The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-26
DAVIS GRADUATES
LAST CANDIDATES

no tooth graduation Glass
A ,;es of the Anti-Aircraft
' ,a.,Ilerv School at Camp Davis
As14 er5oy. 70 officer candidates re-
' ..ad certificates OF COMMISSION
csl'I .ord lieutenants in a formal
as s sooT] marking the last grad
ceEelllo.i t 4ho officer Candidate sec
a ..,5 ii I the AAA school.
ton a ~' reasons prevented re-
os '!@ tbe number of candidates
Tsa- med in the past % months,
sta'r Ulcers admitted the school
BIT, 0 aaraduated one of the largest
mas If any OCS in the United
STATE the course later received
s-a..D e9econd lieutenants' bars.
t1el - parry W. Lewis, president
C3r 44A board at Camp Davis.
d 'aT Kissed the graduating
az u m leadership and teamwork.
Cas- Bryan L. Milburn, comman,
Cea' Il II the AAA school, presented
Dan, certificates ~ of commission and
55nns5-oduced the speakers.
4 g5jonored guests at the exercise
, aoro- the officer Candidate
e. .sooi we're Brig. Gen. c. V. R.
ssy,,lor commanding general OF
Ssa0 5sAATC; Col. Adam E. Potts,
'lr ,n az commander; and Master
ca camp 1esse T. Richardson, ST.,
~ sase san. ]. T. Richardson, Jr.,
ri'' commissioned an officer.
va crsduates had their first meal in
- 4rnv mess hall as officers up
'l' 'l completion of the ceremony.
' I'll was attended by a large
n @ Of their relatives and
friends, , o+t;oou,
,rars open TO all soldiers, upon
,nmpletion Of their basic training,
'bo could pass the intelligence
, @l physical requirements, and
Nh, ,.5o in the eyes of their command
ima officers appeared to be officer
r,9terial Consequently, thousands
II Americans from all walks OF
lie from the wealthiest families
md from the humblest homes,
have found themselves working
and studying together to complete
+he rigid OCS course.
Attain High Ranks
Records show that many men
v,ose academic training stopped
with high school we're able to COM
rete the OCS technical courses
and become very able officers. A
few Of the earlier graduates alrea-
c have attained the rank of lieu
tenant colonel and major.
Few AAA units were established
in the Army at the time of Pearl
Harbor, and with air superiority
IA the hands Of the enemy, anti
aircraft appeared to be our weak
IS, arm Of defense. The closing of
OCS indicates that Allied air sup
eriority at this time is sufficiently
advanced to warrant no further
increases in units of anti-aircraft
artillery.
The officer Candidate division
moved 10 Camp Davis in Febru-
9ry 1912 from its parent organiza-
ilGn. the Coast Artillery school Il
Fort Monroe, Va, at the instiga-
lin Of Major General Joseph A.
Green, commanding general of the
"A command, where it would have
ample room for unlimited expan-
sion In March OF 1912 the entire
AAA section of the CA school NOV
ed to Camp Davis and the AAA
school was established as a sep
arate entity.
Among the other branches of
service in Army Ground Forces,
0CS at the AAA school has built
up one of the highest records in
Numbers of graduates, despite the
fact that it has always been re-
sarded as one of the more exact
ing and difficult of OCS courses
due to the highly technical feat
ures Of its curriculum.
With the conclusion Of OCS, the
AntiaiFcraft Artillery school will
accelerate several of the advanc-
e, courses that are given to COM
nlssioned officers. Among the Of
ncerS' courses already in opera
lon thirteen of them have been
expanded to two or more separate
classes. Officers stationed in this
country as well as officers from
overseas return to the AA school
% attend these courses. The teach
ny staff, under the direction of
ool. Dean S. Ellerthorpe, of the
DIVISION Of Instruction, in recent
months has added officers with
PRACTICAL experience in the various
heaters of operations abroad. Stu
" OF new equipment and expert
eAce gained from combat are the
points Of major emphasis.
A course for officers of the Army
0Cfps IS also conducted by the
'cnool and current courses contain
EAdent officers from the United
saleS Navy and Marine Corps. Of
4eefs from allied nations frequent
Y attend these courses.
me eleven courses for the en-
EVed men have also been extended
! scope. These courses will con-
qiae for the purpose of training
nliSred specialists for the varied
ia highly technical duties re-
cured in antiaircraft.