Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-29
District Officials
Visit Guard Unit
Al Camp Mccoy
list MPs Parade
Before Delegation
From Home City
b. TL.lA
By charIes ]. Yarbrounh
Star Staff corresponden,

Dy 1norles J. Tdrbrouqh
siar Staff Correspondent,
CAMP Mccoy, Wis. June "a.
Washington's Hist Military Police
Battalion, part time National
lGuardsmen until last September
are soldering around the clock
now.
AS civilian soldiers. they may
not like it. but their camoufage
lis perfect.
Busy enough with recruits and
maintaining their own training
standards. they halted moving
lday chores here yesterday to well
come a state visit from home with
lpomp and ceremony enough for a
Ipotentate.
The l7lst, an all-colored unit
commanded by q former chemist. I
1t. Col. Sylvester Blackwell, of
1920 California street NV, will
complete its move to Fort Custer,
Mich, early next month. Troop
morale goes up with every mile
and not only because Custer is 150|
miles closer to home. The 163rdl
Military Police Battalion. another
Washington area, unit, already isl
stationed at Fort Custer.
Led by Ex-MaiIman.
Residents Of Cleveland Park
would have been proud to watch
their former mailman lead the
171st through cracking sharp
parade yesterday for two District
commissioners and their former
commanding general.
Until the Federal duty call last
September. Maj. Robert s. Will
liams. So, of 1888 Jay street NE,
was delivering mail out of the
Cleveland Park station and, TIM
rearin' to get back" he said.
But there was no reluctance
with the military showing as he
led the battalion past Commits
|sioner F. Joseph Donohue, Engi-
neer Commissioner Bernard IL
Robinson and Brig. Gen. William
H. Abendroth. While other units
on this big, neat reservation in
Wisconsin's scenic lake country
have had official visits from home
officials. this was the District bat
talion's first and they made the
most of the occasion.
Acclaimed by Donohue.
For the visitors, 1t. Joseph Rob- |
inson, rs, of 3725 Foote place NE.
mustered as snappy a color guard |
as any you'll see. At the review
ing party. led by District Commits
|sioner F. Joseph Donohue. went |
past the troops, the band--by
sheer coincidence--was playing
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"
Later. Mr.. Donohue told bat
talon officers. ut is an inspira-
ton to see what you have done
with excellent material. What Il
Just saw on the parade grounds |
would be the envy of any COM
manding officer"
Col. Robinson told the M. P.'s:
you have big shoes to fill. You
must exemplify the best the Army
has You are the models and
from what I have observed you
are well on the way to those
ends"
The Hist still has over 800
Washington area men in its ranks,
but it is almost 500 men over
strength and is understrength in
officers.
Welcome Move to Custer.
The move to Custer is welcome
although the installation near |
Battle Creek. Mich, isn't the spic
and span layout they have had att
Mccoy. Recreational facilities are
scanty here and there are few
liberty points for colored troops
nearer than Chicago. Conditions
in this respect are better at Custer. II
Asdor recreational facilities, the
lists post basketball champions,
coached by Sergt. Frederick Pryor,
81, of 1922 Twenty-first street NE,
will be happier in Clusters gym. |,
The team won the post title andl /,
finished third in the Army-wide
competition.
Biggest headache on the post ,
has been inherited by 1t. Eugene
E. Hawley. 81, of 1881 Talbert ,
street Sc, the supply officer ,
whose woes began when the move
order came. ,
I'VE have to pack this stuff UP, .
get it on conveys and still keep {,
In daily operation" He, too, is a !,
former mail carrier out Of the !,
Connecticut avenue station.
And. he. too. would be happier i,
carrying the mail.
cts Simpler1 he said