops near
gram included the playing of
the camp. These men infiltrated
“ Barrack 919,” an original com
the outguaids and were able to
position by Sgt. Dante Di-
Since New Year’s heralds the ministration made everybody visions.
inflict considerable damage be
Thomas.
JUNE 25— Man with an ap
coming of inventory, carries the happy by recommending an ex
fore being captured.
United States one year closer penditure of §20,000 for renovat petite for razor blades, glass and
Yesterday the battalion was
fire
turned
up
for
a
show
by
the
ing
the
USO
in
Bend,
a
project
to victory and represents the
ordered to proceed to the vicin
seven-and-a-half months mark which still is in the fire. Sol 52nd Battalion show. The Post ity of Horse Butte and Bessie
for the army’s newest Engineer diers got their first glimpses of Chapel opened. Two M P’s shot Butte where they began prefwir-
Replacement Training Center, Oregon beauties at a dance in a "cougar” only to find it had ation of a defensive position In-
turned into a porcupine.
Appointment of a housing the ENGINEER herewith pre the All-Purpose building.
( Continued on Page 4)
board to investigate and disem- sents a review of Camp Abbot’s
JULY 2 —A war on ground
JUNE 4—First films were
minate information on housing activities for 1943 as filtered shown at the Post Theater, but squirrels was declared with poi
facilities and accomodations for from its ponderous, dust-covered there was no love interest; they soned oats as the principal
military and civilian personnel files:
were training films. A bands weapon. Service Club workers
assigned to Camp Abbot was an
M AY 21—The first issue of man caught a trout on a vitamin arrived to find no Service Club.
nounced by Post Headquarters the ABBOT ENGINEER sprang pill. Colonel Besson fired the The Post Theater opened with
this week. Named to the board from the maws of a giant press, first shot on the new ERTC a big razzle-dazzle premiere. The
were Lt. Col. Russell D. Turrill, a four-page journal devoted range and scored a bull's eye.
entire Post was "gigged” and
The company clerk has an
president; Maj. William T. largely to conjecture about pro
JUNE 11—Col. R. S. Dicey, deprived of passes for 24 hours other headache but the enlist
Avery. Maj. Lilbum P. Staman, posed entertainment projects post commander, until Colonel for not saluting properly.
ed man who is authorized to
Capt. William S. Roberts Jr., Lt. and early history of Central Ore Besson took over, left for Flor
JULY 9 — T w o
parachute mess separate from his organ
Robert P. Maloney and John J. gon. Contents consisted mostly ence, Ariz. Soldiers without in flares failed to go o ff — they ization may cheer. Ration pay
O'Donnell, recorder.
of printed intentions in the way surance got ready to dig down were made before the war, and ment is now included on the
I
of sports, and there was an arti with the announcement a heavy you guessed it in Japan. The payroll.
No longer will the rationed
51st Battalion started the ball
cle on the arrival of the Waac drive was in store.
COURT P A R LE Y HELD
JUNE 18—A sergeant develop rolling in rifle marksmanship enlisted man wait for Finance
A ll members of General and Detachment.
to pay him o ff by check.
M AY 28—Fishing became a ed a nasty case of nerves when by qualifying 100 per cent.
Special courts and Summary
But the poor company clerk
JULY 16—A Waac fell out for
Court officers of Camp Abbot major pastime with the rescind he started to give tests to a
attended a court-martial confer ing of a ban on fishing on the Waac motorcyclist, only to find fire drill with her typewriter. must type:
"Enlisted man for commuta
Battalion theme she’d gained national promi Pfc. Sid Youman organized the
ence at which certain problems reservation.
facing these tribunals were dis songs were ready for the first nence for earlier riding feats. Post's second dance band. (He's tion rations from Dec. 1, ’43 'o
cussed by Lt. James W. Wallace, contingent of trainees when it Post headquarters units were now a civilian living in Bend and Dec. 31, '43, inclusive, at the ra'o
of 67 cents per day . . . ”
(Continued On Page 3)
arrived. The Federal Works Ad reorganized into eight staff di
judge advocate.
In Case You’ve Forgotten, Here’s
W hat Happened at Abbot in 1943
Housing Board
For Post Named
Once More the
Company Clerk
Pays and Pays