The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1945-07-19
$500 Per Year
Youths Unit
Service Plaque

2 .ninsular Base Headquarters,
M. G. Fisher, Route 2.
Box 26, Durant, is a member of the
128th Quartermaster Battalion mo
bile), which was recently awarded
the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque
for the superior performance of duty
in the accomplishment of exception
ally difficult tasks. This battalion Ii
a unit of the Peninsular Base Sec
ton, important supply and services
organization for the Fifth Army and
for the Air Corps ground crews and
naval elements in the Mediterranean
Theater Of Operations. The Base u
commanded by Brig. Gen. Francis
H. ok, Newport, r. /.
The 128th ON Battalion was ac-
tivated at Fl. Clark, Texas, in Feb
ruary, l943, as the 77th Field Artil-
lery Battalion, Horse-drawn. Dis
mounted. the battalion was sent
overseas in February, 1914, and at
Oran, Algeria, was ~reorganized into
a quartermaster battalion, and the
task of learning to drive and main
tain trucks began. The battalion was
issued tools, trucks, and other equip
ment. Schools for truck-drivers and
mechanics were established, classes
and lectures were held on motor
maintenance, convoy-driving, and
other phases Of transportation.
It was a drastic change for the
men of the horse-drawn field artil-
lery to be suddenly turned into Z
truck battalion, and the majority ct
| officers and enlisted men admitted
hat they preferred the horses and
gums. However, they took the
| chanse-over into service troops In
good grace, and threw themselves
Enthusiastically into the task OF
learning their. new trade. Progress
was rapid, and the morale OF the
battalion maintained a consistently
high level.
One of the first tasks allotted to
the new truck battalion was that OF
transporting Italian prisoners Of war
as the, North African campaign ran
swiftly to a successful termination.
AS more men became qualified driv-
ers. the battalion was assigned to
haul cargo from the busy port, and
a round the-clock schedule was set
up. :
Meanwhile, a motor shop and q
garage was built for each company.
and the trucks were given expert
attention by the crews of mechanics
and machinists. Glasses and training
continued, and the percentage of the
battalion personnel that were de-
veloping into skilled truckers and
maintenance men mounted rapidly.
A Transportation Corps inspection
team rated the battalion Very Salts
factory in the work they were doing,
the care and upkeep of their vehicles
and the appearances and efficiency Of
personnel and installations.
The 128th ON Battalion soon
found it to their advantage to oper-
ate a civilian motor-pool, and the
output of the battalion continued to
increase. Five Italian motor battal-
ions were assigned to the 128th, and
schools were conducted for Italian
drivers and mechanics. The training
Of Italian drivers payed large divi-
dends in miles travelled and freight
hauled. 49,
The 128th moved to Italy in Feb
ruary, l945. Here the task that was
| done in North Africa had to be re-
peated. Schools and shops were set
up, training programs made out, and
a full schedule of hauling launched.
A small of the contribu-
ton of the 128th ON Battalion to
the eventual successful conclusion
of the war may be made from some
of the figures. In one month, the
battalion made $4,000 trips, carry
ing 100000 men and 100000 tons Of
cargo over a distance of 100000
miles.