Imperial Valley press., 1943-10-24
ON THE FRONT
IN THE VALLEY
BOOT CAMP

taking IN training IN the Marine
Womens Reserves. and a former
member Of the Fl Centre bethel of
Jobs Daughters. wrote an interest
Ing account of her experiences TO
the group. part Of '7hieh follows.
In the three weeks here at
Camp Leeane I have had many
experiences. Our training Is pretty
rugged. erowaed. but very complete.
First of all our camp Is 200
square miles in area and Is located
on the coast. Il is covered by
huge beautiful pine trees with a
river winding through.
Our day begins at 5:45; we dress
In shorts. fall out in the cold ana
dark for our exercises. Then we
return to our barracks correspond
ing to the ship and proceed TO
sweep. swab and dust to get 1t ship
shape. Our walls are bulkheads,
Our stairs, the ladder-we use all
navy language. Our meals are al
ways chow. to go to bed is to hit
the sack: to get up is to hit the
deck, etc. We have inspection every
morning before chow TO see that
We are as marines should be, our
barracks neat, uniform and clean.
every Saturday we nave a spe-
cial captains inspection; therefore
ON Friday night we have a q. l.
party and everyone really taxes
pride to see that everything Is
absolutely spotless.
I'VE shine our shoes every night
and take care of our uniforms. Our
hair doesn't drag our collars or we
get E. P. D. extra police duty.
I'VE have drill, gym, and five
lectures every day. Our lectures IN
clude organization of the Navy, oil
the Marines, of a typical post. OF
Camp Lejerne. of a division, OF an
infantry battalion, of the Womens
Reserve corps and Marine schools.
Also we have courses in admin
istration, map reading and aerial
photography. chemical warfare,
Marine corps history. customs and
courtesies, special weapons. land
ing operations etc. We have drills
with gas masks with real gas and
we even had a ride in a Higgins
boat.
1--WE march in formation in pla-
toons to and from classes and
chow and our day is pretty well
filled. nevertheless we have from
Clio p. m. for ourselves.
I'VE will graduate on Oct. 16
and have already started practicing
for our regimental parade. This is
really a thrill to see about 1900
girls in uniform marching together
in column maneuvers.
"All is not rosy, but all in all, its
all fun.
when we arrived we had to
take a third complete physical
exam. This is called going through
the daisy chain.
Last night I had guard duty
This was fun even though had te
walk my post by myself in thu
dark. We had a lot of fun goine
through the ceremonies OF guare
mount. never realized there wa:
so much to such things. No one
sleeps when we spend the night III
the guard camp because new SEN
tinels go out every hour.
To-day all OF us in my platoon
who had the duty could hardly stay
awake during lectures. Our lieu
tenants are very sympathetic but
on guard mount We are Inspected
for every little thing. I was rather
embarrassed-wh I was at at
tention one of my hose was at ease
| didn't like these stockings from
the first but | didn't realize they
would double cross me at a time
like this.
Patty Berg the women's goli
champion is here taking an Of
ficer's candidate course and | have
seen her several times. Naturally
we are all quite proud of her.
I'VE are planning a battalion
show which promises to be a lot ol
frn: also are playing off a baseball
tournament. You see we get In q
lot of pleasure with our hard WORK
also we get plenty of ice cream
and cokes at our recreation hal
and see the latest movies.
Even thought I've had a lot ol
sore muscles, sore arms, etc. never
theless I am glad I joined up ano
| I'll like it better when | am as
signed to a post to release a maj
for the front.
Just one thing more. There vii
be marines stationed at Ell Centr'
so please show them the respec
they deserve and tell everyone tina
they aren't just some uniforms
they are all very human. I know
because I live with 88 of them. The
all work hard and really have 10 b
able to take it SO they are abov
average and are really marines Il
every way,
~