Evening star., 1941-11-23
Camp Lee Will Send
Letters 10 Mothers
OF SeIectees
Friendly Messages Tell
Whut Future Holds
For Youth in Comp

~ the Associated Press.
CAMP LEE, Va, Nov. 22.-To the
mother-or next of kin-of every
new selectee at the Quartermaster
Replacement Center here goes
form letter from Brig. Gen. Charles
D. Hartman, commander, telling of
this branch of the Army and just
what the immediate future holds
for the young man in camp life.
The idea is Camp Lees own. and
1t is intended to help bridge the
gap between the Army and the
folks back home.
The letter, sent free through the
mails as official Army business, fol-
lows:
Dear "mother of a selectee":
You may be the aunt, grandmoth
er or sister of the boy I am writing
about. But as far as he and I are
concerned you are mother" the
person most interested in what he
is doing at Camp Lee.
He will send you many letters
telling you. better than l could do,
the story of his activities and I'M
pressionS. My intention is to talk
over with you, as one parent to an
other, what it means TO send your
boy to an Army camp.
Military Strength.
First of all. this is not con-
script army of the kind too well
known in Europe. In America the
day has passed when soldiers had
the motto, Theirs not to question
vhv ." Your son knows why
he is in the Army of this Nation,
which believes in the right to vote,
to choose an occupation, TO live de-
Gently. He knows We must now
show that a democracy can nave
military as well as commercial and
domestic strength.
Your son has been assigned for
training at Camp Lees Quarter
master Replacement Center. He
will be here 13 weeks. He Will spend
half his eight-hour working day in
basic military training, learning to
handle weapons so he can protect
himself and our country, II neces-
sary, against forces which are op-
posed to everything We stand Tor.
AS for the other half of his train
ing-well. what did he do in civilian
life? Was he mechanic, profess
sional man, clerk, baker or salesman?
Camp Lees Quartermaster Replace
ment Center has close to 100 sub
iects in which men are trained
for the Streamined Quartermaster
Corps. Your son will be placed In
the class where his ability and ex-
perience will make him feel best
fitted to serve in our modern Army.
After specializing in one field Of
technical knowledge, he will be
better equipped for his future IN
civilian life.
Full Athletic Program.
What will he do at the end Of his
training day? The Quartermaster
Replacement Center has a full
athletic program. Whether he liked
football swimming. or golf, he will
play his favorite sport here. An
swering soldiers religious needs,
Camp Lee has 10 chaplains carefully
selected from all principal denomi-
nations, and there are seven beau
tiful enapels here. Camp Lees
large Service Club has library,
recreation rooms. and dance pro-
gram whereby your son will asso-
ciate with the finest girls OF Rich.
mond; Petersburg and other nearby
communities who come here to be
with the young men America has
chosen as her best
Some reasonable restrictions will
be placed on his movements. Except
for emergencies. he will not be
granted furlough during his train
ing period; he must get up and go
to bed at stipulated hours. 1 am
sure YOU will understand the neces-
sity Of this and will cooperate with
us. You can hold up your end by
letting him know frequently that
his family and friends are thinking
of him. When you write be sure
to include his rank, full name,
company. and regiment In the ad-
dress.
II possible, I wish you would
visit our camp and see what is
being done for your son while he
is serving his country.
Sincerly Yours,
G.. D. Hartman