TALES OF MIL. SCI., NAVAL R.O.T.C. CAMPS

Very auspicious circumstances surrounded the opening of the annual Harvard-Yale R.O.T.C. camp at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, on June 26th, for its fame had even penetrated to the golden shores of California, and the University of Santa Clara honored the camp with one of its sons.

The men at Harvard out-numbered those of Yale this year by the score of 36 to 31. Perhaps this is prophetic for November 19. Yale may well challenge the use of the R.O.T.C. as a preliminary hardening up season, for Harvard had Kenneth Booth, Donald Daughters, R. G. Jones, Howard Johnson, Charlie Snyder, W. S. Kerr, from its squad, at this camp.

Men Prepared for Rigors

The first two weeks of camp were spent at the Post of Fort Ethan Allen, in order to prepare the men for the rigors of the life on the range where the "rabbits and the mosquitos play." The high point of this period of acclimatization was the annual R.O.T.C. "hop" --dance to you. That the men of Yale and Harvard are well versed in the "arts and sciences" of the social graces was well demonstrated by the demand for more dances.

The camp paper, "The Guidon," which appeared soon after the opening of camp was directed by I. tucker Burr, III '39 as Editor-in-Chief. As assistants from Harvard he had Edwin R. Clarke '39; Arthur R. Borden, '39; Frank E. Southard '39 Law; and Walter Kaitz, '39. AS department editors, Cleveland Amory '39; Rud Hoye '39 and Mathew Taback '39; while sports were handled by Francis J. Donovan Jr., '39. With the excellent assistance of the Yale members of the board a fine paper was turned out. Every phase of camp life was aptly covered; in fact Walter Winchell probably could take a lesson on "how to get the facts" from this typical board.

Marksman Make Merry

But the more serious aspects of camp routine had their "small" share of the time of the students during this first two week period. When the clouds of dust had cleared away from the pistol range, it was actually discovered that some of the shots had richocheted thru the "bull's eyes" of the targets.

Top man of the camp was Allen E. Puckett '39, who scored 89.1% qualifying expert pistol shot. He was followed by four who qualified as Sharpshooters, Frank E. Southard '39 Law, score 84.7 % R. G. Jones '39 score 84.4%; Donald L. Daughters '39 score 83.7% and P. R. Wentworth '39, score 81.3%. Those who qualified as Marksmen, with scores ranging from 60% to 78% were Cleveland Amory '39; Fred S. Armstrong Jr. '39; I. Tucker Burr III '39; William L. Calfee '39; Francis J. Donovan '39; Frank r. Harnden '39; Nathaniel Heard '40; Robert J. Hoye '39; Howard Johnson '39; Bernard Kalman '39; Oscar Swartz '39; Frederick D. Wright '38.

Men Trek to Range

The trek to the Artillery range at the foot of Mount Mansfield is no problem in this day of motorization. By noon July 12th camp was re-organized and preparations made to follow out the ideal life of the Artilleryman: "March and shoot." Tactical problems (Roops), Artillery Firing of all types; even demonstration firing of the heavy calibre 155 mm. adjustment of Artillery Fire by Airplane, Camouflage and Field Fortification and an overnight tactical maneuver; all had their part in the schedule of activities.

The climax of the camp was the annual march to visit Fort Ticonderoga, an historical point of interest in this area. When the class of 1939, Harvard, gathers around its 25th re-union table, there will be men who will recall that memorable night in July when William Calfee '39 made a special study of the tactics of General Montcalm in the defense of the redoubts surrounding the Fort, and when Donald L. Daughters, '39, distinguished himself as official custodian of the few remaining mosquitos which insisted on spending a few early morning hours with him.

The return march was marked by no event of interest. All were really getting some rest on the way home. A large number were scheduled for "Kitchen police" duty over the week-end for too large a preponderance of "demerits."

