The Sauk Centre herald., 1941-09-11

SAUK (
Ice arranged for reporters and
photographers to cover the man
euver freely and supplied necess-
ary factual information for press
release.
At 500 with full bivouac estab-
nshed, and with life settled down
to that familiar Army schedule, the
bugler's call to Retreat brought to
the parade field the entire Regi-
ment, and thus began one Of the
Army's most impressive ceremon-
les, that Of lowering the nations
colors to signify, the end Of the
day. Under the direction Of War;
ant Officer Chester Hainzel, the
217th Regimental Band, played the
"Star Spangled Banner" and over
nine hundred rifles were raised
to present arms" AZ q reverent
salute to the flag of the United
States, as q large number Of inter-
ested spectators lined the drill
field to watch the ceremony.
Following the order to "fall
out" and prepare for mess, the
men gathered their mess equip
ment for the evening meal. The
number of small boys had by this
time almost doubled, and they
looked on with frank envy as the
soldiers lined up, mess kits and
canteens in hand, to get their rat
ions which had been tastily prepar-
ed on the new field ranges. These
new stoves are gas operated and
under the practiced hand Of the
first-rate Army cook can do about
everything but talk. Most civilians
seemed to be surprised at the
quantity and quality Of the food
served to each man as he passed
the steaming trays piled high with
potatoes. meat, and all the trim
mings. Most of the men cleaned up
and went to town to sample some
Of Huntington Beach's famous
hospitality after supper was finish
ed. That evening the officers Of
the Regiment were entertained at
a dinner party at Long Beach by
Mayor M. M. McCallen, who with
the cooperation of the Chamber Of
Commerce had arranged to make
the stay for the entire camp as
interesting as possible. Many Of the
men had been invited to private
homes in the evening for dinner.
Several men made regular trips
from town to camp to give the
soldiers rides down to the beach;
one man alone took at least forty
soldiers in the course of one even
ing.
On Tuesday the Regiment enter
tanned the townsfolk of Huntington
Beach with various military events
during the day; a Military Review
of Honor at 500 pm, and ending
the days activities, a concert was
given by the Regimental Band at
the Beach Bowl at $3.50 in the even
ing under the direction Of Warrant
Officer Hainzel.
"Tent City" as the soldiers called
their temporary bivouac, came to
life at 600 in the morning when
the first sergeants, traditionally
tough but usually the best fellows in
the world, went around waking up
the late sleepers by shaking leg
here, whisting there, and occasion
ally pulling an entire bed roll out
in the open air with its occupant
still soundly sleeping. Even at that
early hour the camp had quite a
few visitors who came around to
watch Reveille.
The morning was spent with the
usual military routine such as pol
icing up, calisthenics, drilling and
listening to military discussions.
In the afternoon the men were re-
lieved of all duty and permitted to
go to the beach for an afternoon
swim. AS soon as they changed
into their suits, the men climbed
merrily into the trucks that had
been made available for transport
alton, and off to the Pacific Ocean
Those who forgot their suits or
who just didn't care to go out of
camp were allowed to go to town
to look things over or else to stay
in camp and play football, kitten
ball, of just plain loaf about the
immediate area.
In the evening at 500, the entire
Regiment participated in a color
full Military review Of Honor, to
which the public was as usual
cordially invited. The various
batteries, complete with flying
guidons and men marching pre-
sented a very interesting pisture to
the public and received the salute
of the reviewing officer, Colonel
John w. Carter, as the regiment
passed the reviewing point. The re-
nainder Of the evening being of no