Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-11
BY JOHN H. CLINE,
Stan Correspondent of The Star

6tAA correspondent OF Inc Star,
FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. (By
MaiD-A visit to Fort Oglethorpe,
where some 5000 WAACS are earn
estly drilling, makes an impression
which is not to be lightly shrugged
aside.
The girls are training here in the
shadows of hills which saw some of
the bloodiest fighting of the Civil
War. Just across the way is Mis-
sionary Ridge, and behind it rises
the rugged slope of Lookout Noun
tain. The landscape is dotted with
monuments which recall those STIR
ring days, and 1t seems the WAACS
have become thoroughly indoc-
trinated with the best of these mill
tary traditions.
1t was late in the afternoon when
party of visiting newspapermen
reached Fort Oglethorpe, and the
WAACS were drawn up on the
parade ground in retreat formation.
A WAC officer was assigned to
each of the visitors as an aide, this
correspondent being favored with
Second Officer Ruth A. Palmer of
Chester, Pa
Breach Of Etiquette.
Fortunately, from the point of
view of Second Officer Palmer, the
visit was limited to a few hours,
and even this brief span was not
without its incidencts. The visitor
committed his first overt act by
dropping cigarette butt on the
grass and grinding it out with his
heel. Second Officer Palmer WINGED,
but said nothing A few minutes
later, however, having finished a
cigarette herself, she turned to the
visitor. 1--WE put them out this
way she said, tearing the cigarette
at the unlighted end and shaking
out the tobacco Then we roll UP
the paper in little ball and flick it
away. The ground doesn't get lit
tered up and there's nothing to at
tract the attention of the enemy"
With this point settled, Second
Officer Palmer answered a few ques-
tions about herself and the WAACS.
She is 80 years old and graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania,
where she majored in chemistry.
When the Japs attacked Pearl Har-
Dor, Second Officer Palmer was
working for the Grasselli Chemical
Department of Dupont at Whining
ton, Del. 1t was a good job and she
liked it, but she also felt she ought
to be doing something more. So, in
July of last year she enlisted in the
WAACs at $50 a month. Now she
hates to think of the day when she'll
have to go back to civilian life.
Ten Months in Uniform.
Ten months in uniform have
changed her ideas about a lot of
things. There was time when men
seemed important. But not any
more. According to Second Officer
Palmer, it is not only possible, but
even pleasant, to get along without
them. Clothes and hair dos have
lost their old fascination. Il like
this uniform, she said, and when
go back to civilian life it's going to
take some salesman to talk me into
wearing silly hat again" The
visitor, feeling little dismayed, took
another tack. What do the WAACs
do when they're off duty? Is there
anything in a WAC camp at all
comparable ito the Army's dice
games?
The second officer stared with
frank disapproval, and the answer
was no. Some of the recruits go out
at night. of their own volition, to
drill. Others try their hand at the
obstacle course that was left behind
when the soldiers moved out. Some
play soft ball and some are growing
flowers around the barracks which
once housed hard-bitten cavalry
men. All Of them have enlisted for
the duration, plus six months, and
each girl gives the impression of
being determined to make the most
out Of the many opportunities open
to her.
Knows Gas Warfare.
Second Officer Palmer, for in
stance, wants to do more work with