San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-15
Little Town, With PopuIa-
ton Of 9S4, Boasts Best
Organization of l41st In
fantry in State-Practi-
calIy Every Eligible Young
Man a Member.

Austin, Tex, April 14.-To the lit
tie town of Waelder pronounced
Welder by the natives who have long
since ceased to struggle with the
diphthong). situated in the northeast
corner of Gonzales county. and ere
dited by the 1920 census with a popu-
lation of S94. belongs the honor Of
having maintained, for period of SIX
months. the best company in the
141st Infantry. Texas National Guard.
A matter of six months ago. Colonel
Will L. Jackson, Of Hillsboro, who
commanded the original Hist Infantry
all the way from Camp Bowie to the
Argonne, and who now commands the
recognized, peace time regiment, Of
fered a silver cup to be awarded
each half-year to the company of his
regiment making the best general
record during the period preceding.
This was duly announced to mem
bers of the regiment and competition
waxed warm. Company commanders
snapped into it" on their paper work,
and communications calling for "reply
by return mail" were replied to that
way; bucks snapped into it" and
were at the armory to learn their bit
of the war game every Thursday
night.
Police Up Armories.
Armories were cleaned up and deco
rated; property rooms were re-arranS-
ed and equipment cleaned, for all Of
these things, and more, were to be
taken into consideration by the Regi-
mental Instructor in deciding which
company should have the cup.
The first six-month period ended
December 81, 1922, and after due
consideration and comparison of re-
cords. the Regimental Instructor. 1t.
Col. William S. Faulkner. L. s. A.,
announced that the Third Battalion
Headquarters Company, stationed at
Waelder, made the highest record.
In the little town of, Waelder,
where practically every eligible young
man was member of the company,
the announcement was received with
enthusiasm and plans were immedi-
ately laid for big barbecue and
reception to be given when Colonel
Jackson and his staff came to present
the cup.
April @, the anniversary of Ameri-
cas- entry into the World War, was
fixed as the date for the presentation
and in preparation for the event, nu-
merous fatted calves. and pigs and
lambs as well, were slaughtered and
made ready for the barbecue pit.
A grandstand was erected on the
main street, facing the single block Of
business houses of which Waelder
boasts. and from this flag draped
eminence the cup was presented, with
a stirring speech, by Colonel Jack
son.
Had To Eat a Lot.
Captain Horace l.. Morrow, who
commands the Waelder Company, has
reasons to appreciate the value of
eating. In 1917, when the Texas Ma
tional Guard was being recruited to
war strength and those organizations
which were to later become part of the
Both Division were being formed. q
recruiting party from Gonzales visited
Waelder and enlisted young Morrow
He was taken, with other recruits
to Gonzales for physical examina
ton. Everything was all right, unit
he stepped on the scales, then thu
medical officer shook his head.
Five pounds underweight-reject
ed" he said.
This was no time to be baked by
technicalities and the officer who hat
enlisted Morrow took him to the near
est soda-fountain, stood him on
weighing machine and fed him maltet
milk and bananas until his weigh
was over the minimum.
| Five pounds was all that stood be
, tween him and an army career an,
he got the five pounds.
, No doubt it is the same spiri
, which has enabled him to make thi
organization the best in the 141st in
| G.,