The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-08-23
SOLDIER BOYS
RETURN TO
CIVILIAN LIFE
Companies d and L Receive
Praise for Excellent
Service at Camp

Members of Company d of St.
Johnsbury and Company l., of New
port, who represented Northeastern
Vermont at the annual encampment
of the First Vermont Regiment, Ma
tional Guard, which has just closed
at Camp Devens, Aver, Mass, drop
ped back into civil life today to take
up the duties they left two weeks
ago. 1t was a healthy and happy
bunch Of men that returned from the
muster and the people of this section
Of the state have good reasons to be
verv proud of their soldier sons.
There are some persons who look
upon the annual maneuvers of the va
rious national guard organizations
as more or less of two weeks va
cation, but let it be said from one
who knows from experience, it is
anything out picnic. The men who
made the trip to the big Massachu-
setts cantonment went there to carry
out lengthy program of good stiff
work and under the expert guidance
of their respective officers, these citi-
Zen-soldiers werea BILE to complete as
extensive program of military acti-
vltes as any military organization
has ever been required to do.
Those who were fortunate enough
to get a look at the boys as they
marched to their armories from the
st. Johnsbury and Newport railroad
stations late Saturday afternoon
were convinced that two week S
careful training will do a world of
good in training bunch of crook
les" 1t is fact that the larger por.
ton of the men that went away two
weeks ago were comparatively unac-
quainted with the real army game
but there were few of these men that
returned Saturday without a good
knowledge of military affairs. Some
OF the boys at first weakened under
the strain of such rigorous life but
1t was not long before they all be.
came acclimated to the hardships anc
toughened sufficiently to pull through
the two weeks. After once getting
used to the strenuous work, it was
almost pleasure to the boys to per.
form it.
The real hardships for the "late
| riserS' In civil life was piling out Of
their "bunks" when the bugle sound
ed reveille. However, as soon a
these boys got into the habit of re
tiring when "taps" were blown, get
ting out at $50 ceased to be such
| difficult thing. OF course every on,
knows the company "wind- -jammer'
! Is about as popular as an attack O.
| influenza, but the boys took the earl,
rising part of the program in a pleas
ant way. 1t was seldom any of thu
boys had to be called by anyone blu
the bugler.
1t is needless to say that the par
of the daily program that was givel
the closest attention was the feedin.
OF the boys. When Napoleon saiC
AN Army travels on its stomach,
the old veteran of Waterloo said.
book full. 1t was evident that tn,
commanding officers fully realize,
the truth of Maps statement becaus
they saw to it that the boys wer
well fed. The "mess" sergeants AM
the cooks under them ~erforme,
their duty in "a very efficient manne
and as a result the guardsmen ha
plenty of food, all of which was in
deed very palatable.
| The schedule of drill called fo
about seven hours daily on the fiel
and included, manual of arms, bayo
net drill ,skilmish, squad movement
and various other things. Three flu
days were spent on the mammot
rife range where the shooting hor
= ors were acquired. Some of the me
. had never handled gun before, otf
ers had never shot an army rifle an
were rather timid at the outset, viii
others were cold timers" OF cours
it was most generally an cold timer
that carried away the medals but IL
1 "rookies" with practice became re-
= good shots and in time will becom
! better.
Many of the COMPANY commando
n were complimcnted bv high rankin
o officers in the guard upon the eff
: cheney of their respective organic
tions. The following has been +
ceived by the Caledonian-Reco
from 1t. Col. Easton r. Gibso
Insp.-Inst. of the state guard relati
I to the fine work performed by Cor
r pany d;
t "Co. d, 1st Vermont Infantry u
V; der the excellent leadership of Ca
= tain Stewart Cheney, has now cor
l. plcted their service at the annu
e cncampment, Camp Devens, Mas
5 Aug. 7-21. 1t is recommended tn
:. you give publicity to their militia
i work which has been hard and UNI
e militant and with marked improv
& ment. The excellent conduct of t
f. men and their manifest willingne
81 to do their best has gained my col
e mendation and | consider it W,
\. that the citizens of st. Johnsbu
!. should be informed of their good l