The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1922-12-30
EIGHTH REGIMENT
REVIEWS WORK
Of YEAR
By Lieut.. Matthew r. Johnson


In the spirit of comradeship and mu.
tual public service, we who represent
the Eighth Regiment come TO you
through the columns OF this paper. We
trust that in this same spirit that we
are received by you.
It is near the coles of the old year
and the beginning of a new, and as
with all enterprises it is the custom to
take account of stock. Prominent cit
liens of our city that have a real inter-
est in their military organization are
aware of such, but to those OF you
who are only interested when they see
parades, to you we give Account OF
Stock"
After the men of our regiment had
returned from France and were dis
charged and had returned to their
homes and loved ones-still thinking of
the battles, hardships that they en-
dured and above all the wonderful rec
ord and the traditions of the Old
Eighth from its infancy to the present
date, it was inspiration and pride that
caused our commanding officer, Col
Otis B. Duncan, TO conceive the idea
that to those who were instrumental
ia AllG lQlilldAlOn Vi lit Slu Liz gum
and to those who in the future may be
an intergrant part, that we should con-
tinue to carry on" From Colonel
Duncan's efforts authority was granted
to reorganize the regiment Recruit
ing was at once begun and by the early
part of 1920 the regiment was &C
cepted by the state OF Illinois, and
mustered in to state service by Lieut..
Col. John II. Patton, who was for
merly adjutant of the regiment over
seas.
Tremendous was the work prepara-
tory to acceptance-Physical examina-
tons, competitions of enlistment pa
pers, assignments to various COM
panies, the equipping of men, that is
fitting OF uniforms all done by men
who know the value of an institution
of this kind.
Aside from this do not forget that
this work is carried on by men, after
ending their daily vocation in civil life,
who had to devote three and four eve
nings a week at the armory without
compensation.
After surmounting all complications
of affairs and perplexities that were
paramount, at this time National
Guard regiments were being given
Federal recognition, and again our
commanding officer, Colonel Duncan,
who is ever alert, started the machin-
cry to work in bringing about federal
recognition and was again successful
in his efforts and on August Is, 1921,
the regiment was inspected by Col
John Patterson, u. s. A. D. o. l., and
recommended by him that we had
qualified under the laws to be ex-
tended federal recognition which was
done as of the above date. We have
operated little over two years under
federal supervision, while everything
undertaken has been very successful
there is room for developmnt.
In connection with military training,
there is an athletic department in the
regiment under the personal direction
of Capt Anderson +. Pitts, we'll
known in the athletic circles of our
city. Base ball, basket ball, foot ball
and track teams are among the many
sports that arc enjoyed by members OF
the regiment Cooperating with us is
the Louise D. Marshall auxiliary, Mrs.
Fila 1eNrecr. president. and the Sani-
tary detachment, commanded by Mrs.
FLORENCE zones, botn OF these organ
izations are wonderful adjuncts to the
regiments.