The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-19
ROWING REPORTER
FINDS new SPIRIT
Bv KENNETH L. DIXON

HONOLULU-P)-Step right this
way, Ladeez and gentlemen. Step
right this way. It's free. Not one
penny will it cost you to look at
probably the only American SOL
diers in this part of the Pacific
who are not counting their dis
charge points, do not expect to
90 home soon and are actually
comparatively happy about the
whole business.
Furthermore-that's right, Serg-
cant, step right up close and stare
at them-furthermore they're not
asking when do we 60 home"?
If you listen closely you can
hear what they're asking. It's
where are we headed for?"
Don't be bashful, folks. Go right
ahead and ask questions. Its
strange and curious sight to see
men such as these.
Why don't they care about
points? Well brother, it's because
they don't have any to speak Of
Why don't they expect to go
home soon? Well, mostly because
they just came from there.
And why aren't they having
Mysteries in barracks about this
business? Well bud, they think
it's only fair that they do their
share over here and let the battle
weary boys 60 home.
You see, they're teen-age, pink
checked, eager requirements who
are awaiting occupational reas-
signments here at the 18th Re-
placement Depot. They just got
out this far and pretty soon they II
be shipped on somewhere else IN
the Pacific to take over a peace
time policing job.
Most of them are kids who got
caught in 18-year old inductlons
six months or less ago. Few Of
them are bitter about being stuck
with a long stretch in the Pacific,
now that the war is over and 9TH
er people are going home. Mostly,
they just feel not without reason)
that they're mighty lucky the
shooting stopped before they start
ed.
"Points?" asks Pvt. Dill Ruffini,
10, of Jamaica, N. Y. Then he mods
and grins. "Oh yes, points. I've
got five. I guess we will put in a
year or two, do our share and
then get out of it hope"
Pvt. Roland L. OFT, another 49,
year-old. five-pointer from Albion,
Mich, explains why he and his
buddies aren't nervous about their
plight:
otis only fair that we young fell
lows relieve the veterans. There
should be more than enough OF US
to send every man with a years
overseas duty home. 1t wouldn t
be decent if we thought we
shouldn't do the policing.
Besides that, with the feuding
over now it may not be so bad,
according to Pvt. James Metcalf,
10. from philadelphia, his seven
count 'em) points should entitle
hin, to a respectful audience in
this gang:
occupation will be a chance to
travel and see lots of interesting
things and have some unusual ex-
neriences-au mighty education
That education business does
trouble some of the boys, such as
soft.spoken Michael Neiss, 10,
from Bronx, N. Y, who admits
nat by the time he gets back to
oo1lege he already could have had
bic degree in engineering.
However, Neiss is taking some
armed forces institute courses IN
TO meantime and thinks 1--WE are
fortunate our education was just
interrupted, not cancelled entirely
like some ...a
g Several of the youngsters strong
~ favor keeping alive the same
Induction dog that just bit tnem-
drafting of 1S-year oids. Five
-. Francis Dee Olsen, ID, from
p% u. ILL.,. thinks that way: