Evening star., 1940-11-07
First DC. Troops
Modified Leave
For Active Duty
Marine Reserves
Receive Ceremonial
Farewell


by to its first contingent of troops
modified for active service in the
current emergency.
Martial music, flying flags, march,
ing men, cheers and tears marked
the farewell to the Fifth Battalion
Marine Corps Reserve as it left for
Marine Barracks at Quantico pre-
paratory to assignment elsewhere
later. They will not be demoblllzed
until the emergency has passed.
1t. Col Harvey L. Miller, COM
manding officer, ard his staff, put
the men through their PAGES and
then marched them away for Union
Station and entrainment. .
Thousands Gather at Ellipse.
Thousands of relatives and friends
of the departing marines gathered
at the EllipSe witnessed the cere-
monies in the morning and then
gave them a last farewell. There
were mothers, sisters, children and
sWeetheartS.
Many tears were shed before the
battalion bugler called the troops
to attention and started the march
to Union Station. Reaching the
station the band entered the con-
course and played while the boys,
three abreast, marched through the
crowd. Occasionally relative or
friend broke through the line for an
embrace.
One mother, holding baby which
was crying, struggled to hold back
her own tears.
Troops entrained at the lower
level of the station, where only
few relatives had obtained entrance
by special permission. Among these
was Mrs. Miller, wife of the COM
manding officer of the battalion.
She said she was proud to have
her husband go. Explaining that he
was IAN old service man." she said
she would not have had him do
anything else.
Thinks U. S. Will Avoid War.
The last mother to kiss her boy
good-by at the train was Mrs
Charles Roach of 301 Montgomery
street, Chevy Chase, Md, the widow
of the former professor OF law at
Georgetown University.
Her boy, Richard Roach, 20, men,
ber of Company B, leaned far out
the train window and, held by his
companions, reached his mother for
last kiss.
''HeS my baby" said the mother.
''The youngest of seven. But I am
glad to see him go. 1t will be a good
thing for him and think the train
ing will do him good. I don't be-
1ieve we are going to get into war
and I have great confidence in the
administration and feel that by
building up strong defense We can
keep out of war"
His father was a captain in, the
Quartermaster Corps in the World
War and his grandfather, William
N. Roach, was a Senator during the
administration of President Cleve-
land
The train rolled out of Union Sta
ton at 1888 am. and was expected
to reach Quantico in As minutes.
The parade and review on the
Ellipse was colorful with flags and
stirring music from the band, which
played a number of Well-knoWn
military airs, but marched off the
field al the end by playing the
popular song, God Bless America.
Troops Reviewed by Leaders.
The troops were reviewed by a
few District leaders, who stood in
front of the gaily- decorated review
Ing stand. Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen in brief radio talk told the
District he was sorry the outfit was
leaving, but that residents of the
District are proud of them and glad
they are one of the first contingentS
to be called to action"
Praising Col Miller, the Commits
sioner said "Heinie is a very good
friend of mine and one of our out
standing citizens. I know he will
be a great credit to our city"
In a brief response Col. Miller
expressed appreciation for this
wonderful send off, and the hope
that I'VE will be as good marines
as we try to be good citizens"
Among those standing with the
Commissioner were Brig. Gen. AL
bert L. Cox, adjutant general of the
District of Columbia, commanding
the District National Guard; Col.
John w. Oehmann, commanding
the 121st Engineers of the District
of Columbia Guard; Capt. Leon
Brusiloff, United States Marine Re-
serve, aide to Commissioner Hazen;
Capt. c. B. Rhodes of the District
Guard, aide to Gen. Cox, and Capt.
Gordon Hittenmark of the District
of Columbia State staff, District
National Guard.
Although the Marines were NOV
ing to Quantico, as their first stop,
only a comparatively few miles
away, some may come back home
on leave before they sail for for
eign shores.
Shaking Down Today.
The 5th Battalion was to be
merged today with the 18th Bat
talon from Detroit, Mich, at Guam
tico, and will be under command of
1t. Col. D. E. Campbell, command
Ing officer of the center.
Today was to be occupied largely
with shaking down" into quarters,
the regular barracks at the post.
Drills will start Monday, and next
Tuesday the unit will report for
five days of rifle firing. Upon COM
pletion Of that they will swing into
actual combat training, to be con-
tinued at Quantico, and elsewhere.
The troops left their armory at
458 Indiana avenue NV. at $3.50
am. for the Ellipse, having previ-
ously shipped virtually all equip
ment except that used for the pa
rade and review. They marched to
Union Station by way of Constitu-
ton avenue.
A feature of the review was the
presence of little Miss Clay Keene