San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-07
Chaplain:s 'Morale Clinic at
en- T. els Boon to Students
Citizen-soldiers Go to
'Chappy' With Prob
lems-He Smooths Over
Difficulties and Cures
Many Youngsters Of At
tacks Of Homesickness.

Everyone is more or less familiar
| with the term '"clinic" and the gen.
/ cral work one of them does. But tn
| Chaplain Samuel f. Crosby of the
| Ninth Infantry now detailed for spe-
cial duty with the Citizens Military
| Training Camp. goes the distinction
| of establishing the first morale clinic
at Fort Sam Houston. Chaplain Cros-
by's clinic is open at all hours AMI
| is maintained at his office in the
summer training camps service club.
| 1t is the constant mecca of G. Nj.
T. G. students who have slight per-
sonal difficulties, attacks of home
sibness and Encouragement. He
treats each case individually and is
great boon to the morale of the
camp.
Chaplain Crosby is the senior chap
lain on duty with the c. NJ. Il. c.
students. and is ably assisted by Chap
lains Pearce and Cohlan. The senior
chaplain is reputed TO be probably
the best known in this corps area. es-
pecially among the citizens soldiers
that attend the summer training
camps. this being the third successive
summer that he has been detailed for
duty with the summer camps, Chap
lain Crosby is affectionately known
around the c. NJ. I. Camp as Chap
py."
An Unusual Clinic.
When approached Monday Chap
lain Crosby was in the midst of giving
moral clinic treatment to {. NJ.
L. c. student.
well. son." the Chaplain began,
"didn't see you at the boxing show
last night calling for knockout? You
certainly have one grand pair of sound
expellers. What can l do for you
today:'
"Chappy," came the reply. Il hurt
my wrist yesterday and they sent
me TO the hospital TO have an X-Ray
picture made. There's something
wrong with the machine because the
doctor told me today my wrist is not
broken but | know it isl
We'll, the picture does not lie."
Chaplain Crosby told him, but I'll
go see the doctor and see il your
wrist is well enough to use it abou,
II o'clock today, as L happened TO
hear the mess sergeant tell the cook
to be sure to have the chickens well
done, and to make plenty of waffles.
| know il would be big h2dicap to
you if you only had one hand in about
an hour from nw.'
Then the chaplain told the student
a funny story, and little more con-
versation and the student decided he
had better go clean up for dinner.
Il guess | can get along all right. "
the student said as he left. "I'H come
back TO see you before long"
There you have it," said the moral
clinic expert. "all they want is con-
versation, advice and reminder that
they are not only doing themselves n
lot of good. but are doing good for
their country too. and that there is .
good meal waiting for them.
All Sorts Of Complaints.
"These young men, many of them,
are away from home for the first
time. They come to me with all sorts
of complaints which to them are very
genuine but when sifted down don't
amount to much. They tell me every
thing that happens to them and to.
gether we figure out some relief.
Il won't tell you any confidential
stories" the Chaplain continued, "The
boys know | treat their conversations
confidentially and for that reason they
talk to me like they would to their
own mothers and fathers, and up to
the present time / have fortunately
been able to straighten out all thei'
difficulties.
Il feel the. the clinic fills special
need of this camp. OF course there are
some funny things that happen. and
also some that are far from funny.
We have a representative group Of
boys but to many of them the camp is
big adventure and they are seriour
in their work.
"There is one case here / will tell
you about and that is of n 16-year.
old boy named Heriderto Soils. He is
n Western Union delivery boy at
Brownsville. and for downright plucE
he stands alone.
A Plucly Youth.
"Hc had a hard time to get here,
but when he did there proved to be
| no harder worker in the camp. We
had to send hin, 10 the hospital the
other dav, nothing serious, but that
boy pleads with me with tears in his
eyes asking that | get him dismissed
fcrom the hospital so he will not mis'
any of the training.
II find that particularly gratifying
is the spirit of cooperation of the
best men in the camp to assist the
backward ones. There is no hazing
or disposition to haze. and the morale
clinic. with the help of the student adj
visory board. has a constructive pro-
gram in mind TO foster the big buddy
idea.
I'VE have a varying number Of Wis
itOrs to the morale clinic. They rur.
as high as 90. but last Friday there
. were only six. I won't say that IL
varies according TO the food. but