Evening star., 1941-01-10
Fifth Battalion
Ready 10 Sail
For Cuba
District Outfit Awaits
Order to Join Fleet
Marine Force
Srecial Dispatch to The Star.

QUANTICO, Va, Jan. 10.-Sched-
uled to sail from Norfolk for Guam
tanamo Bay, Cuba, some time after
January IS, Washington's 5th Bat
talon, Marine Corps Reserve, to-
day was ready for departure at a
moments notice.
1t is thoroughly trained and
equipped, according to reports, and
is ready for further seasoning in
combat exercises in the Fleet Ma
rine Force and record firing over
longer ranges in Cuba. The bat
talon will take with it the same
units that left Washington on No
vember 7, with all officers and SEN
ior non-commissioned officers in the
same assignments.
The only exception is in the med
ical section. The two 5th Battalion
medical officers, 1t. COmdrS. Don
S. Knowlton and William L. Scha-
fer have been detached from the
5th Battalion along with the Dis
trict medical enlisted personnel.
1t. Comdr. Knowlton is organiz-
ing and probably will command the
new 7th and 9th Medical Companies
for duty with the Fleet Marine
Force. 1t. Comdr. Schafer is the
executive officer of the unit.
Medical Men Still Reporting.
Navy medical enlisted men are
still reporting for this unit and are
being equipped and uniformed for
duty with marines.
Naval Reserve medical officers are
reporting from various Eastern
cities.
The medical unit will follow the
line troops on a later date.
The movement and embarkation
orders for the Marine Reserves still
here. about 1000 men, have been
completed, awaiting only the inser-
ton of the definite date and hour of
departure from Norfolk. Va. Trans
portation from Quantico to Norfolk
will be by train
On arrival at Guantanamo Bay
the Reservists will be assigned to
duty in units as directed by the
commanding general, 1st Brigade,
F. M. F., Brig. Gen. Holland NJ
Smith, U. S. M. c.
Close to 100 men of the 5th Bat
talon have been separated from
the service since the battalion left
Washington because of physical
shortcomings or dependent relatives.
In Excellent Condition.
The battalion is in excellent con-
dition. Well fed, well clothed, we'll
housed, the ReserviStS have under
gone two months of arduous train
ing. They are hard and alert. smart,
well, drilled in close order and well
schooled over combat terrain. The
little fellows" have gained weight,
the fat fellows" have lost weight.
Morale is high.
At Guantanamo the address of
the battalion for ordinary mail via
steamship will be as follows:
Corpl. -, U. S. M C. R.
90, Company --, 5th Battalion,
U. S. M. C. r., United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in
care of postmaster, New York. N Y.
postage, 8 cents for regular mail)
The address for airmail will be:
Corpl. --------. U. S. M. c. R.
90, Company -, 5th Battalion,
U. S. M. G. r., United States Naval
Station, in care of postmaster,
Miami. Fla. postage, 10 cents for
airmail)
Ready for Duty.
The Reserve training center here,
under 1t. Col. D. E. Campbell, U.
S. M. c., as executive officer. has
done thorough job of making the
Reservists ready for field service.
The outfits are ready, fully
equipped for duty in any climate.
At drills, formations and combat ex-
ercises they have come a long way
and do not look, talk or act like
the units that reported here early in
November.