Evening star., 1924-08-25
LOCAL GUARDSMEN
!, BACK FROM CAMP
Leave Humphreys After
Award of Medals for Pro-,
ficiency in Work.

Completing one Of the most sue
cessful encampments in the history
of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia, the 121st Regiment of
Engineers and Goth Military Police
Company, units of the 29th National
Guard Division. under the command
of Col. John w. Oehmann, returned
to Washington and to civilian life
yesterday.
They arrived at the Union Station
at 2:45 o'clock, and were met by hun
dreds of their friends. AS they
marched along Massachusetts avenue,
the side lines were filled with per-
sons who commented most favorably
on the soliderly appearance of the
men, Once in the armory, the units
were but a few minutes slowing
their field equipment and getting into
civilian clothes.
Camp Broken Early.
Camp was broken early yesterday
morning. and the section of Fort
Humphreys, Va, where the encamp-
ment was held, and which was occu-
pied by the local troops, was
thoroughly policed. Before entrain-
ing at the station in the fort, the
troops were marched on the parade
ground.
Col Oehmann addressed the COM
was with the success made of this
camp and thanked the officers and
men for the 4ne spirit of service
shown by them. Hes spoke of the
competition between the two bat
talions for the efficiency record, and
pointed out that winning of the hon
ors by the I'd Battalion. commanded
by Maj. Julian S. Oliff. indicated
that no unit can rest on it's laurels
He said that the 1st Battalion had
always won it before and that the
which had worked hard to win the
honors. He urged the older men of
the 1st Battalion to strive harder
next year
Dcfense Day Plans.
At the same time Col Oehmann
urged the members of the command
to give their most hearty support
to the Defense day plans. in which
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia will take leading par:
He told them that if each man of
the command would bring in ona
other man for the day each uni-
would parade at full war strength
The cards which are to be signed by
these one-day recruits place on them
no obligation further than to march
parade, he said, and the signing of
the cards was merely to have a
record
Following his address, Mai. Julian
s. Olif and Capt. Clarence Shields,
commanding Company B, were march
ed to front and center. where Miss
Helen Gould Sweeney pinned on them
gold medals. The medals were
awarded for the company and battal-
lon showing the greatest efficiency in
military engineering in the field. The
selections were made by the regular
Army instructors, under Maj. w. E. r.
Covell, and the medals were given by
Col. Oehmann.
Pass in Review.
After this ceremony the troops
passed in review before Col. James
A. Woodruff, United States Army En-
Elneer Corps, commanding Fort
Humphreys, and Col Oehmann. They
went direct to the train. There was
some delay between the post and the
station at Accotink where the train
is put on the main line. There are
several trestleS on the route, built of
wood during the war, but they have
deteriorated to such an extent as to
be unsafe. When the train reached
these the troops were required to
walk across as a precautionary meas
ure. Col Woodruff has no funds with
which to rebuild these trestles, al
though efforts have been made to get
an appropriation
Privates William Mattoon, Campany
d. and c. T. Kettler. Military Police
Company, er-Signalmen, were
awarded bronze medals for proficiency
in signalling during the encampment
The former made 100 per cent in send
ing and receiving service messages
and the later 9SA per cent.