The Apache sentinel., 1944-07-21
Vianettes of a Visit


The WAC softball team was awaken
ed on their air conditioned train COM
partment car with 15 minutes to get
dressed and off the train for Palm
Springs when WAC hollered, Girls,
look at the snow on the mountains" 1t
wasn't snow, but the reflection of the
white sand in the cool of the early
morn on the sun topped mountains .
more stately and rocky than those in
A1zona
We arrived in Palm Springs, which
is 10 miles from the station, at about
$50 a. m, and were served breakfast
at Gas in the officers mess at the
TQrney General Hospital where we
lodged. The Torney General Hospital
is the former FL Mirador hotel, where
all the Hollywoodites had their winter
pent houses before Uncle Sam took
over. Palm Springs itself is a winter
resort mostly for millionaires, display
ing only luxury.
The lawn surrounding the Hospital
is a garden of showy flowers and tall
palms. One has to bend over while
walking down the side walks to keep
the flowers from brushing across her
face. We trod upon the steps of wards
Crosby, Amos and Andy, Lana Tur-
ner, Rita Hayworth and many other
film satellites The place is a heaven
on earth, but is 133 degrees in the
shade during the summertime. 1t
opens for tourists in October each
year.
A9uring the day we lounged in beach
chairs on the edges of the blue tiled
i1oCr Nl-ha
wood pictures have been filmed under
water and we saw the glassed parti
tion where cameramen stand under
ground to make such pictures. The
Hospital is now used for a rehabilita-
tion center.
California Hospitality
SThe entire personnel treated us
royalty The hospitality was superb,
and i don't think we could possibly
have had a better time anywhere we
might have gone.
We We're met and conveyed while
there in a Master Deluxe streamlined
Chevrolet bus that held all 16 of us,
but we had staff car along during
the tour for more comfort.
The Sunday Tour
On Sunday afternoon we went on
sight seeing tour on the road to Los
Angeles. Every inch of the highway
presented varied and interesting sights
with beautiful white houses covered
with shrubbery We could see wild
flowers and date gardens for miles.
~ees that seemed to be standing lat
attention and in formation" Orange,
peach and grapefruit orchards pre-
sented the same picture.
After leaving Beaumont and Ban
ming, California we wound right into
the yard of a blessed lady who filled
our arms with oranges from her trees
in Redlands, Calf We drove through
the campus of Redlands university,
beauty in itself. Redlands is the home
of many retired citrus growers and
the center of citrus industry.
Marvellous Scenery
We went on to San Bernardino,
CAlif / was rather fascinated by the
homes almost covered with Shrubbery
and flowers. San Bernardino is the
home of the national orange show,
and known as the 'sun kissed valley"
Interesting views were the Arrow
Head Springs Hotel, owned by Holly
wood stars, where boiling hot water
pours from a surrounding mountain.
Sierra starring Humphrey Bogart,
vas filmed at this hotel. Big Bear
mountains are snow capped until
July and you can change seasons in
19 minutes by going on a mountain
climb were some of the grand vistas
we glimpsed
: The road scenery included lily-like
yucca trees blooming near Palm
Springs with the background of the
mighty San Jacinto mountain. Many
queer forms of cactus and strange
desert plants and colorful gardens oi
striking contrast were seen.
A real picture in Palm Springs is
to notice men and women clad IL
shorts walking in the downtown sec
ton of the city. 1t was so hot thai
the WACs slept under wet sheets
and towels during the days resi-
periods.
Among the Huachucans at the hos
pitaI there for rehabilitation, VINO
Helped in entertaining us were: Chap
lain Carlos Blake, 365th Inf. 1t Ty-
son Spann of the 370th Inf; Chaplain
E. l.. Taylor, 371st Inf, and LIT. Free
Coleman, 317th Eng.
BY T/5th Ernestln {. Hughes
a A----