Evening star., 1943-06-30
Reporter Learns to 'HUP, Two, Three, Four
And Sleep Seven Feet in Air at WAAC Camp
Had Il Minutes Free
Time in 6 Days But
Used 1t to Relax
last OF a Sertes.)
BY MARION WADE DOYLE,
Star Staff Correspondent.

otdI OLdIl Correspondent.
FORT OGLETHORPE, June 3d.
During six days as a WAAC here I
learned to:
l. Climb into an upper bunk in
the dark
2. East cereal out Of box.
3. Fall "out" and in
4. Make beds with a toothbrush
to measure the sheet fold.
S. Hup, two, three, four.
6. Talk out of the side Of my
mouth while standing at attention
T. Take orders I wouldn't take of
anybody in civilian life.
8. Press a shirt on the floor with
a portable iron.
8. Get along without lipstick and
powder.
10. Grouse.
Most of the time my feet hurt
My forehead dripped. My neck was
stiff from holding my chin up. My
back ached from holding my stom-
ach in. My hat slipped off. had to
sleep feet in the air on a 2la foot
bed.
You're disgusting" said one of
the other newspaperwomen enrolled
in the WAACS at the same time
You love this"
mo talking in ranks" shouted the
drill sergeant. Cover down there.
Even up those lines. Attention."
Lucky Girl Had Blister.
II have a blister, thank heaven"
whispered another newspaperwoman
next to me. Il don't have to drill
today"
Company, forward-march! Hup,
two, three, four. Hup, two, three,
four"
Marching wasn't all we did in
cadence. We exercised that way
too. The corporal stood on a high
platform in front of the platoon and
shouted, Exercise in cadence!"
The entire group began to bend
and twist in rhythm. No directions
were given The other recruits all
knew the exercises by heart. Fran
tically I hoped and failed to get
the beat
Hey, in the fourth row. Cut the
jitterbugging You're in the WAACS
now One, two, three. four"
A. night I was so tried I couldn't
wait to get in bed. But bed loomed
high above me in the upper bunk.
The barracks mates gathered round
for the fun.
Lets Watch Her Get In"
Dozens of people have fallen out
of those things" said Auxiliary Mary
Tinsley. Dozens"
Horrible pain, too" said Auxili-
arv Roberta Tarchiano, Had to
put them out of their misery. Hey,
gang. let's watch her get in
So lunged in amid roars Of laugh
ter. The next morning made my
self wake up Is minutes before rev.
ellie. I prepared to creep down in
privacy when I heard yell.
She's a'coming. Wake up. She's
a'coming."
Care of the feet got more i'm
portant to me as the days went on.
I read up all the Army's suggestions
about wearing silk stockings under
your cotton ones and powdering your
feet in the morning.
Who spilled the powder on the
foor?" beloved the corporal. In
spection today Wipe that up. On
the double!"
"Handkerchiefs in the corner of
your locker, ties next to that" said
the sergeant. mo runs. no wrinkles,
no spots on your skirt
Penned No Notes.
when IN doubt. salute" said the
lieutenant. "Straighten your hat on
your head Where's your tie today?"
"Write to us" said my friends.
Tell us all about it." l got up at
a m. and went to bed at 9 pm. I
did have some free time one night
between 7:l6 and 737 o'clock. But
didn't write to anyone. I just sat
on my bunk with my shoes off and
stared.
open the box said the mess
sergeant. Put cream and sugar on
the cereal. Eat it out of the box.
Less dishes that way"
"Slosh the mop more" said the
latrine detail leader. Sometimes
the inspection officer rubs his hand
kerchief on the floor. Especially the
major He's terrible"
Get out your gas masks. Chem
ical warfare drill today"
Sign your name on this line and
your fathers name on that line"
Listen to the dots and dashes.
Are they the same or different?
Indicate on the sheat in front of
YOU
The commandant said goodbye
after they put me back into civilian
clothes.
Have you learned any Army hab-
itS?' he asked