Evening star., 1943-06-10

News, service publication was writ
ten by soldier after his first expert
ence with what the Army calls it's
battle incubation" course Because
| of the interest of civilians in general,
and parents in particular, in the
Army training program, the soldiers
account of his reactions is reprinted
hereD
CAMP POLK, La.-This was it-as
while still in training. 1t was our turn
| to go through this spine -tingling session
under fire that all members of the 11th
| Armored Division must undergo. A
miniature battlefield lay before us, the
battle incubation" course, grim with
barbed-wire entanglements, criss-crossed
with trenches and shell holes, sowed
thickly with hidden land mines among
the shattered stumps
The sun beat heavily on our steel
helmets. 1t was nearly morning, but
already the air was hot and steaming
Directly in front of us machine guns
chartered out their practice rounds,
CAAACtAAA4 OuAACUo AL SAlOiG JULIUS tlldJ
Systematically swept the 1oO-yard field
we faced.
The captain described the full nature
OF the workout ahead of us making
sure each man understood the grueling
exercise.
This is live ammunition" he said.
Watches and wallets were collected.
you won't need 'em for a while" ex-
| planned the captain. IT you're hurt
out there, stay where you are" he added
pointing to two GI ambulances on the
nearby road. They'll take care of you"
A range officer was describing the
obstacles and explaining the technique
OF crawling. watch those land mines,"
he said. They're marked with short
stakes. Stay away from EN-"
With the captain leading us, we
trudged tensely in single hle to the start
! ing point Of the course. No one talked.
One man whistled to himself tunelessly.
Spread out" shouted the captain,
facing US across the area we were about
to traverse. Don't stay punched up
-. Ready?"
AS the whistle sounded, we dove for
dirt Bodies fiat against the ground,
knees and elbows failing like a tad
poles legs carried us quickly forward.
Then 1t started.
The first cracking burst from three
| machine guns threw deadly ceiling
| scant SO inches over our heads. In
voluntarily we hung back for moment.
Then we moved forward once more.
The f1elds grassy fringe soon became
rock-strewn dust. Breathing quickened
| as dust clogged nose and throat. Barbed-
wire strands loomed ahead.
Five yards away a land mine suddenly
| galvanized into action went of with a
terrific roar. Mud spattered us, and
| rocks pinged sharply at steel helmets.
| We were dimly conscious of other mines
booming away across the field.
We rolled over awkwardly approach
Ing the barbed-wire entanglements on
our backs. Hands lifted lower strands
as legs swivelled around to lay us side
wise against the wire. Under in one
shove. Back over
Lungs began to labor hard Gradually,
| full consciousness Of decorating land
mines and swapping bullets overhead
| faded. Thoughts, like breathing, come
| IN spurts now There's another wire
=. Last one wasn't so bad .. . that
| burst was right over us :.
| Another wire no, land-mine {.
| gotta get away from here fast :. there
1t goes keep low :. roll over, wire
up, under It, keep going.
Now the first trench Slide in, side
wise. Four inches of muddy water. It's
cool and wet though. Can't stay here.
Leg up over the crest, one arm out
stretched, pulling out into the open
again. More wire.
A dim realization that the captain
shouting, Stay low, over there" Must
have stayed up too long, rolling over
after that last wire.
One more ENHANCEMENT. Must be a
dozen strands. Can't get caught here
after coming this far. Under it without
a rip. The final trench ahead
Move over, guys, here comes another
| one" grunts one fellow in a dust-cracked
whisper Head first, we tumble into the
ditch, lie there without moving.
A pause for moment or so, and then
the call, "All clear on the right .. all
clear on the left" whistle blast, and
| from our trench half a hundred men
scramble "over the top" shouting, yelling
IN one final burst OF power. We charge
across the road.
Some OF the men collapse On the
ground, overcome by fatigue. Every one
| Is breathing heavily, trying to control
tWltching limbs. Medical officers and
enlisted men move among us, watching
Tor serious cases of exhaustion.
The ordeal, brief but furiously con-
centrated, is over. Relief spreads visibly
throughout the ranks and there is
laughter as the men grow aware of their
bedraggled appearance. Yet certain
mood Of sobriety persists. Bullets have
| actually come our way, bursting and
| snarling next to us in vicious verisi-
| Multitude. No one has been hurt, but the
threat of death or injury had been
| imminent
The psychological impact has been
powerful and we are still struggling to
| digest the experience. These are the
| n0Sty1rnS tho horJy ,,,1,cf Ion %lo,.