Evening star., 1937-08-15

In Washington; the annual reunion
Of the Blue and Gray.
Three days are set aside for the
convention. Friday Saturday and
Sunday. August 20 to %, with head
quarters in the Willard.
That means Washington is IN for a
big time All over town the local
boys who wore the Blue and Gray
insignia on their blouses are getting
ready for the reception. They are
going to give their buddies the keys
and locks TO the city-give them
''Has works; for this Is the first time
the old gang planned an attack on
the home terrain. Never before has
there been a reunion Of the Blue and
Gray in Washington. Most of the
other divisions Of the A. E. F. have
been here and gone. The 29th is
planning to take up where they left
off AS members of the Committee
for National Reunion say, Boys, get
out the gas masks"
THIS is where they fight the war
all over again. Tell about the
times they. had at Camp Mcclellan,
down in the hills of Alabama. That
was their first taste of Regular Army
life. Although as GuardSmen some of
them had gone to the annual encamp-
ments, the camps were prepared for
them, to some degree; but when they
hit Mcclellan they landed in forest
-something like Rock Creek Park.
And they had to clear the land. Buck
privates in the rear ranks, drawing
down their $50 month as soldiers,
worked like beavers in the red-hot
sun alongside Southern farmers who
were employed as civilian carpenters,
road builders. plumbers and artisans
of all sorts for $l2 and Sl4 day. And
that didn't set any too we'll with the
white-collar boys from the District of
columbia, the gentlemen from Mary
land and Virginia and the Yankees
from New Jersey.
AS Sam BarroWs now making ready
Tor his outfits reunion, says: They
book 1t and liked it-but it was tough
going. And out of 1t came the name,
the Blue and Gray Division"
go THEY got started on the way to
being soldiers. Division COM
mander was the late Maj Gen. Charles
g. Morton, stickler for discipline
He had 'em out of the hunks before
Daylight. Reveille at 5:45. Four hours
drill each morning. Four hours drill
n the afternoon. School at night.
Sweet mamma, what a schedule, the
boys said. If any of them were back
ward, they lost their half days on
"Wednesday and Saturday. If they vio-
ated any of the rules, they got on the
unpopular details-K. P. and the like.
button loose on the blouse and a
guy got dement's. Even shoelaces had
10 be evenly tied. If a leggin' un-
wrapped it was just too bad Campaign
hats had to be just right, too-and
hese were the boys who first wore
thin-straps.
When time came to get out an Army
Iublcation, as most organizations did,
he 29th Division named its perio0i-
al the Chin Strap. 1t continued on,
ven after the war, and helped keep
he boys together; in spirit at least.
During the course of their fighting
areer, some $1,000 men passed
through the 29th Division, including
eplacements, and there are about
900 members of the association
ormed In 1880 to perpetuate the glory
Il this fighting unit Of Uncle Sans
onquering Army-the A. E. F.. Out
Il those 5000, Washington members
II the organization look for Visiting
list approximating 1000.
I'VE had 750 registered for the re-
nion in Norfolk two years ago." j.
red Chase, first commander Of "The
Gers" the American Legion Post OF
he local organization, and active in
tetting the convention here, said the
kther day. IF we could get $50 In
Norfolk, we can sure get a thousand
Washington"
I'VE may have more than that"
Earle MCGOWAN, the second COM
nander of "The 29-ers," put in, and
" should know, for he keeps q record
the organization and knows just
bout what to expect.