The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-23
Postal POOlers'
Help Make Crack
Outfit For Army
BY CPL. IRRELEVANT ANDERSON


WITH THE U. S ARMY lamp
With the members OF the former
postal replacement pool. once Of
Fort Dix, " J.. and Camp Shanks.
" Y. as the nucleus. the 44ih Re-
placement battalion has been mould.
ed into one OF the armys crack
units following completion OF its
training for It's mission al the New
Orleans Staging area, few weeks
ago
Commanded by Maj. Eugene A.
Wink. a veteran army officer. with
Maj. John c. F. Brotemevkle OF
Richmond. Va. as executive officer.
several months Of intensive train.
ing ended with the unit taking to
its task like the proverbial duck
takes 10 water. and when Il en-
trained from It's New Orleans post
few weeks ago. il was given recog-
milton as the best outfit to ever
leave tina; area"
This was only one OF several
recognitions which had come 10 the
44th. however, for on other occa-
sions it had taken the spotlight by
getting top awards in other COM
petitive affairs.
Best Battalion
In June il won the depot award
tol being the best battalion in the
Ninth Replacement depot. to which
il was attached. In this instance II
won the award over four white
battslions which were also in the
Ninth depot
Later in that month several indi-
vidual members OF the battalion
we're given recognition as being the
best in their fields in the depot
Among these were John W. Gun
nells Of Danville, Va. best first
sergeant; Raymond A. Basye OF ST.
Louis, best corporal: Trezzvant W
Anderson. Charlotte. ". c.. best
private. and George E. Tucker.
b Pittsburgh. the bes; all-around ath-
lete.
The ou:ht wen. in for extra cur
ricular activities in a big way also.
and took the top spot in the en-
;ertainment feld in their camp
winning first prize in talent show
n the area against II other outfits.
With two original skits. written by
members OF the outfit. The unit then
placed fourth in the big camp show
against all units stationed there.
Gave Special Shows
On several occasions the men,
bers OF the "44th Replacement Play.
erS." m they were dubbed, gave
special shows for the entertainment
Of the other outfits In the camp. a.
well as in other posts. winning
several letters Of commentator FOL
their services from the post special
services division.
One member Of the unit. recently
transferred, was the composer OF
an original song. i've Been Drafted
For You" which was a terrific hit
This was James v. Tyus Of Bir-
mingham. Members Of the troupe
were Sgt. Robert B. Green. New
Orleans: cpls. Benny J. Brown
Norfolk. Va: Raymond A. Basye,
st Louis: Dabney J. Hammer, Men,
ph!s; Wilfred Lightfoot, Washing
ton. Pa: Hugh S. Wright Atlantic
City; Albert Brit. Newberry. S. c..
Arthur Titles, Rockingham, N. c.,
with Cpl. Trezzvant Anderson the
battalion special services assistant
In drills and parade the Ath was
tops in the Ninth depot and carried
with il. when It left, the ribbon
awarded by the commanding OH
Ger, Col. william E. Freehof.
All White Oficers
The unit is stated by full STAN
/ II wnfte Officers, anu Tie spirit OK
fellowship which exists between the
officers and the enlisted men indi-
Gates that the outfit will continue
% act as a team wherever II goes.
The members OF the former postal
unit bleni led themselves into the
OUTFIT with ease. and the adjust
nents which were necessary for
them to make after having been
in a specialized field OF this great
army. were not hard to make. and
The men entered their field duties
with enthusiasm.
The 44th is unique in one respect.
There are not many outfits like II
in the army. and SO the men have
determined that il Will be the best
unit in the army.
Top Kicks Rule
The top kicks who rule the des'
.inies OF the four companies sare
M.-Sgt Paul J. Renfrow. Grinnel
Icwa: First Sgt Albert A. Banks
Lancaster. Pa; Andrew J. Mack
New York City. and John W. Gun
nells OF Danville, Va.
For a while there was some con
lecture on the part OF the ex-posta
men as 10 how the outfit would de
velop, but all that has long since
been done away with. for The uni
performance aaAeld and admins
tratively has thoroughly demon
stra.ed that these men who once
sarried and handled the mails II