The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-08-19
SHIPPING SPACE
MEASURED

MEASURED
When priority has been set up,
the unit commander is notified
that his troops are about TO be
moved into what's known as the
staging area, camp somewhere
near the port where troops or
supplies are being made ready
for overseas shipment. Embarka-
ton and training regulations are
sent them so they'll be ready to
go.
Then, at the port of embarka-
ton. the number yof ships that
will be necessary and available
is calculated. AS these ships ar
rive in port, check is made as
TO the number of troops and the
amount of equipment each can
carry, putting whole regiments
or battalions into certain ships
so as TO fill all the transports
and still not break up the diff
ferent commands.
Troops are held in the stag
ing area for as short a time as
possible. In that time, the SOL
diers are inspected, reinspected,
then inspected some more. For
everything.
First inspection is TO make
sure they have every item OF
equipment and clothing-morc
than 100 items, weighing more
than 100 pounds, carried in a
pack on his back and in two
barracks bags. There are an A
bag which he takes with him
and a B bag which goes into
the hold of the ship and which
he doesn't see till he gets TO the
other side. All these items have
10 be laid out on and around his
bunk just-so, and every item is
checked 10 be sure it's ks good
as new and fit for war. Any
thing unserviceable is replaced
with something that is.
There's special inspection of
gas mask and gas equipment.
Then there's a special inspection
for teeth, TO make sure that
every soldier going abroad has
enough teeth TO masticate the
Army ration. That means a min
imum of twelve teeth, that meet.
Men who need little tooth car
pentry get it
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Fourth comes the medical in
spection, and it's a dandy, con-
Quoted on the assembly line
technique. The men strip down
10 their dog tags and pass in re-
view before five doctors. The
first four check each man, and
the fifth doctor inspects the dog
tag itself to make sure the wear
er has had all the necessary
shots and that his blood has been
typed so he can be given trans
fusions quickly in case of emer-
gency. II there are reflections,
the staging area, from its de-
tachment of casuals, supplies
men TO fill the ranks so that the
unit can go overseas absolutely
full strength.
Finally, firearms are inspect
cd - rifles, tommy guns, auto
MATES or whatever the men car
ry.
During all this time in the
staging area, the men have some
leisure. They live in barracks,
sleep on cots. The C m p n y
cooks, for the only time in their
Army life, don't have to fix
chow. That's done for them by
the staging area permanent de-
tachment, so that the troops in
transit can spend all their time
on the necessary inspections.
There are officers and clerks
from the Adjutant Generals Of
flee available to help men apply
for insurance, or fix up their
wills. or make, pay allotments,
or, if necessary, clean up the
loose legal ends of a divorce, or
patch things up with a wife
from whom he is separated.
Visits from the folks are dis
couraged during the time in the
staging area.
When a unit in the staging
area is alerted for movement,
the lid comes down and things
begin TO get tense. No more
leaves. No more outgoing mail.