Smyrna times., 1943-07-15


day leave, I'll guarantee that I'll
get to San Bernardino, which is
about 60 miles away. Of course, 1
know number of pilots that are
willing to give me a ride with them
when they are going in my direc-
tion. That is perhaps the reason
why I am able to cover the ground
that l do.
The next thing we intend to do,
when some of the boys here in the
Office have day off, is to climb
over mountain ridge and go down
into one of the canyons where peo-
pie say a beautiful waterfall is To-
Gated with a pool large enough to
swim in. 1t is not that we're too
ambitious, but we just would like a
good hike and a cool swim in fresh
water. It's just so dry out here
that it is hard for one to imagine
parts of our country being like
this. Some of the boys, who went
to see the falls about a week ago,
say that it is beautiful, but it takes
about three and one-half hours of
walking and climbing to reach it.
Well for the last few days we
have had a Colonel here visiting
and inspecting the post. Yester-
day, a general review was ordered.
1t was about ITO degrees inside,
and about 1887 degrees on the run
way, where we parade and hold re-
treat. Naturally, all of us had to
be polished off like diamonds-co
lars buttoned-neckties on and
tightly tied, with shirt sleeves
down. The ceremonies lasted from
3:45 until 4:30 p m, and it sure
was as hot as the duce. Perspira-
tion rolled off of us like a shower
bath. The runway, made of con-
crete was so hot that had you
touched it with your hand, I believe
it would have blistered you. AS it
was the heat came through our
shoes, which have regular leather
sole and a 3-8 inch rubber outer
sole on top of it. 1t was so hot
that it was all we could do to keep
from f1inching while at attention
and during parade rest. However,
the officers and the reviewing staff
were all going through this same
heat. We figured that if they
could do it without a kick, so could
we. Then to top things off
nicely, during the last fifteen min
utes of the review, sandstorm
struck us. While marching, it beat
against our faces like hail does
back home. In fact, few of the
fellows with the more tender faces
even began to bleed. Notwith-
standing this no one raised their
hands from their sides, or put their
faces down. The wind blew harder
than it does around the corner of
18th and Market streets, at the
dupont Building in Wilmington,
during the winter time. 1t was all
we could do to see the third man
ahead of us. The rest could not be
seen at all. Soon the parade was
over and we marched to our respec-
tive Squadron Headquarters where
we were dismissed. All of us pers-
piring, and the sand covering us
until we were covered with dirt.
One thing I noticed was that not
single man passed out. That is
the best I've ever seen in a parade.
It's just that all the fellows here
have been pretty well conditioned
I guess. Maybe, the boys had spent
the morning eating salt tablets; ]
never thought of that. In all, it
took us about four hours getting
ready for the review. You said in
a letter not long ago, that they
sent the boys to the desert tc
tougher them up" Well, I car
understand that. After getting ac-
customed to this place, 1 think we
could get used to anything.
Even though it is as bad as we
all say it is out here, it's lot Of