Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-06-18
BY GEORGE KENNEDY,
Star Staff Cnrrespondent.

By GEORGE KENNEDY,
Star Staff Correspondent.
CAMP KILMER, N. j., June 10.
Maj. Gen. Harris M. Melasky
says his Seth (Blackhawk) Divi-
sion is a crack infantry division
which will considerably shorten
the war against Japan"
None of the 800 newsmen who
were privileged to see the $4,000
youths in his command return from
Germany for redeployment, full of
health and spirit, is inclined to con-
tradict him.
"ETO to Tokyo" is the slogan of
the 86th. ETC stands for European
Theater of Operations. Slung be-
tween the fore and aft masts Of one
of the four transports bearing the
division, the slogan thrilled every
one who saw it in New York Harbor
yesterday.
Get 30-day Furlough.
The troops are leaving here today
for the reception centers nearest
their homes. There most of them
will be granted 30-day Burroughs.
The approximately 100 men from
the District area will reach Fort
George G. Meade, Md, tonight, and
will head home from there.
The division will be reassembled
at Camp Gruber, Okla, after the
furloughs. for training in Pacific
warfare tactics.
The seth is the baby among the
Army's combat divisions and the
first to be ordered from Europe to
the Pacific. 1t is known for its youth
full personnel. most OF them are air
force cadets or Army special train
ing program boys transferred into
the infantry early In 1914. .,
Take Pfc. John r. Meyer, 1874
Sheridan street NV, Washington,
Of company B of the 343d Infantry.
When the japanese struck at Pearl
Harbor, John was at Eastern High
School, just turned Is. Today he is
back from Germany. He has been
under fire. He has tasted victory.
New American Army.
The number of John Meyers has
to be thought OF in gauging this new
American Army that is coming into
being for a strong blow against
Japan.
And that show of might in New
York Harbor-the banked masses of
khaki-clad humanity causing the
huge transports to list by the very
weight of their manpower-was only
one Of the divisions moving west.
ETC has announced that II of the
40 American divisions that played
the major role in cracking Festung
Europa has been ordered to return
across the Atlantic. The great
power phase OF the war against the
Japs is still to come.
The 86th, one of the last divisions
to arrive N Europe. spearheaded the
drive southwark through Bavaria
into Austria that ended all German
hopes of national redoubt south of
Munich. The boys in the infantry
are enthusiastic about their artillery.
They crowded around the corre-
spondents to tell them about the
times the artillery ended sniping
from German church towers with
direct hits In two or three shots.
When American infantry regiments
have that kind of confidence in their
artillery, they are ready to 60 places.
The Seth was practicing amphibi-
GUS warfare in San Luis Obispo
County. Calf, last winter for the
island warfare against the Jap,
when the Ardennes breakthrough
changed its destination temporarily.
When the. shooting stopped many
OF the boys doubled back to Berch-
tesgaden. Occupied by the 101st)
One Of them displayed what he
said were the true keys to Hitler's
house and said he had been offered
IS for them.
The Germans noticed the youth
and fitness OF the boys of the Seth.
They called them American SIS
troops" which sounds like doubt
full compliment on this side Of the
Atlantic, but the boys accepted
it as bona f1de.
Named in World War.
The Seth, because Of its Illinois
origins IN the World War, is called
the "Blackhawk" Division after
the Indian chief whose crossing
Of the Mississippi from Iowa in the
first part OF the last century mobil-