Evening star., 1942-03-18
Top Numbers Fail to Uncover Many Fighters Locally
Willingness Serve Voiced by Men Drown Head Dependents
And Some Injuries Indicate Heavy Defermens

The first numbers drawn last
night in the draft lottery didn't pro-
duce many potential fighting men
for Uncle Sam the Washington
area.
Out of the IS first men" in local
selective service boards who were
interviewed by Star reporters 2e
either had families, serious physics.
disabilities or other reasons for de-
ferments. That left nine men-or q
quarter of the group-as possible
Army candidates.
Almost all of the first men" eX-
pressed a willingness to serve, but
1t was apparent that most OF them
under present selective service
policies, would be deferred.
The draft-covering such wide age
limits-snared an odd assortment OF
men, ranging from SCHOOL boys to
Supreme Court Justice William o
Douglas, who held the 340th number
drawn in his area. There were a
number of father-son combinations
who faced the call to Army service.
First in Board l Ready.
The No. l man in Board No. l
Was Hector I. Allen, 1911 Thirty
fifth street NV. Mr. Allen is 81
years old, says he's fit as a fiddle
and didn't show the least sign OF
pain when he found out that his
number, AL, was the first in his
area. He is bricklayer.
The first man in Board No. 2 was
John L. Carr, 43, Potomac Electric
Power Co. engineer, who lives at
5461 Nevada avenue NV. Mr.. Carr
was in the Coast Guard during the
last war, is single and says he's in
good physical shape.
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld, 81, of
the Washington Hebrew Congrega-
ton, was the 274th to be tapped in
Area 2.
The top man in No. 3 Board, how
ever, isn't an Army prospect. He is
Otto C. Lenz, whose address was
given as 4720 Reservoir road. Mr..
Lenz a slate roofer, last July was
in an automobile accident. His back
was broken and he is total invalid
now.
Thomas E. Lodge, chairman OF the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
was at a first aid class when his
draft number, 233, became the 4Oth
to be pulled for his area, No. 3.
One First Already Enlisted.
Holding the first number-441-
in local board No. was senior at
the University of Maryland, Fred
erick Lands Hill, 81, who took the
oath of Office as private, first class,
in the Marine Corps Reserves few
hours before the drawing. Mr. Hill,
is majoring in physics and mechan-
ical engineering.
James Vito, 40, I'll Kennedy
street NV, held the first number
for draft board area No. 5 and said
he was kind of "tickled" about it.
Born in Italy, he has been in this
country for 81 years and is an Amer
ican citizen. He is married and is
the father of four boys and two girls,
the children's ages ranging from 10
to years. He is a member OF the
auxiliary police force.
Refugee Holds AL.
A refugee doctor from Vienna,
Richard Glitter, now on the staff OF
Casualty Hospital, held the first
number-441-for Draft Board No.
6. Coming to this country In the
latter part of 1898, he has taken
out his first citizenship papers.
II very glad to do anything
can" DR.. Glitter said. Il am proud
to be first"
Roy Lee Corbett, 1912 Thirteenth
street NV, who held the first num-
ber called in Board 7, is an ex-Army
flyer and is pretty sure that the
Army isn't going to change its mind
and take him now.
Mr.. Corbett, an employe of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, Joined
the Army flying service shortly after
the World War and was graduated
from Kelly Field in 1920.
Mr.. Corbett sought to rejoin the
Army recently. But the disability
which caused him to resign his "cn-
mission Is years ago-an injury 10
one eye-prevented him from get
ting back in. He is Al years old,
has been here over three years.
Agriculture Clerk at Tcp.
James E. B. Kirwin, who is Board
No. 8's first candidate, is a clerk in
the Agriculture Department. His
fellow workers say he is Al, and lives
at 1915 Kenyon street NV.
Romie Waldon Parks. 800 Eight
eenth street NV. holder of No. AL
in Board No. 9, is in perfect shape"
according to his son, Thomas, who
said his father was visiting in New
York for a few days. Thomas, who
is 10, said he has not registered yet,
but is anxious to and will 60 along
with his father, if the latter is
drafted
Another Ready to Fight.
George Edward Nelson, colored, of
1910 Nineteenth street NV. held
the top number in Board No. 10.