Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-18
History Of the 484th Aero Squadron,
A. E. F.

, fences in China, or his tales of the
briny deep? Is there any subject
under the sun, scientific or other
wise, upon which dad" cannot
discourse at great length, from his
"Non-candescent Lights to the as
Sembling of four-inch naval gun ?
And obedience? Was there man
who dared wiggle an eyebrow af-
ter Dad" growled "TenShun?" 1t
was because of his remarkable abil-
ity to handle men that he first was
made "Top" Sergeant, and his good
judgement and talent for handling
work that won him his warrant as
Master Signal Electrician for these
were the days before the Air Ser
vice was divorced from the Signal
Corpse
First Lieutenant Rufus X. Goode-
now assumed command on Septem-
Der 10Th, 1917. Anxious to have a
well-driiled organization, he order
ed that, between guard duty and
pick n shovel, every opportunity
be taken advantage of for practice.
Thanks to the hard work of Ser
geant Isl" Schablitzke, who had
seen two years of service with the
Minnesota National Guard, the 72nd
became the best drilled Squadron
at Kelly Field and was particularly
complimented for this at the time of
The September review, when there
were nine thousand men in line At
this time Il wiry looking Corporal
was transferred into the outfit. Cor
poral Alderman proved to have
been physical director in the Y.
NJ. &. a. and proceeded to take
every chance to unkink all the tight
tendonS and to lubricatc all the stiff
joints in the Squadron.
Captain John Sloan relieved Lieu
tenant Goodenow OF Command on
November 90, 1917. Captain Sloan
was an architect in civil life, had
executed work for the United States
Army throughout period of eight
years and was in charge of the
plans and construction of Langley
Field Virginia, when he received
his commission June 25th, 1917. AL
ready familiar with the type of
work required by. the Army, Cap
tain Sloan was unusually we'll quail
! lied to take command of an outfit
, destined to work as an indepcn-
dent Construction Unit in France.
Shortly after his arrival at Kelly
Field, Captain Sloan was made Off
Ger in Charge of Construction, and
The Squadron was promoted from
The pick n shovel TO the saw and
hammer, erecting the Engineering
Building including its complete in
terror finish and fittings.
First Licutenants n. p. Chapman
and II. l.. French were assigned OH
December 24th, and relieved on
I January 5th, 1913.
On January 2nd, 1913, Second
Lieutenant William DARTS Baker
was assigned to the Squadron as
Supply Officer. Lieutenant Baker
was graduate of the Engineering
Department of The University of
Pennsylvania and had an extensive
experience in railroad and building
work.
Lieutenant Thomas C.. Galloway,
vi. X. g.. was assigned TO the squad
ron on January 23rd, 1918. A ma
tive OF the town of Wciscr, Idaho, a
graduate of Rush Medical School
affiliated with the University of Chi
ca8oO, DR.. Galloway had served
four years in the Public Health Ser
vice Of the United States Govern
ment.
After six long, dusty months of
expectancy, the anxiously awaited
orders came for the departure TO an
Eastern Port" The packing of
property and equipment was ac-
companied by wild cheering. Our
own cantcen equipment was plac-
ed in large box and camouflaged
with the harmless looking title
Cooking Utensils, the Victrola
masquerading as skillet, making
very welcome stowaway
With the band playing "Ownard
Christian Soldiers" the 484th. to.
Gether with the 62nd Cnow the
474thD and the 83rd (now the
405th), marched through the driv-
ing wind and rain of a Texas North.
or and entraincd on Sunday, .Janu.
airy 9th, 1913.
Travelling in royal style, i'm a
Troop Train" equipped entirely OF
Pullmans, the three Squadrons
made an unusually fast trip despite
their two-hour stop-ovcrS at Hous-
ton, Texas: New Orleans. Atlanta
Georgia, and Florence. South Caro-.
lima. for exercise and Sightseeing
After four days on The road, al
three u. NJ. February 1St. 1913. thp