Smyrna times., 1942-02-19
The
What Not Shelf

- - -
This week the column is written
by Bob Bell who enlisted in the
u. S. Army Air Corps in January
and now is stationed at Lowry
Field, Denver, Colorado).
THIS ARMY LIFE"
Readersi Fall In! Attention! o.
K, at ease!
Today I'd like to give Louise
Burslem's public glance at Army
life as observed by a rookie like
myself said "rookie" but, today,
according to the rate of enlistments
a fellow who has been in the Army
two months is getting right on the
beam and can look at the new fell
lows coming in and say, "Hi, rookie!
If you're a speciman of the Army,
Im-glad we have the Marines!-
Yes, the new man is quite bewild-
cred for the first week or two-but
he soon learns the answers. I did.
One thing about being a soldier,
you really get around. Six months
ago if anyone had told me that I
would gaze upon the Rocky Noun
tins before the year 1912 was over
I would have told them that they
were crazy. Before the Pearl Har-
Dor incident of Dec. z, 1941 if they
had told me that I would soon be a
soldier, I'd suggest he get his grey
matter looked at.
The rookie is pretty busy during
his first or weeks. If he's not
processing getting classified, talk
ing shots, etc. he's detailed to var
ious duties such as K. p. (kitchen
police) policing up the area and
barracks, making hunks and catch
ing H-from the non-coms. X. p.
lis the most dreaded of all the de-
tails, but, take it from me, it's not
as bad as it's publicised. Just think
of the experience you're getting
and when you get your Army dis
charge you can probably get job
in most any restaurant as dish
washer, waiter, etc.
Everything you get or have is G..
I.-G. I. meaning Government Is
sue. You get G. I. haircut, eat a
G. I. meal, scrub the floor with a
G. I. brush or mop, wear G. l..
shoes and make up your bunk in
the G.. 1. fashion.
Let's have some &c. l." defini-
tons. You don't clean up the bar
racks, you 'police-up." Your olive
drab uniform is just plain 20. D."
When you take a nap on your bed
your pulling bunk fatigue" You
don't walk guard, you pull guard
duty" A shirker is "gold-brick-
er" and when person gets caught
"gold-bricking' he's put on extra
detail. Any enlisted man is called
a dog face" and End Lieutenants
are referred to as SHAVE tails. "
The post store is called the Up.
Elk" or "canteen," "P. Elk" mean
ing Post Exchange. You eat
"chow" in Mess Hall'' and drink
ing cups are called Shells. If
you want to leave the post you get
a Glass A Card" and present it to
the M. P. military Police at the
gate. There's quite a few other
familiar Army terms but I'm afraid
they wouldn't get by the censor.
Recreation and Amusements:
"A great factor in bolstering the
morale of fellows who are away
from home is the various organiza-
tons whose main purpose is to
keep the boys entertained. Prob
ably the most famous of these are
the u. S. o. Omitted Service Or
ganization) and the CMEIA Civil
ian Military Hospitality Assn. }
The U. S. o. sends travelling shows
around to the camps and only
charges a small sum for admission
On the posts there are Service
Clubs that provide dancing and
cafeteria service and the Chap
lain's Office is overrun with invita-
lions to dinner extended by civil
ians to the soldiers.
Just remember folks, the Army
Navy and Marines are doing theil
part so don't forget that we're al
war and to win this war the cooper.
alton of EVERY civilian is neces.
sary! Don't fall down on youl
civilian defense jobs and"Keep En-