The last week of camp was marked by the over-night maneuver in which the Unit was organized as a battalion of four firing batteries. The preliminary march was but an inkling of the rough work scheduled for the night. By midnight all batteries were in position "on the base line" ready for flring at dawn. The excellence of the night's work was shown by the flring next morning. The results were commendable and demonstrated a high state of training on the part of the battery details and the flring batteries.

Plenty of Government Money Fired Away

The Artillery firing was brought to a close by a demonstration of the latest model 75 mm gun, with which Battery B, 7th F.A., the parent battery of the R.O.T.C., was equipped. During the firing period all men had an opportunity to fire at least three problems. Allen E. Puckett '39 was awarded the Edward Holyoke Osgood Medal for that Harvard R.O.T.C. student who excelled in Conduct of Fire. He was closely pressed by Frank E. Southard, F. S. White, E. R. Clarke and I. Tucker Burr, III.

In order to give all students opportunity for training in leadership the duties of non-commissioned officers and officers were rotated among all those in attendance at camp. All men performed the duties of corporal and sergeant, about one-half were privileged to be platoon leaders. The Harvard battery commanders were Edwin R. Clarke '39; Allen E. Puckett '39; Charles C. Snyder '39; Donald L. Daughters '39, Kenneth Booth '39 and Frank E. Southard '39 Law.

The Harvard men who filled the hard job of 1st Sergeant, he who roused the men at 6:00 A.M., lined them up for roll calls, turned them out for parades, were as follows: Raymond G. Jones '39; Cleveland Amory '39; I. Tucker Burr '39; Frank S. White '39 and Frank L. Southard '39 Law.

"Visitors' Day" Big Success"

The "Visitors' Day" program, which was arranged by the students, was voted the best of recent years by officers who had been to previous camps. At the final retreat parade, medals and awards were made for excellence in the various phases of camp aitivities.

Two Harvard men William R. C. Greene '37 and Frederick D. Wright '38 were awarded comimssions at the end of the Camp, having completed all required work prior to going to Camp. Other members of the Camp return to college for their final year of work.

Little has been said of the excellent athletic program carried on in the Camp. Soft ball was the predominant sport, volley ball was a close second, while the barnyard game of horse-shoes took the "spare" time of many enthosiasts. "It's a ringer" was heard many an afternoon between close of drill and retreat. The final game of the soft ball league, played on Visitors' Day, was a thriller, such as one reads about in the sports magaiznes.

The close if camp on August 6th found the following Harvard men at Fort Ethan Allen:

Cleveland Amory '39, Kenneth L. Booth '39, Arthur R. Borden '39, William L. Calfee '39, Robert H. Calusdian '39. Edwin R. Clarke, '39, Arthur L. Derby Jr. '39, Francis J. Donavan '39, William H. Felmeth '39 William R. C. Greene '37, Frank P.Harnden '39, Nathaniel Heard '40, Robert G. Hoye '39, John A. Humphry '39, James Humphrey III, '39, Eric H. Jager '39, Howard A. Johnson Jr. '39 Raymond G. Jones '39; Walter Kaitz '39, Bernard Kalman '39, Walter S. Kerr '39, William A. McFadden '39, Philip E. Morin '39. Allen R. Puckett '39, Arthur Quincy '39, John E. Reagan Jr. '39, Charles C. Snyder '39 Law, Oscar Swartz '39 Mathew Tabeck '39, Paul R. Wentworth '39, Frank S. White Jr. '39 Frederick D. Wright '38.

On 20 June Harvard students of the Naval R. O. T. C. Unit embarked on the battleship "Arkansas" and the destroyer "Roper" at the Boston Navy Yard.

The "Arkansas" and "Roper" has been detailed by the Navy Department to make a three weeks training cruise for the Naval R. O. T. C. units at Harvard, Yale, Northwestern and Georgia Tech.

