Evening star., 1938-12-25

Candidates for commissions in the
District National Guard, when tax
Ing their examinations, will have
something more than the officer
ship to compete for in the future,
as q result Of an award made by
the Military Order of the World
War. Annually, there will be pre-
sented to the enlisted man qualify
ing with the highest percentage in
the anpual branch examinations for
appointments as second ueutenants
q saber to be known as the Mill
tary Order Of the World War saber.
Rear Admiral Harry H. Hamlet,
commander Of the District of Co.
lumbia Chapter Of the veterans Or
ganization, wrote Brig. Gen. Albert
L. Cox, commanding the local mi
htia, advising him Of . proposed
award and asking for suggestions
as to the kind and purpose. In &C
cepting the offer, Gen. Cox said that
in order to carry out the idea Of
the veterans unit, to stimulate in
terest and promote esprit de corps,
1t was suggested that the annual
award be a saber to be awarded
under the conditions outlined.
These contributions to the Guard
contribute considerably to the well
fare of the militia. according to the
officers, stimulating the spirit of
competition. The organization has
other awards contributed by vet
eranS' units.
The Guard rifle team defeated
the Post Office Pistol and Rifle Club
last week, with a score of 1887 to
l,255. Sergt. w. c. Jensen was the
high man on the Guard team, with
a score of 280. The other men,
bers of the militia team were Staff
Sergt. Harry Parsons, Sergt. Rob-
ert Taylor, Corpl. Paul Geraci and
Maj. j. C. Jensen.
The National Guard of Maryland
had accepted the challenge of the
District Guard to a match to be
held here and has suggested Feb
ruary 10 as the day. Local brigade
headquarters has not yet heard
from the Virginia militia.
Two officers of the local militia
and two Regular Army officers as
signed to the local Guard as in
structors are preparing to 60 to
Fort George NJ Meade, Md, next
month to participate in the Sd Army
Corps Area Staff School, the for
mer as students and the Army Of
flcers as officials of the school.
1t. Col. Peyton G. Nevitt. assist
ant adJutant general of the local
Guard. and Capt. Hugh Everett, jr.,
are the two student officers Col.
Shepard L. Pike. senior Army in
structor assigned to the local Guard,
will be director of the school, while
Capt. Edward H. Walter will be
secretary. The school will be con-
vened on January Is and will con-
tinue for two weeks.
Brig. Gen. Amos w. w. Woodcock
will head the Maryland contingent
to the school. while the MARYLAND
group will have as its senior officer
1t. Col. Shepard Crump of Rich
mond.
The first annual church service of
the District Guard will be held on
January Is at the Washington Ca
thedral at pm Commanding Of
ficers Of all units have been ordered
to prepare their commands for par
ticipation in this service, particularly
the proper preparation of uniforms,
in order that the organization may
make creditable appearance.
While the troops will be moved
from their respective armories in
motor trucks, they will form in the
streets adjacent to the Cathedral
and will march to the services, head
ed by their bands.
First 1t. Luther Bryan, Headquar-
tiers and Service Company, 12lst
Engineers, has applied for assign
ment to the Engineer School for
National Guard officers at Fort Bel
voir, Va. from March / to June 30.
He has been a commissioned officer
in the Guard for eight years and has