The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-03
CAMP HUMPHREYS HAS :
$500 VIRGINIA BOYS
Richmond Soldiers Arc Particularly
Fortunate In Securing Special
Assignments
IN THE PERSONNEL OFFICE.
Main Requisite 20 BE Assigned as In
tervfewer Seems 10 he Residence
from Grove Avcnue~--Sleeping Quar-
ters Are Rather Crowded.
tBy STAFF CORRESPONDENT


After two weeks In camp the boys
here from Virginia are beginning TO
realize that al last they are really
beginning TO get the swing Of things
and are rapidly rounding into shape.
The first arrivals here came in on
Monday, July Is. and for the first
week TO attempt was made 10 do other
than effect a temporary organization.
The men were grouped into com
panies Of ESQ mon each. arranged AS
far as possible SO that men from the
same localities were IN The same COM
pany. In the first company formed
from the new recruits, for instance,
were included men from boards
1. Q. and 4. OF Richmond, and men
from Fredericksburg and Stafford
county, who came IN On the same
train with the Richmond quota.
Fifteen temporary companies were
formed. known as recruit COM
pAnies." and for the first week the
principal things taught were very
simple. No attempt was made at any
Intricate work, the average daily pro-
gram being three hours driI in the
morning--from eight to eieven--~and
three hours in the afternoon devoted
70 work around the camp, for we are
helping to build our own camp This
v m engineers training camp so this
- most appropriate. Some OF the
nncn, who had held down desk jobs
in Richmond and other cities found
themselves in eight-foot trenches
armed with pick and shovel and at
Quirfng more blisters and appetite
than they had seen liz many a day.
Sr1nge to say, they stood this work
~ well, and som etimcs better than
their friends from the rural dist ricts.
Evidently the country lad Of today
- not SO hardy as his fori>eary, or the
much pampered city man is possessed
Of more stamina than he Is commonly
given credit for
After being in these temporary
Companies for from six to ten days.
during which period the men slept in
tents. they were examined by the
medical and personnel departments
This latter department. TO which your
correspondent has been assigned, is
the most Interesting In the whole
Schsre of things hereabouts, for here
ie ss that "A mans qualifications are
Drought to the surface under the
most painsiaking inquiry. and an at
tenn pt is made 10 ct him in his proper
niche. II he rs a lahorer. he is given
this kind of work. If a plumber or
carpenter, note is made to this effect
ana when an order goes forth from
headquarters for carpenters each
company commander can furnish q
certain quantity. and knows iuet
Where TO put his hands on them Some
or the occupations given are very
curious. Yesterday a big quota from
New YORK city was put through and
IN the punch were two flremen one
policeman, one detective. two artists,
TWO authors one student OF a Russian
university who can read. write and
speak eight languages, and one
sfeeple Jack II viii he hard to say
where the last named will find much
work at his particular vocation.
though several of the boys suggested
that he be used to raise and lower
the flag mornings and evenings.
On last Thursday, the eleventh day
IN camp, we were equipped and
moved into barracks, We have two
ompanies sleeping in the space ordl-
Marty allotted to one. which makes
Things quite crowded. Temporarily
this is designated as orc company. and
the majority Of the Richmond boys
are located therein. This company's
Auoress Is Company l., Fifth T.. r. r.
me commanding officers are as fol-
lows; Captain, Herbert w. Voc.
second lieutenants, Everett T, Bur
ton, Joseph a. Wemann Phillip G
MaEner and Donald u Fitzgerald.
kiehinond rea have been particu-
larry fortunate in securing special as
signmenfs. Paul Lebarwitch, of 10
South Elm street. H. one OF the com
pany cleTEs. as is also G, +. Banks
OF 2os West Grace street.
George ". Milter. 2402 Grove ave.
nue.; A 4 Wlbon, 24I3 Grove ave-
nue., and John Rehman. Jr.. 23tl
GroFe avenue, are assigned as inter
viewers at the personnel once 1t
seems TO be necessary to come from
Grove avenue to obtain this assign
ment
James T. Stevenson. 700 Lamb ave-
nue., Barton Heights, formerly with
SuKgens q Co, IS on special duty at
regimental headquarters steve" has
had the happy faculty Of being able Ia
dodge all heavy work since his first
day IN camp. When questiones how
ne gets away with 1t he only erins
and says nothing
M r. East, 1850 West Grace street
- on special duty in the company
once
There are twenty thousand men in
camp. about 2 500 being from Vfr-
ginia. The balance OF the men. who
i are in the national army. arr from
New York. New Jersey and a few
from Pennsylvania. A GOOD MANY
drafted men began to arrive and who
number about ten thousand. are units
which have been cent here from All
over the country for training in this
camp. Some are regulars from the
west and some are national guards
men.
For the benefit OF any OF the rela-
uves or friends of the boys who may
desire to pay them visit at the
camp the easiest way at present 70
make the trip is to take train to Alex
andria and there catch iitney.
which will bring one direct TO the
heart OF the camp. The fare charged
BY these jitneys is fifty cents each way.
visitors are allowed at all times. but I
- we are all very busy during the
day II is better 10 time your visit go
- to hit here after six o'clock in the
evening, or. better still, to come for
the weekend Our time is our own
from noon Saturday to taps Sunday
night.