Evening star., 1944-10-29
Fort Myer Induction Center Ends Vivid Career

that the chauffeur was assigned to the
Navy.
Col Royer conveyed the message to
the generals emissary with grin. The
captain said nothing more about quotas.
Shortly before the station closed, Col
Roger was presented with a citation
from Maj. Gen. Philip Hayes, command
ing general of the Third Service Com
mand for his great efficiency and CO.
operation" in a position requiring "ut-
most tact and patience"
Col. Royer had many calls on that
tact. Members of Congress were al
ways telephoning or making personal
visits to find out why their constituent
hadn't gotten the service of his choice
or had been rejected. They never tried
to keep a man out of the service, Col
Royer said.
A Guinea Pig Center
Ft Myer not only was the induction
station for the Nations Capital, with
the attendant headaches in the form Of
oficialdom wanting favors, but also it
was ever under the eye of the nearby
War Department. AS result every
new wrinkle in induction procedure,
every new psychological device, was
tried out at the guinea pig" Fl Myer
station A Mexican major spent six
weeks there studying X-ray procedure
at the station.
District selectees made up only part
nf TO
Forces cadets and Navy recruits were
examined there. So we're Canadians
working in Washington who were given
a physical examination at the station
to determine If they were fit for service
before sending them back to Canada.
At one point, dozen Canadians were
being examined there each week. A
few officer air candidates from Brazil
also took their physical at Ft. Myer.
Government officials who wanted to
send men abroad asked for unofficial
examinations to determine If the men
would be accepted by the armed forces
and therefore would have to be replaced
Hundreds of these unofncial examina-
tions were given.
Among the Notables
Across the river to Ft. Myer with the
District selectees went Archdukes Felix
and Charles of Hapsburg. So did Mel
vyn Douglas, the movie star, who was
examined there as an AAF recruit.
Steve Early, jr., son of the Presidents s
secretary, was inducted at Fl Myer
Col. Roger formed firm friendship
with one of the selectees sent through
Fl. Myer. Knowing Col. Rogers inter-
est in string quartets, one of the en-
listed men reported that violinist was
being examined.
1t developed that the musician was
Alexander Schneider, then second vio-
linist with the world-famous Budapest
String Quartet. Since Mr. Schneider
was rejected he and Col Royer have
spent many an evening playing music
together.
One selectee indicted at Ft. Myer re-
turned to become one of its officers He
was 1t. Charles r. Smith. One day
1t. Smith was asked to trace a selectee
through his serial number Going back
over the old records, he found his own
name next to that of the selectee he was
trying to trace.
Local Officers
A number of District men have served
as officers at the TT. Myer station, in
addition to the Washington doctors who
have served there on examining panels.
Maj. Paul r. Wilmer was the first presi-
dent Of the stations medical examining
board. Now serving overseas, Maj. Will
ner has lost two brothers in the service.
His father Is member Of Draft Board
No. l. Maj. Malcolm D. Harrison, last
president Of the medical examining
board at the station was also a practic-
ing Washington physician.
Col. Roger leaves this week for Rich
mond to become recruiting and induc-
ton officer for the district covering Vir-
ginia. Most Of his station complement
will be sent to Ft. Meade, Md, to work
in the separation center about to be
established there. The two frame
buildings Of the induction station prob
ably will become q WAC barracks.
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