Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-08
WHO ARE THE MEN
Of BOMB AND FLAME?
Every Trade and Profession
Represented in the Ordnance
Branch of the Service. High
Personnel.
(By Charles Luis Phifer, 2tst P. o. 0
Col

ing the insignia of the Bomb and
Flame, is the topic of some discussion
in these days
There have been v-rious ideas, and
some very conflicting ones in regard to
the characters who comprise this de-
partment of the United States Ma
tional Army. To some of these criti
cisms, and in manner of interpreta-
tation to those not versed in the COM
position of this branch of the aervice,
wish to direct these words
THE Army behin' the Army" might
apply to those who stay at home and
give as we'll as those who are pledged
by their oath to sustain the cause and
march behind the Banner of Glory"
But strictly speaking, the Army be-
hind the Army are those men who
comprise the Ordnance Department.
and at this time of the history of the
select army draft system, the govern
ment has arranged the opportune
method of enlisting men of all the diff
ferent trades throughout the country,
to carry on TIE work of repairing and
replenishng the supply as the eXigen-
cies occur at the various places OF ne
cessity.
But the reader may ask, who COM
prise this department? ?" What are the
characteristics and the morale of this
great body of men who have enlisted
themselves in this great army?' 1t is
this question that l would like to ans
wer in this article.
The exact statistics are hard to COM
pute as there are no ways by which
they may be computed. But we Will
deal with undisputable facts ,ther
than with statistics.
The first fact that presents itself is
that the Ordnance Department con-
tains the very best moral and techni-
cally trained men of any other branch
of the service.
When | say the very best, / mean
| just what the words imply. There are
men enlisted in this department that
come from every stage of business life.
| Upon the arrival of the Ordnance to
| Camp Hancock, from the various
places over the United States, there
were but few who had signed their
names to the College Roster at the Y.
| M. C. A. buildings. Within two weeks
after their arrival, some of these ros-
| ters were filled and new ones replaced.
This means that at least 40 per cent of
those meen who enlisted in department
are college men.
The very bes of talent, technicality
and practiCability is represented in
this corps of enlisted men who have
given up good businesses trades and
professions that they might turn to
the service of the government, in this
crisis, their best and their all. Not
only is this true, but they have, to the
tune of at least Is per cent, taken
themselves way from their families,
in order that hey might do their bit.
Another fea ire worthy of the men
ton is that il he many thousands of
ordnance men now in Hancock and
those who Wee enlisted during the
holiday rush here aren one, or few at
least men VINO were drafted into the
service. This means that the only in
centiVe for their enlistment was the
| service they could render to the gov
eminent in the crisis. Many of these
men are above the draft age, and a
large per cent would have been ex-
| empted from the draft, should they
| have stayed at home.
Among the men now at Camp Han
cock are the very best in their trades
and professions. Some of these trades
trades and professions are the most
reputable. There are lawyers and
then doctors, Accountants, mechan-
les, craftsmen, railroad men artists,
cartoonists, teachers, preachers, sales
men, merchants. bookkeepers, stenog-
raphers, editors, printers, statisticians,
al base ball players and boxers, ath-
letes in all lines, efficiency experts,
and soldiers Of long previous service.
These are only a few, but tend to show
the morale of those enlisted in this de-
partment.
When the moral condition Of this de-
partment is mentioned, we can say
without fear of contradiction, that it
ranks first. There is less profanity
among the boys in this department,
than any body of young men we have
ever had the privilege of being with.
The evils which tend to exist among
many organizations composed Of young
men is noticeably absent in this
branch of the army. They are men
that show the moral standards set by
the mothers and the Christian fathers
throughout the land. The services at
the Y. NJ. C. AS are usually well at
tended And the spiritual hunger and
the satisfaction Of the communion SER
vices are more marked among this
class of men than | have ever seen in
civil life.
And thew hail from all over the