Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-29
Mother, Watching,
Lets Out Cry as Sons
Number Is 1st Drawn
Mrs. Mildred Bell
Brought to Platform
To Meet Dr.. Dykstro

Lie lllOIilCI VI d WdolllIlSUO il DOy
whose draft serial number was 1873
the first number drawn by Secre-
tary of War Stimson-was seated
in the Departmental Auditorium
today as President Roosevelt an
nounced the number.
When she heard the number read
off she let out a cry which was
heard by those listening over the
radio networks. When Selective
Service officials learned the reason
for the cry they brought her to the
platform to shake hands with DR..
Dykstra, director of Selective Service.
She is Mrs. Mildred Bell, 618 Rock
Greek Church road and her son il
Robert Bell, who celebrated his 21st
birthday in August. The youth was
busy today and his smother came
to the Departmental Auditorium
early to find out in what order his
number would be called.
Father on Guard of Honor.
The boys father-Harry S. Be-
District fireman and World w
veteran-was standing outside T.
Departmental Auditorium, serVi.
as member of the American Legi~
national guard of honor, when
heard the boys number called.
He rushed into the place to fine
crowd gathered around Mrs. B
There had been a report that
had tainted, but she explained:
II was just surprised and excit
and I cried out involuntarily. l
both proud and saddened. But I.
glad to have my son serve"
Mr.. Bell is attached TO Engine
Company "a and belongs to the
Police and Fire Post of the Ameri-
can Legion. Officials promised thai
he could draw one of the capsules
out of the bowl later in the day.
With Fiancee Buying Rug.
The young man was in downtov Il
/ department store with his fiancee.
buying furnishings for the home
they expected to move into after
their marriage, scheduled for No
vember s.
The number came over the radio
in the store.
MY God, it's Bob" cried Miss
Sarah V. Carter, who wears MI.
Bells ring.
Mr.. Bell, who is a plumber
helper and his f1ancee, who is
secretary at the General Motors
Corp. Offices here, let slip from
their hands a rug which they had
been examining.
People in the store crowded
around them and wrung Mr.. Bells
hand. They left the store to go to
his parents home-and there was
no sale on the rug.
Mothers Cry Is Heard.
Mrs. Bell had taken her seat in
the auditorium with several friends.
members of an American Legion
auxiliary affiliate, the Eight and
Forty. She was knitting and at
tracted the attention of a Star re-
porter before the drawing began.
Questioned, she said:
Il came to watch for my boy S
number to be drawn"
When the number 158 was drawn
her cry was heard throughout the
auditorium and then the voice Of
one of her friends, Mrs. Claire
Smithson, 3148 Wisconsin avenue
NV, was heard, saying:
Its her boy"
A murmur ran over the crowd and
officials hurried to her side to con-
firm the information. She was then
led to the platform and spoke few
words into a microphone.
Most Are Married Men.
Most of the other "a District reg
istrants who held the number 156
were married. Those reached by The
, Star all expressed willingness tc
serve, however.
: The number one potential selec-
, tee in Area No. l was John Orme
, Thornberry. 25-year-old manager
, for an electrical firm. He lives al
2127 Observatory place NV and is
: married. His wife. however, works
: and is not entirely dependent or
. him.
He had been too busy to look ur
| his number at his draft board head
: quarters and had no inkling that he
had been selected until called by 6
5 Star reporter.
, IF I don't go now, I guess l vii
} by the first of the year" he said
! st hope it can be deferred until
5 can take my bar exam in Deem
: ber.'
RegiStrant Is Glad.
The first man chosen from Area
was James Lester Brooks. jr., OF 42lt
. Thirty eighth street NW.-who was
| celebrating his twenty fifth birthdsv
today. Reached at his desk in tf'
Procurement Division of the Treac-
ury Department, he said:
I'm completely astounded at th1
news-but I sure am glad
! Mr.. Brooks is unmarried and has
been interested in things military fol-
| many years He is a graduate of the
Fork Union Military Academy and
has taken summer training at Fort
! Meade, Md. He attended Western
High School and Dewitt Prep here.
Objector Is Drawn.
The first man whose number was
drawn in Fairfax County, Va, told
a Star reporter thaUhe was a con-
scientious objector. His name is
Harry Ray Heberlig, IS, of Baileys
Crossroads. Va.
He is a member of the Church OF
the Brethren, he said, and is con-
scientious objector because of his
religious teachings. He is married
but has no children and said he did
not disapprove of non-combatant
service.
This is the only kind of lottery
I could ever win he said.
Larry Banks Harris, 29-year-old
carpenter of 1910 First street NV.
the first registrant to be drawn in
Area II, probably won't get the
news for some time.
, Mr.. Harris is on his way to Hon
olulu to work as a foreman on a
Government building project there,
| IL uyaS said ar his hop,a Ia left