American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-20
VOLUME XVIII.
THREE POWER COUNTY BOYS
WIN ARMY PROMOTIONS
Kirby Torrance to Become Aviator,
Earl Welch in Aviation COnstrue-
ton Department, and Ray DeatOn
in Third Officers Training Camp.

Co. 8, r. o. I. c., Preside Of 5. +. &.
November 16, 1917.
Dear Mr.. Barber.
A. E. Welch, who you will remem-
Der was with the Boise Payette Lum-
Der company in American for several
months was today commissioned a
first lieutenant in the construction
squadron of the air division of the
United States army signal corps. A
sudden call came for men specially
qualified for this important branch of
= the service, which has been called the
artery system of the army. Mr..
Welch was specially recommended for
the signal service and before he re-
allied what was happening he had
been discharged from the training
camp, given a commission and tomor-
row will leave for Portland to assume
his duties.
The construction division will un-
doubtedly see immediate service in
France. Upon its officers will fall the
chief responsibility of constructing
and managing that vast system of
telephone, telegraph, radio and visual
signal communications that are now
the first essential in the conduct Of
modern warfare.
Welch is a graduate of the Universi-
ty of Washington and is deemed we'll
qualified to fill the boots of a first
lieutenant
l ran across Ray Deaton down town
Saturday and he informed me that he
has been chosen as the representative
from his company to attend the third
officers training camp. Each organ
izatiOn is allowed to send one per cent
of it's enlisted personnel so you can
see that Ray is making a splendid
record in the short time he has been
in camp. Mr.. Deaton was with the
o. S. l.. in American Falls for sever
al months as you know.
After several weeks of maneuvering
1 have succeeded in getting permis-
sion to attend the aviation school al
/serkeley and at the end of camp will
resign my reserve commission and
enter the ground school for flyers
Camp graduates are given a second
lieutenancy in the regular army at the
end of the first six weeks of theoreti
cal training and as soon as they learr
to fly are commissioned as first lieu
tenants with captains pay. At the
end of twenty weeks they are commits
stoned junior military aviators which
is considered in all branches of tn,
service to be the most desirable com
mission in the service for the youn!
men. The aviation section of the sig
nal corps undoubtedly offers tn
greatest opportunity in the world
The training camp will be Qve
about the twenty-fourth of this month
Some of us will go Immediately int
active service, some will be placed o.
reserve for a short time and som
will not place anywhere. The latte
classification, however, will contain
very small percentage from this cam
we are led to believe. Tomorrow W
will have our last large regimenta
review before Major General Arthu
Murray.
l would like to tell you about tn
aviation exam l received today bu
= will have to stop soon and stud
Combat Principles" l had to d
everything from 100 revolutions in
revolving chair to walking backward
hlindfOlded across a strange room.
Remember me sincerely to Earl
and let me hear from one of you wheT
ever you get time. l thought yo
would be particularly glad to lear
that Welch had received his commits
sion and would soon be on his way
France. With very best regards
everyone.
Very sincerely.
KTRRX