The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-02-03
|5td|ey Tells
|0f Recent
Graduation

VI
Ensign Ernest Staley, son of Mr..
and Mrs. A. P. Staley of Libby,
and a member of the Coast Guard,
writes from New York:
well as you probably know by
now I've made the grade and am
on my way to Penn State. I'll be
there for l6 weeks and then be as
signed to permanent station"
Staley goes on to say, "Ive been
having lot of fun here in New
York. get big kick out of the
crowds that walk the streets. And
it is such large city-unlike 9TH
err cities, this one stretches on and
on and one never knows when you
enter the city or when you leave it,
as the towns around stretch right
along the railroads in every direc-
ton for hundred miles or So The
shops are unlike those in any other
city; you can buy most anything
even though there is a war on.
Some things are modified to meet
the demands of the war but with
some perseverance anyone can OBJ
tain whatever you want in the
shops.
II wish you folks could have
been at New London for the gradu-
alton exercises. We had a lot of fun
in our final troop review and the
administering of the oath of office.
1t was very impressive and was one
of the proudest moments in my life
to know that I had completed one
of the toughest officers schools in
the ranks OF the armed forces. /
sure worked, never had time to rest
during the entire period up here.
All of the work was not in vain
because the reward was more than
ample to cover all Of the effort put
forth to accomplish the task.
1T was Is degrees above and
light frost covered the ground but
the graduating class, numbering
220, drew their scabards and rifles
and held a review for the Admiral
which has never been equalled in
the history Of the reserve school.
He personally congratulated the
battalion commander for the SPLEEN
did results our class accomplished
| out on review. Then we marched
back to the barracks, slowed our
topcoats and entered the auditorium
to receive our commissions. The Ad-
miral gave a short address and the
principal speaker had q short mes
sage to deliver; then came the big
moment that we had waited for.
The Admiral personally distributed
the diplomas and shook hands with
each OF the graduates as we came
up to receive them. The chaplain
was also at hand to congratulate us
and to present us with a Bible
which | thought was a very good
idea. am sure that many mother
would cease to worry as much as
they do il they knew that the of
fcers charged with the safety OF
their sons and daughters were guild
ed by the word OF God which was
SO ably demonstrated here. The first
and foremost thing about the pre-
| sentation of the commissions was
1.-THE fact that good officers are God
| fearing and act, not according to
the dictates of their own selfish
interests, but must consider the 9TH
err fellow and the problems that
arise in his life. And thus conscience
must be their guide in making de-
cisions which affect others. That
is why | joined the Coast Guard,
because it is comprised Of men
of whom | thought were of a
thoughtful nature and whose serv-
ices were dedicated to the assist
ance OF man in plight and to the
prevention of disasters through the
vigilant efforts of those who stand
ceaseless watches at sea and on land
and, foremost, the effort with which
we are engaging the enemies on
/ all of the fronts. We don't get
much praise for our work but at
least we have a swell outfit OF
which | am proud to be an officer
and know that / can successfully
fulfill any demand that the service
may trust me to execute.
! We'll, that's the impression that
the exercises left with me and
| figure they are all pretty good ones
After we were dismissed, we ran
back to the barracks and got into
our new finery as quickly as posi-
BILE for noon chow. The old custom
was observed as we entered the
mess hall. All hands arose and
| gave us mighty big hand. They
were perhaps as happy as we were
in seeing us graduate. One good rea-
son was that they could 60 to chow
10 minutes earlier now, and then
they are sorta given encouragement
in seeng someone else make the
grade. M
After chow we finished our pack
ing and proceeded to the pay line
where we got paid off and settled
up our old clothing accounts anc
received our travelling orders By
three o'clock we were on our way
to the station and had about two
minutes to check our bags and pur'
chase the tickets before the trair
arrived. We got our stuff all checked
) except the little hand bags and
{ was buying the tickets as the trair
pulled into the station. My buddy
| grabbed the grips and headed dowr
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