Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-01

Wearing the emblazoned insignia
of the famous 5th Regiment, U. S.
Infantry, which bears the motto,
'TH Try Sir rs Kennebec county
boys returned to their homes in the
towns and cities of the river valley,
Tuesday, from Fort Mckinley, on
Great Diamond Island, in Portland
Harbor, where they yesterday COM
pleted a month of intensive training
as citizen soldiers.
This contingent from Waterville,
Augusta, Hallowell, Clinton, Vassal-
boro, and Oakland, was but a cross
section of the more than 200 bronzed.
ght-shouldered and clear-eyed
New England youths, who, on Tues
day, were demobilized from the Cti-
liens Military Training Camp at
Fort Mckinley. after a month of
strenuous drill, supervised recreation
and happy leisure, as members of
that greater youthful army of 35.-
600 which this summer participated
in similar encampments under the
direction of officers and enlisted per-
sopnel of Uncle Sans regular army
at posts throughout the country.
Citizenship Training
Though military drill has of course
been stressed on each day of the so
that these boys have been wearing
the olive drab uniform and prepar-
Ing themselves to be of greater use
fullness to their nation should the
need ever arise, they have also re-
ceived splendid training in citizen
ship, in manly department and
craftsmanship, and every one of the
10O-odd Is bigger and better and finer
for the month of his association with
fellows Of his kind. It Is particularly
significant that as the young men
from Central Maine reached their
home towns on Tuesday, practically
every one of them declared his am
bition to attend the camp another
year, and then to continue the course
Tor the following two wears until
they can qualify for commissions in
the Organized Reserve.
Two Second Year Students
All but two of the Kennebec coun-
ty contigent at Fort Mckinley this
summer were basic or first year stu
dents. Oscar F. Mattson, of Gin
ton, and Russell W. Loud, Of Water
vile. being the only two Red" or
second year members of the froun.
Following the red course these two
splendid young men hope to take the
while and blue years and then after
their service in the Organized Re-
serve, become eligible for commits.
stons as officers Of the U. S. Army.
The camp at Fort Mckinley in
Portland Harbor is ideally situated.
and the quarters and equipment are
unsurpassed at any {. M. T. C. camn
IN the First Corps Area, which com
prises New England. A majority Of
the boys at the Great Diamond IsIsnd
army post during August were from
Massachusetts, and many Of them
had already had one summer at
Camp Devons, Mass, and some 81
fort Ethan Allen, VT. All of them
were unhesitating in their declare
tons concerning the superiority in
every respect of the fort in Portland
Harbor. ''''A'0
Regular Army instructors
Inc 9TH U. S. Infantry, whose
nome post is at Portland, was the
parent and ,instructing ORGANIZATION
for the Fort Mckinley C. M. r. e
and Colonel John w. Wright. com.
manding the 9Th. and the Portland
Harbor coast defenses was the cor,
manding officer of the Citizens Mill.
tary Training Camp. During the an
days course of development and
training of the youthful recruits
parades and ceremonies were held
regularly. with many ranking on
GERS, including Major General Pres
Ton Bro"I commanding the LIST