Evening star., 1941-03-02
Gen. Reckord Tells
29th Division Men
Of Sacred Heritage
Invokes Memory of
Old Outfit in Message
To Command
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES,
Star Staff Correspondent.

vision, just starting year of train
ing in the new army of the United
| States" were called on today by
their commander, Maj. Gen. Milton
A. Reckord. to remember that the
outfit has history-"a sacred heri-
tage," he called it.
In message to all the officers
and men, Gen. Reckord invoked the
memory Of the old 29th Division
that pushed, defiant and unswerv-
ing through the Argonne. He asked
them not to forget. He saluted
them in the spirit of those days
and reminded them that their coun-
try has called them again. He
told them he was sure that they,
like their old comrades, would not
fail.
The generals memory of what
the division did in 1918 does not
come from reading its history. He
commanded one Of its regiments,
the 1l5th Infantry, from Mary
land, throughout the war.
ut is hoped" said Gen. Reck-
ord, that the occasion will never
arise when it will be necessary for
this division to face, an enemy, but
the ultimate aim of a soldier Is to
be prepared for that test"
Modified Second Time.
He recalled that "for the second
time in generation a 29th Di-
vision of the Army of the United
States is modified for service to
our Nation"
There are many men Of the 29th
Division of today" the general
pointed out, "who cherish the men,
ories of service with that other
18th Division. Through them many
have become imbued with the spirit
Of the old organization, whose ira
ditions this division now accepts
as sacred heritage.
For several weeks. from Vir-
ginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and
the District Of Columbia you have
been arriving here to make your
homes for another year. You found
much work yet to be done, but day
by day progress is noted on the
aters, recreation halls and other
facilities designed to add comfort
to your hours of ease.
Our immediate task is the de-
velopment Of leaders and the train
ing Of men. AS never before, i'm
portance Of leadership in the ranks
Of the commissioned officers
and junior officers Is being stressed
by the highest military authorities
1 feel a Just pride in commanding
division the personnel of which
Is such that the attainment of this
objective will be made easy"
And Gen. Reckord added: "In
the spirit Of the old 29th Division
Of World War days salute as COM
mander of the 29th Division of to-
day the splendid officers and men of
my command and pledge my most
earnest effort to give them the
leadership they deserve. May we
all progress rapidly in our work of
preparing for service to our country
wherever that service may lead US"
. Cling to Air-Heated Barracks.
The National Guardsmen-no
longer Guardsmen, but part of the
Army in which all training COM
ponents. regulars and selectees are
being absorbed-clung to their air
heated barracks today, driven in
doors by sudden return of winter.
Snow was deep over the hills and
valleys and pine forests of the res
ervation.
The rough, frozen fields and
heavy-rutted roads were evened un-
der the white canopy and gaping
holes In the broken countryside
were hidden. A savage wind whip
ped the snow into a blizzard dur
ing the night, driving temperature
down to bitter levels.
Outdoor drills were suspended
pending more open weather. But
the training times was not wasted.
There are enough prescribed lee
lures and other indoor schooling to
occupy days.
There was some week end COM
planning in camp because the first
pay day for the men, who were
mobil1zed a month ago, passed with
out pay for most of them. Some
headquarters companies were paid
Yesterday, but the infantry and ar
tillery regiments had their stipend
deferred until some time this week.
But Maj. E. L. Reynolds, division
post exchange officer, worked out
an ingenius scheme by which quite
a number of broke and disappointed
enlisted men were able to spend the
week end at home, which they had
planned. He bought railroad tick
cts for these men and deducted
sufficient tabs from their post-ex-
change credit books The post ex-
change exchequer will be reim-
bursed when they are paid.
Many Officers Leave.
Yet most of the men who live at
distant points remained in camp
over Sunday. The officers, who
were paid today. left camp in large
numbers, though one officer of each
company or battery was required.
under regulations, to remain on
duty. Twenty per cent of the en-
listed strength must stay at the
post on holidays for guard duty
and other necessary tasks.
Washington's l21st Engineers
probably will be paid Wednesday,
while the special division troops,
also from the District, are sched-
uled to be paid tomorrow. Some
outfits will not get their money
until late in the week.
Oldtimers who served in war days,
recalling many payless months, told
the younger men they were lucky.
Special "cadres" to be formed in
each unit of the division will be
groomed to train 5000 selective
service recruits who will join the
division in April, filling it to a war
strength of nearly 10000. The Sc
lectees will reach camp fresh from
civil life, and it is planned to put
them through a 13-week primary
military school, absorbing some Of
them into regular organization
sooner If they show particular pro-
ficiency.
Meanwhile picked details of Of
ficers and enlisted men will be at
tending speciality schools and the