The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-09-23

JAluEOLUMDO
! MAKES GOOD
j James Combs was one of group Of
I boys who left Shattuck School to &c
to Camp Custer, Michigan, for siz
! weeks course of the r. O. T. C. The
I Senior course was-completed and di.
ploma given James.
/ At Camp Custer the following
medals were awarded James: A
junior craftsmanship medal presented
by Brig. Gen., Biddel, junior sharp
shooters medal presented by Gen.
Leonard Wood, the N. R. A. sharp
shooters badge.
| The government course was shot
and medals won. Permission to wear
them being obtained by special re-
quest of colonel commander. James
again shot this course at the national
| matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
A Red Cross life saving medal, in
sigma, and certificate were conferred
after the passing of difficult physical
tests and examinations.
From among more than 5000 young
men at Camp Custer a rife team Of
g., fourteen was chosen on their shoot
ing record to represent Camp Custer
: in the national rifle matches to be held
! at Camp Perry, Ohio. This team par
ticipated in all the regular matches of
the National Rifle, Association at
Camp Perry. The matches began the
30th of July and lasted until Aug.
28th. All the expenses of the team
were paid by the government.
Each team had in command officers
of the regular army. Camp Custer
rifle team had Col. Clark in command.
Major Gilchrist as physical director,
Capt. Clark as team captain, Major
Martin as quartermaster. They were
allotted FIVE tents in civilian quarters.
Major Waller instructor officer of the
N. R. A., regular army officer gave
special instruction in rife work.
: The National Rifle Association of
| America, organized in 1871 for the
purpose of standardizing and encour-
aging the art of workmanship, is per-
haps the strongest factor in the Unit
ed States in the development of expert
ishots. s .>.
! The object of the association is to
encourage craftsmanship throughout
the United States, particularly in the
direction of qualifying as finished
marksmen those individuals who may
be called upon to serve in time of
war; to encourage competition in
craftsmanship between teams and in
dividuals; to encourage legislation for
the establishment and maintenance of
ranges; to secure the issue of military
rifles and ammunition to those prac-
ticing ON these ranges; and to create
a public sentiment in respect to the
necessity of rifle practice as means
Of national defense. >s'r
! The Custer team won 21st place in
, the competition of all teams placing
them at the head of Glass C. They
were individually awarded a beauti-
! full bronze medal. -..
{ In shooting the government courses
+, at Camp Perry on the 200 yards rapid
fire, the 600 yards slow fire, and the
! 1000 yards slow fire James won first
i the craftsmanship bar, next the
sharpshooters and twice the expert
, rifle mans insignia.
Metals with their various bars were
won on the 200 yard rapid fire, the 600
! slow fire and the 1000 yards slow fire,
such medals given only when a $3.50
shot is made-that is every shot a
bulls eye.
/ The fine sportsman attitude and
fair play in competition of partici-
pants of the N. R.. A. is fine expert
ence for youth. The best shots from
| all over the world were there. The
!, Japanese, the PHILIPPINE, French and
Italian, our army and navy R. O. 7,
, C. and civilian. A colonel Of the reg
ular army said "It is astonishing the
way boys will come in and outshoot
old time rifle men, !.
While the government expert in
sigma is the most treasured "it speaks
!. for itself" the Custer Rifle Team
medal is the most beautiful among
4, James medals. It thrills the heart
/ and fires the imagination with it's
! glow of red, white and blue and the
beauty of it's bronze relief of the
+, dying marathon with his hand up
raised, his last breath proclaiming the
! victory of his people. It is an inspira-
I, ton to deeds of valor. "Greater life
! hath no man than that he give his life
for another" If ever our country
needed such inspiration, it is now.
Withal it has been a summer we'll
spent in training for good citizenship
and in preparation for service to his
country. .....
The Ohio State Rifle Range, Camp
Perry, Ohio, is located on the shores
of Lake Erie and is equipped with 50
pistol targets at the various ranges,
66 targets at 200 yards, 81 at 600
yards, SO at 800 yards, so at 900 yards
and so at 1000 yards. The long
range targets can be so combined as
to give 100 targets at 1000 yards. A
special small bore range with shelter
ed firing point and its own statistical
house has been constructed just west