Evening star., 1947-03-07

een-age soldiers offers, among other
Photo By U. S. ARMY Signal Corps.
Their own service club, with its two
pretty hostesses, Is dream. In addition
to the usual service club pool tables
and snack bar, this one has a luke
box, dance floor and an outside dane
ing patio. Girls from nearby Louisville
are brought to the fort as dancing part
ners.
The entire service club is designed to
keep any teen-age kid happy.
For the sports minded Umptees, there
are two gyms in the battalion area and
q combination basket ball-volley ball
court.
Weekend Passes.
Umptees are given weekend passes
But they're watched like hawks. Their
officers must know exactly where they're
going to spend their time.
Bartenders in Louisville have been
warned to watch out for the blue and
yellow Umptee shoulder patch. The
youngsters are turned out Of the sa-
looms. Most Umptees, however, take ad-
vantage OF the planned week end for
trips to historical places in Kentucky.
Despite all this, officers stoutly claim
were not coddling anybody around
here. We're just trying to prove that
we can make something besides cannon
fodder"
The Umptees seem to like their lob.
Primarily, their mission is to prove that
universal military training won't hurt
them If it's done right. But they're
also learning to be soldiers. They make
enthusiastic soldiers.
AS one instructor, a sergeant with
wartime experience, puts it: "They al
most drive you goofy with the questions
they ask. They want to know all about
everything"
However, it's in their barracks life
that Umptees are really different from
the soldiers. Pinup girls don't exist.
The teen-agers talk about such things
as sports. Army training, the news and
school work. Pay day crap games are
forbidden by a special code Of conduct.
Instead, the beardless soldiers spend
much OF their time reading or study
ing.
In every barracks, the second-floor
sergeant's room has been converted into
sort Of study with curtained windows
and soft chairs.
Orderly at Mess.
ANY Army veteran would be shocked
at conditions In svl Umptee mess hall.
There's no mad scramble for food. The
Umptees march to meals and noboby
sits down until all are ready to eat.
Oficers tactfully point out faulty table
manners.
And Umptees eat more than other
soldiers.
They're the eatingest guys 7 ever
saw" says 1t. Ray May OF Panama
City, Fla. They almost eat us out of
house and home" The manager OF
the post exchange also reports that
Umptees "are darned heavy eaters"
We don't sell many razor blades" he
says. But we sure peddle a lot OF
candy bars and ice cream"
The noncommissioned officers in
charge OF these teen-agers report that
tney must stay on their toes "It's like
having your kid brother around all the
tlme,' said one first sergeant. "You
do"
Gen. Devine declares he believes
right"
For years, he says, chap1ains have
complained that their role In the Army
is oiten passed over lightly. "In this
unlt, ne points out, I'VE propose to
support the chaplains and to give them
every opportunity to improve the moral
noer OF the trainees and to emphasize
the moral aspect both Of military train
ing and OF human relations
Gen. Devine feels sure a proper pro-
gram OF universal military training vii,
make the Umptees better citizens in
every way" AZ
Chicago Daily News servic.,