The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-07-23

LlDby people Will be interested in
the following letter from Captain
w. j. Erickson, former coach with
the Libby schools. He left here to
enter the army with the rank of
first lieutenant but has recently
been promoted to captain. He writes
under date of July IA from Camp
Wolters, Texas, as follows.
II have been receiving the West
ern News each week and look for
ward to each new issue to learn
how every one in Libby is getting
along. The News has certainly kept
us Informed of the people in Libby.
1t makes us feel more at home when
we can read about the things that
people are doing back home. We
feel that Libby is our home and look
forward to returning back there
when this thing is over. Texas has
its advantages, such as the heat and
insects of all sorts, but Montana
will look mighty good to us again.
A person does not fully appreciate
the wonderful location of Libby un-
til he has lived elsewhere. The seem
cry that is around Libby cannot be
duplicated down here. Since I've
been in the South | have yet to see
an honest to good mountain. | miss
them SO much that | am doing my
best to get a transfer to the new
Mountain Infantry Units that are
being organized.
Since leaving Libby last August
have had real experience in
Army life, and have done con-
siderable bit of travelling. Last Au-
gust | started my schooling in the
Army with three months of attend
ance at the Infantry School at Fort
Benning, Ga, getting some very
valuable instruction in training men
for the Army. In November, upon
completion of the course, I was
transferred to Camp Wolters, Tex,
where | was placed as a platoon
leader in one of the training bat
talions. The unit to which | was
assigned is heavy weapons outfit,
specializing on the heavy machine
gun and the 81 millimeter mortar as
well as other infantry weapons. Civ
ing instruction to the trainees has
been interesting work.
Last February was transferred
to Battalion Headquarters to take
over the job of Special Services Of
ficer, duty consisting mainly of
supervising the recreational and
morale activities as we'll as other
special activities of the Battalion.
| received valuable training in pre-
paration for my next job which was
to take command of a Company.
Last April IA, was placed in COM
mand of Company B of the Fifty
fourth Battalion This gave me the
responsibility of administering and
supervising the training of the men
In my command, as we'll as listening
to a lot of troubles of the men and
trying to get them Strengthened out
to become. soldiers worthy of the
name. However we have had very
little trouble with the men that we
get. The morale and mental atti-
tude of the trainees is excellent.
This present group that we have
takes great interest in the work
and tries hard to accomplish all that
we expect of them in the short time
that we have in which to complete
their training. However, the train
ees do receive very well rounded
out period of basic training before
being sent out to the regular units.
Our training facilities are good and
are getting even better. Getting
command of Company qualified
me for promotion to the rank of
Captain, which, | am happy to say
was made on June 10th. Promo
tons had been slow in coming
through and had been in command
for two months before getting mine.
Mrs. Erickson and the children
are getting along as well as can be
expected considering this Southern
heat. The biggest problem that we
have had to contend with has been
the "chiggers." 1t is a grand little
parasite that causes a great deal
of scratching. Jack SWarens and
Forrest DeRosia are familiar with
this couthern parasite and can sym
pathize with us. However, there
has been a decrease in the number