Evening star., 1951-07-22
District Guardsmen
Arrive Home Today;
Camp Work Lauded
By WiIIiom J. WheotIey
Stor Stcff Correspondent


FORT MILES, Del, July 21.-
With a record of achievement
which brought them praise from
Army officers, Washington's Ma
tional Guardsmen are scheduled
to reach their arnory shortly be-
fore noon tomorrow.
The number OF times the daily
reports carried the mark of excel
lent gives them the right to hold
their heads as high as combat
ready soldiers. Members of the
340th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion
commanded by 1t. Col. George v.
Selwyn, are riding high as result
of this score in target practice,
when they shot down three of the
tiny targets 5000 feet in the air.
High-ranking Army officers on the
firing line commented that they
did better than some Regular
Army outfits.
Gun Sections Improve.
There was much improvement
in the gun sections, 1t. Col. A. A.
Koscieniak, of the 35th Anti-Air-
craft Artillery Brigade, at Fort
George Meade said. Several courses
fired would have been a credit to
a unit with more experience.
The Air Force gave excellent
support to the target mission.
There was an ominous note to all
this sharp p-shooting when officers
and men were reminded that when
the 710th Anti-Aircraft Artillery
from Virginia, with.-one unit in
Alexandria, made such fine
record here last year. it received
Iorders from Federal activation.
While they were returning home
from the encampment two bat
talions Of the District Guards
Anti-Aircraft Artillery also were
called several months after they
completed field training here last
summer.
Col Harold P. Grad, senior Army
inspector from Fort Meades 35th
brigade, praised the results at
tained here by the local troops.
Every officer and man was most
cooperative. he continued and
each showed a deep interest in his
task and a desire to learn.
Commander Thanks Men.
All of the praise came from
officers of regular unit to which
the District artillery is expected
to be attached in the event a
national emergency requires the
setting up of an air defense Pc
rimeter around Washington. The
35th Brigade, which has been as
signed this task, already has con-
Quoted several training missions
around the Capital for this pur-
pose in which District Guard Of
ficers participated.
Brig. Gen. William H. Aben-
droth, commander of the District
Guard, who left camp by plane
for Washington this afternoon
called a staff conference to thank
the officers and enlisted men for
making this the most successful
postwar camp of the guard. He
said the morale of all hands had
been excellent and praised the
conduct OF the men while on leave.
Not one member of the command
ran afoul of the peace authorities
at any time during the encamp-
ment.
1t. Col. Robert F. Cocklin, chief
OF staff, added his thanks. He said
the camp functioned so smoothly
that he had very little to do.
1t. Col. George v. Selwyn was
designated commander of the con-
voy for the trip home. The first
unit was commanded by Mai
Allan G. Crist, and the second by
Capt. William F. Mcguire. The
time Of arrival in Washington de-
pends on the length of delay in
crossing Chesapeake Bay from
Matapeake to Standpoint. If they
are boarded without delay they
Will begin arriving at the armory
about ii o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
The 257th Army Band with
Alphonso Esposito as leader, left
camp ahead of the main conveys
to greet the men on their arrival
at the armory.