Evening star., 1943-12-06
First D. T.. Fathers
Taken by Draft Get
Fort Myer Tests
Lost-Minute Stoy
Releases One; Five
Expect to Enter Forces

With the bill to delay drafting
fathers still awaiting presiden-
tial action, five men who would
be, affected by its provisions re-
ported for induction at Fort
Myer today-the first of the
family men to be drafted from
the District.
II they pass their physical exam
ination-and most of them were
sure they would-they will be in the
armed forces by nightfall, though
on inactive status for from one to
three weeks, dependent on their
branch of service.
All but one of them looked con-
siderably older than the other men
reporting for induction. One of
them, with streaks of gray in his
hair, is the father of five children.
Standing beside 18-year -old high
school boys at the induction station,
they were told by It. Col. C. E.
Royer commanding officer of the
station:
Il know that for you men with
family responsibilities this day will
be pretty much of a strain"
That was the only reference made
at the station to the fact that for
the first time the District was dip
ping into its reservoir of men previ-
ously deferred because Of their FAM
lily ties.
They are not the first fathers.
however, to 60 through the induc-
ton station. For months, District
draft boards have been sending men
whose jobs made them "nondefer-
rable," no matter how many chill
dren they had. Other fathers had
volunteered so they would have a
better chance Of choosing their serv-
ice.
Gets Last Minute Stay.
Six fathers were scheduled to re-
port today, but one of them, Robert
c. Martin, 1928 Eighteenth street
Sc. had last-minute stay of in
duction
Another nearly didn't make it. He
was William o. Buckingham, who
lives in Arlington, Va. and arrived
at selective service in Weightman
School just as the bus for Fort Myer
was pulling away from the curb.
He was too late to pose with the
other fathers for a picture marking
the event. Another refused to pose.
He was Joseph J. Caruso, l437 Otis
street NE, the father of five chill
dren, who hurried to board the bus
and watched silently while the
others grinned at the camera.
I'VE might as we'll feel clipper"
remarked Harold Hatch. There's
nothing we can do about it."
/ Mr.. Hatch, however, said he had
planned to volunteer anyhow. He
was hoping to make the Marine
Corps. His only child is l8 months
old
Chose Army for Furlough.
+ Chester M. Graves. 40l0 TWENTY.
first street NE. said his older child.
aged T. understood his father was
going to be drafted and couldn't de-
cioe whether he liked the Army or
Navy uniform more Mr.. Graves
wanted to get in the Army so he
would have a long enough furlough
after induction to spend Christmas
with his two youngsters.
He was sure he would pass the
physical. If I don't" he grinned.
III have to leave town" He's the
physical director of the Metropoli-
tan Club.
I Charles x. McConkey. 705 Quincy
streets NE. %. Youngest of the
fathers to come up for induction,
said he wanted to get in the Navy.
He hopes to become an electricians
mate.
Other Boards to Send Fathers.
All the fathers reporting today
were registered with Board No. 20.
District headquarters, however. ex-
pected that all the boards would
nave to send fathers for induction
this month since there are not
enough available single men and
childless married men to fill the
calls
In any case, it was pointed out.
the District is substantially behind
most States in sending its first
fathers.
The bill now awaiting presiden-
tlal action would establish a ma
tional pool of nonfathers, halting
the draft of fathers as long as single
and childless married men were
available in the country. When the
bill passed, congressional spokesmen
said they expected the bill, if it be-
came law, would halt the father
draft for several months.
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