The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-17


 about which they have been hear ing such favorable reports. The tents are electrically lighted and are equipped with linen sheets and pillow cases and, altogether, make a snug abode for the service men.
 Ankle Deep!
 Everywhere one goes is sand. It's like walking through fine snow aS one sinks ankle deep in the stuff Only the main roads through the camp have been paved so that cars must plough through the sand up to the hub caps. A common sight Is the spectacle of q dozen soldiers putting their shoulders to 0 car that has become stuck in the sand. Major B. A. O'Hara of Waterbury, quartered with Major Curry of Hartford, already seems to know everyone in camp. When he ar- rived, his tent was without electri- city. But in an hour, he had five electricians working on the job. The Little Major gets service with a snap.
 The Catholic and Protestant chaplains, Father Culluton of Wat erbury and the Rev. MT. Tyler of Hartford, bunk together at the end of officers TOW and the way they get along, you'd never think there had been a dissenter named Martin Luther. Both are popular with the enlisted men and arc regular without sacrificing any Of the dig nity that should accompany the cloth.
 Judge Larkin,s lad Bob, Dr Freney's son, Doc Litsky, Gerald Hanlon and O. half dozen other Waterbury boys helped dedicate the new canteen Thursday night. As yet, this is the only recreation center open but the big assembly hall seating over 1000 men has beer finished and will be available fe recreational activity in g. few day.
 Ideal Climate Now
 For the next few months, Camr Blanding,s climate will be ideal bui comes June and the boys from Con. necticut are going to get q lot oi heat they never encountered al Savin Rock CT Bauby'S Corner Through the summer months until October. there will be daily showers and uninterrupted heat. But, all things considered, the boys at Camp Blanding are far better off than the boys at Camp Devens were in that terrible winter of 19l7-l8. It's still great life if you don't weaken and the Connecticut troops don't seem to have weakened bit.
 For the present, there will be only routine work at camp. When the regular army officers arrive in about a month to teach modern methods of warfare, the boys will find that the fooling Is over and that the war" has begun.
 Fears that there will be 6 re- ena actment of the Civil War when the Florida Crackers and New Eng land Yankees get to know each oth- CT seem to be without basis, as the experience of one of the Waterbury boys would indicate. On his first night in camp, he was seated in a refreShment parlor, operated by ci- vilianS outside the reservation, when a Florida soldier puzzled by his in- signia. asked him what division he was from.
 "The Third" replied the Brass City boy.
 "Where're you all from?" asked the Cracker.
 New England" he was told.
 The Florida boys eyes opened wide with amazement and then he broke into broad grin.
 Well, bless nah soul, New Eng land, shake hands ard let me buy you beer" he said, Southern hes pitality exuding from every pore.
 T don't drink beer," said the Waterbury lad, who must have been the exception that proves the rule.
 Well, have coke," said the Cracker. All nah life ah've beer fixin' to get a look at one of you New England boys and bust mat britches. iffen you ain't okay."
 Of course, all North-South meet. ings aren't as pleasant as this. One of the Connecticut soldiers, mean. ing no wrong. almost precipated an. other Bull Run in beer parlor the other night when he asked his Southern drinking companion "Why do all you Southerners talk like Negroes?'..
 Coiored Troops
 There are colored troops in camp too. They are in the Pioneer Bat. talions. engaged in rushing to com. pletion the network of roads that will soon run through the camp