Evening star., 1941-11-11
Marines Too Busy
For Celebration on
10Th Anniversary
Officers Cont Find Key
To Postry Pantry Where
Birthday Cake Is Kept
By MARION w. DOYLE,
Star Staff Correspondent.

YUAN 11Co, td., INUF. IL llC
national defense emergency pushed
the Marine Corps 166th birthday
anniversary so far into the back
ground here yesterday that when
newspaperWomen touring the camp
wanted to see the birthday cake
nobody could remember who had
the pantry key.
The cake was a huge pink one,
officers assured reporters, and dec
Grated with 166 candles to mark
the birth of this branch OF the
naval service 166 years ago yester-
day at Continental Congress meet
ing in Philadelphia tavern. But
from Gen. Mccarthy Little, COM
manding officer. on down, nobody
knew who had the key to the pastry
pantry, so the group had to wait
till the end of their tour to see 1t.
Even Jiggs, fourth marine mascot
Of that name, is worn out by pres
sure of the national emergency.
When reporters called on him yes
terday he had collapsed on a pile
Of cotton mating, too exhausted to
mind dirty cat which crawled into
bed with him.
Recruits Learn Drill.
AS the reporters entered the
reservation in rattling Marine Corps
buses, platoons of boots recruits
fresh from Paris Island, S. c.,
wheeled in drill on the right. On
the left, veteran troops with steel
helmets on their heads and full pack
on their backs marched in full dress
drill
Reserve officers in training were
cracking away at rifle range a
little farther down the road and
overhead planes from Turner Field
roared in constant practice.
Even the 300 children OF officers
and enlisted men, trained from the
kindergarten through high school at
the camp school, know it is their
duty now to study as hard as they
can to be of more service later to
their country. The chairman of the
School Board, Maj. HaWley c.
Waterman, told them so yesterday
as they shivered in the cold around
flags of their country and their
corps.
Now is no time to criticize your
leaders, added Gen. Mccarthy Little,
commanding officer. Even children
have to dig in and study for the
honor Of the corps.
Greeting reporters were two men
who have already done their duty
for the corps and received the Con-
gressional Medal Of Honor for the
way they performed it. Maj. Chris
tian Schilt won his medal for
evacuating his wounded men by air
in a Nicaraguan engagement in
1923. Platoon Sergt. Donald Trues-
dale had his hand blown off throw
ing away grenade before it could
explode among his platoon.
Chocolate Sundaes Popular.
Established in 1917, Quantico has
had service clubs and hostesses for
more than 16 years, so that sharp
increase in the number of officers
and enlisted men has not swamped
their recreational facilities as in
many expanding military centers.
The marines can buy cheap choc-
olate sundaes at their recreation
center, and according to the soda
jerkers the boys order more of
these than any other refreshment.
Because of the advanced devel-
opment Of Quantico, United Service
Organization clubs are not very ac-
tive on the reservation. AS a matter
Of fact, Maj Carleton Penn gave
reporters permission to quote him
as saying, The marines like a we'll
turned ankle as we'll as the next
one" but U. S. o. shows rarely
come their way.
Revolving Altar.
The marines have installed q re-
volving altar in their chapel. After
early Catholic masses the table re-
wolves like the newest Hollywood
scenery to display another suitable
for Protestant services. Jewish
rabbis officiate in the same building
and Christian Science speakers ap-
pear during the week.
A regular city library has been
built up in the recreation center,
with everything from the latest
book on vitamins to detective
stories and Westerns. Whole Sec
tions of travel books on China, Mica
ragua and Haiti have been laid in,
librarians explained, because of the
marines interest In the places
where they have been Or expect to
| be stationed.