Stopping first at New Haven, Conn., to pick up the Yale students making the cruise the ships then proceeded direct to Havana, Cuba for a three day visit. On the tip down all students carried out a detailed schedule of daily training, witnessed fueling a destroyer at sea, search-light demonstrations and the running of a man-of-war in its entirely including engineering, navigation and communications. They were able to put into practice many of the things learned in the classrooms here and in addition were able to get a first hand picture of life aboard a man-of-war.

Sight Seeing in Havana

The three days in Havana with organized sight seeing trips and parties were very enjoyable. All students had plenty of time ashore to see the city thoroughly. On each of these yearly cruises a foreign port is visited which is an added incentive to carry on the practical work and duties the students perform at sea. Two years ago the ships visited Panama while last year the ports of call were Kingston, Jamaica and San Juan, P. R.

Upon leaving Havana intensive training was given in preparation for the actual firing of the four and five inch guns which was to be done by the students themselves under regular officer supervision and target practice conditions. Harvard students acquitted themselves very well in their firing.

Sight Seeing in Annapolis

A short visit to Norfolk, Virginia was made by the destroyers and then the ships proceeded to Annapolis. At Annapolis all students were members of an organized tour of the Naval Academy and its buildings, conducted by midshipmen at the Academy The students then enjoyed lunch in the large mess hall at the Academy. Those students having relatives and friends in Washington and Baltimore were allowed to go to those cities for a visit.

From Annapolis the "Arkansas" left of New York for a three day visit, having taken aboard all Harvard and Yale students from the "Roper" and "Tillman." The "Arkansas" then proceeded to Boston where the students disembarked on July 11.

Successful Cruise

"All hands" agreed that the cruise was this year, as in the past and as they will be in the future, most instructive and entertaining.

Lieutenants L. J. McPeake and G. C. Gill, officers attached to the Naval Science Department here, were in charge of the Harvard students on the "Roper" and "Arkansas" respectively and Commander W. W. Warlick in general charge of R. O. T. C. Units.

Following are the names of those who made the cruise on the "Roper":

Seniors

Elliott C. Bacon, John A. Baldwin, H. Call, Laurence W. Carstein, H. Irving, John Cunningham Jr., William B. Durant, Jr., Alanson T. Enos, III, John B. Fallon, F. C. S. Grace, Francis A. Harding, Jr., Charles G. Houghton Jr., C. Hovey Jr., Francis R. King, John D. Lannon Jr., D. Prouty, Henry E. Russell, Kenneth F. Sands, Benjamin A. Smith, Robert W. Tilney Jr.

Class of 1938

Hans I. Carstein Jr., Edward L. Cutter, Clarence D. Martin Jr., Lewis H. Norcott, David W. Shean Jr.

Post-graduate

A. Goodhue Jr.

On the "Arkansas" were:

Sophomores

John R. Baker, S. Bittenbender, Joseph J. Bodell, Charlton P. Boyd, Richard D. Brunel, Franklin N. Cunningham, Richard B. Fellows, John N. Fulhom Jr., Philip R. Gazechi, George A. Hayward, Maurice F. Healy Jr., William L. Healy, William L. Hires, Eugene H. Hoffman, Robert M. Jenney Frank C. Langdon, Joseph A. Locke Jr., Richard D. Mansfield, W. Marvin, Theodore E. Sharp, Samuel W. W. Shor, Harold T. Smith, William H. Taylor Jr., Ronald E. Vanelli.

Juniors

Grenville C. Bramen, Frederic S. Dean Jr., John E. D'Errico, John W. Quinlan Jr., Harry D. Reber Jr., A. Regal, R. Scully, John S. Stillman, Andrew M. Wales, Lester H. Watson.

Seniors

Albert N. Blanchard, Paul L. Callan, Philip P. Finn, James A. Hermann, Alan S. Manning, Langdon W. Mead, Andre J. Mendel, Summer A. Pendleton, George E. Peters Jr., Richard F. Rabenold, William G. Tonner Jr., James G. Walsh, Clifford W. Wilson.

Post-graduate

Edward D. Harrigan