Evening star., 1943-05-05
A Sailors S Dad Finds
Him Nightly Changed
Visitor to raining Comp
Reports Reason for Confidence
In Americas Tomorrow
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
One Of the greatest thrills have ever
had in my life was seeing my son yes
terday.
expected to find him benefited and
looking well, but not by the broadest
stretch Of Imagination could I have pic
tured the improvement saw in him in
the short time he has been in training.
1t was astonishing. He is totally diff
ferent boy. He is hundred percent
improved in every way.
His eyes were bright, his complexion
clear. He was trim and neat, his uniform
becoming. He held himself firm and
erect. His manner was brisk, full of pep
and energy. He looked finely. But best
Of all was his fine spirit, his eagerness to
do his utmost.
could hardly believe the change saw
before me. A little while of this disci-
pline, this training, this hard but well
planned routine was all that was neces-
sary to bring out his best qualities. They
are all there now. plainly before you as
you look at him, and it is something to
be proud Of
There need be no fear for him now.
He has himself In hand, and he is being
made fit to face whatever he tackles in
life.
This Is military training. This is the
Navy. It Is a tribute to our leaders that
the training of these boys should reflect
such care, such planned attention and
such study. That the progress OF our
armed forces in this war seems greatest
in the matter of personnel was being
brought straight home to me on this
visit.
This training has been rigid in the
extreme, true test OF manhood. Every
second accounted for, every minute ex-
pended in carrying out orders. Working,
eating, sleeping, all under orders. It's a
tough system. It's a grueling system,
especially at the beginning. But if you
want to know how it works, look at my
boy!
Even seeing him was accomplished
under orders.
There were hundreds of men having
their first visit from family and loved
ones since starting boot training. Moth
ers, fathers, wives sweethearts, there
seemed to be several thousand of us
herded in the large building outside the
main gates, identifying ourselves and
waiting close to an hour for permission
enter. Then the gates opened and we
were uShered in In droves. We walked
through a gantlet Of closely-lined guards
fO tho roooy,fiNv, h,,i1I
took our places beneath placards bearing
the alphabet letters Oike customhouse
wharf,. We stood beneath the first
letter of his last name.
Fifteen minutes more of waiting, get
ting instructions through loud speakers,
and finally we catch our first glimpse Of
the men in uniform, our boys, marching
in. My boy swings up, looking like all
Of million dollars with interest, BEAM
ing smile that will live with me forever.
Greetings, tears that don't come, and
there are thousand hearts huttering
all around you. There's no music, but,
good Lord, you never felt such SYM
phony! Who could write music good
enough to fit that occasion? There's a
setting for national anthem the like OF
which you never heard. You're seeing
a miracle. That 18-year-old picture of
soft-living you said good-by to just few
weeks ago is sailor in the United States
Navy now.
You've seen victory in the making.
You know that the country's future is
safe in the hands of men like these.
A FATHER.