The Ely miner., 1942-11-19
LETTERS FROM
SERvIcEMEN

OGM = EEGAESsAES
Pvt. Donald Butala, 176th Inf, Co.
E, South Post, Fort Myer, Va, is IN
unit of which George Washington
was once a member. Butala writes:
ct recently read in The Ely Miner
how many Little Elys' were forming
in different parts of the country. I'm
sorry can't add another one to the
list but I can tell you little about
what has happened to Eddie Goloo
and me.
"We, along with boys all ages and
from all parts of the country, were
shipped to small training center
near Fredericksburg, Va. Here We re-
ceived three and one-half weeks OF
basic training Golob was put in the
cannon company and was in Co. K.
Upon the completion of my training,
was shipped to Ft. Myer, Va. Prob
ably you've seen the illustrations OF
| it in the Life magazine recently I've
seen the scenes shown there many
i
seems, temporarily to Co. E, I am ell
gible for officers training through my
grades in the screening exams We took
upon entrance in the army. At least,
| that is the explanation they gave us
| for sending us here. More men have
gone into officers training from this
regiment than. any other in the army.
These is a four month training wait
in the army before one can apply
for officers training cadre. am
waiting for this time to be up then
will apply Meanwhile we are guard
ing integral parts of the war machine
here in Washington, D. c., part time
and training the rest of the time
When I was sent to Ft. Myers, Goloh
was kept at the Fredericksburg train
ing center called A. P. Hill because OF
the specialized training one has to
. receive to be part of cannon COM
pany. He is due at FIT. Myer any day
now. Much of our training has beer
in many new things the army doesnT
want to be published yet, so CAM
tell much about my work here because
I might reveal something I shouldn't
Until I have really discovered what
can tell and what I can't, won't at
tempt to tell about too much of m,
army life.
"The 1st Virginia infantry, also tn
176th infantry, has quite an illustriou
past. 1t began in 1882, has had sucl
leaders as George Washington an
Patrick Henry.
ct want to thank the VFW Of El
for The Ely Miner. I think ever
II soldier thinks its about the bes
| paper there is"
HI Seaman George Gould, former El
Junior college instructor now workin
in the commandant's Office of the lit
naval district, San Diego, Calf, write
to the VFW, as follows:
ST enjoy reading The Ely Miner
much as ever and I want to EXPIRE
my appreciation to your organizatit
| for seeing that each issue reaches m
III think the Servicemen's Page is
great idea. 1t is wonderful to kno
where all the boys are, and to he
about their individual experiences.
Is enjoyable, of course, to hear fro
the home front, too-the blackou
scrap drive, etc.
"Since training camp, I have be-
working at naval district headquarte
on the San Diego waterfront. Abo
a month ago, I was recommended
II a commission, and at this writing,
am awaiting final appointment by {
navy department.
"San Diego is a typical boom toy
very congested with war workers
seryicemen. The climate is about
pleasant, I believe, as anywhere
the United States. There is no motto
able change in temperature from G
month to another; yesterday it rain
the first time in five months.
"I should like to extend my b
regards to friends in the service
to those in Ely. Thank you, again,
the paper"
Martin John Pecharich asks t.
his correspondents be informed t
their mail will not be received fol
considerable period of time, but IL
be answered as soon as received.
CThe nature of their assignment
movements makes it impossible
reveal the complete addresses OF sc
Ely servicemen)
Tech. Sgt. Joseph j. Mayerle, n
ing finished desert maneuvers in {
ifornia, writes about his experien'
"Once you get accustomed to
heat" he said, sit isn't so bad
here. A lot of the fellows would
as soon stay here. We had lo'
fun, and at times we worked n
But they say you have to work
have, pleasure When We first came
received weekend passes, so we
little to complain about. The pc
in Los Angeles treat you like
own sons. saw my nephew there
does not give his name) and 1t
tainly was good to see someone
Ely.
"The naneuvers were little tt
at times. Biggest trouble was the
III of &;y,aac xyNny couldn't GEE