Evening star., 1942-01-18
Prise Contribution
BY WILLIS JAMES LUTHER, 8,

COTTAGE City (Md) School.
One day Rozier Pullman, 10, of
Central avenue, Cottage City, Nd,
asked Robert Jones and Donald
and Loran Rasmus If they would
like to start a neighborhood army.
Rozier and his sister Barbara,
with Bobby Jones and Edward Lee
Hudgins, had had a sort of army for
about two years. When all the
older boys went to army camps to
train, we thought we ought to train
actively and be ready, too. to defend
our homes in an emergency. So
Rozier and his chums started to
round up an army. Their farst two
recruits were Edward Lee and my
self.
Other boys Of our neighborhood
hea<d abovt the army and Joined
up. Soon we had about IS men,
bers, including a nurse. Barbara,
and toy guns and an assortment OF
other equipment. Like regular SOL
diers. all of us had to. pass tests in
craftsmanship. charging, marching
and putting up tents. Three tents
were all We had, and one of these
was torn down and hooked to an
other to make large one.
Our equipment consisted OF air
rifles (Which we keep unloaded
when playing, wooden and toy pis-
tolls, regulation army water canteens,
discarded army clothing, such as
soldier hats, coats, packs, belts, and
the like, and an army cot and table.
We had one wooden machine gun
Rozier and Bobby Jones had made
themselves. We had little trailer
made from Rozier's wagon with a
radio aerial, gun holes, a toy As
caliber pistol and a toy machine
gun mounted for action. We had
another trailer which was used as
q moving radio room.
One Saturday morning we decided
our troop into two parts-the Red
and Blue Armies. The Blue Army,
which was outside Of Rozier's back
yard, charged in, rolling an auto
tire. which was stopped by Military
Policeman Alfred Haley, jr. He
threw a basket in front of it,
Then the Blue Army staged two
successful charges, one with a
wheelbarrow the other with a lawn
mower The battle ended with the
Blues the winners.
We had other maneuvers that day.
Our war games lasted for about two
weeks-until Rozier's mother sold
our tent. Then our army quit train
ing on account of Christmas, when
the soldiers" in the ranks were
promoted to flrst-claSs privates and
sergeants by Gen. Rozier Pullman.
When spring comes we are going
to start the army again. To make
it possible we will need new equip
ment, such as canteens. old army
packs, toy pistols, helmets and SOL
diers' clothing, including coats.
pants, hats and leggings. Any one
who has such things and doesn't
want to keep them may contact
Rozier Pullman.
Our members are all pupils of the
fourth and fifth grades of the Cot
tage City Elementary School. Our
ages range from 9 to II years. The
members of our army are: Gen.
eral, Rozier Pullman; sergeant. Rob-
ert Jones; mounted policemen. Al
fred Haley and Donald Rasnfus;
nurse, Barbara Pullman, and yard
birds, Loran Rasmus, Robert Fore
man, Edward Lee Hudgins, Robert
Reed, James Quist, Ernest Woodell,
Talmadge CBuckey) Graham, Henry
Compton, Paul Torpey and myself.
We stand ready for emergencies
and hope that We can find a way
to help in the civilian defense pro-
gram. We are all buying Defense
savings stamps and hope that every
one else is doing likewise.