Evening star., 1951-11-11
CONTINUED From Page DID

tCouIlnueQ from rage DID
emartly along to the accompani-
ment of their singing Waves of
the Navy" song they learned
their first night in boot" camp.
A visitor to the chow line the
FIRST week would probably stop in
astonishment to see seated at
tables alone. women in cerise
sweaters, chiffon blouses. purple,
green, red and yellow dresses and
suits. The men in the camp do
lot of gaping and grinning at
this pleasant apparition, but
talking is forbidden.
Navy blues for the mates have
not yet been issued because the
local tailor. naccustomed to
WAVE uniforms. was delayed by
the problem of how to press and
tailor the clothes. 1t. Almira
,tRusty) Davis. officer in charge,
said 1t was finally decided to press
pleats in the back of the official
raincoats and leave off pleats in
the "blues" sleeves. Heavy, low
heeled shoes were handed out at
once.
First Things First
The first night in camp, the
women learn to stand at atten-
tion to muster and memorize sew
eral official WAVE songs.
The women sailors, unlike the
men who chant cadence as they
march, step along in time to their
singing. 1t seems they keep in
step better that way and keep
up their spirits at the same time.
Routine at the camp the first
week consists of learning to drill
and attending indoctrination
classes. The women's area, some
what bare at present, will eventu-
ally include facilities for SWIM
ming, tennis and volley-ball,
baseball diamonds and other in
door recreational facilities as we'll
rs lounges furnished In homelike
fashions.
M The barracks topside is in
process of being painted. but lock-
.ers for slowing gear and two-tiered |
hunks for the recruits are in place.
The barracks lower deck is not yet
completely furnished nor is the
Scrub House yet equipped with
washing machines and dryers. 1t.
Davis has assured the recruits. |
however. that scrubbing by hand
will be a thing of the past in a !
short period as soon as new equip
ment is acquired.
Eventually. too. the raw recruits
will have their own cafeteria in
their area. doing away with the
present hike to chow. !
The first Is lucky 60 girls |
logged in the first night are taught |
to stand watch. They sit on the
quarterback. directly inside the
barracks door and check the
building every half hour for fire,
ventilation and general security.
Two recruits stand duty for two
hour watches and woe to any one
who falls asleep. 1n wartime the
penalty would be a court-martial.) /
Sock Time important |
Eight hours of sleep is a nightly
requirement and taps come at $50
pm. each day. You can't get mad
at your company and drag them
out to drill at 4 am. in the Navy, II
according to 1t. Marion Hodgson,
regimental commander They are
required to have eight hours
sleep.
IF there is one definite thing
you do in the Navy" she added. |
"It's eat-and-sleep."
Another first for the girls Is
about an hours drilling each day, |
when allowances are made for
the new ones who can't turn a
square corner or haven't discov-
cred "hup" means left foot.
Talking after taps is forbidden
and everything in the barracks
must be shipshape before the $50
curfew. This. few recruits admit,
works hardships on where to put
your brush or lipstick in a hurry.
"I stuffed mine under my pillow
the second night" one admitted.