Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-09-07
Priority Units
Set for Duty,
Officers Say

VIIICIS Joy
i Most of the commanding Of
ficers of area military reserve
units placed on priority"
status yesterday said they are
confident their organizations
are ready for active duty if
called.
They indicated that the news
was no great shock to them and
that they are resigned to posi-
BILE service during the Berlin
crisis.
Fred w. Fisher, a first
lieutenant in the reserves and
commanding officer of the only
District unit placed in the
priority" category, said Il feel
confident my unit is in good
shape"
1t. Fisher, who commands
the 888th Adjutant General
Postal Unit, said that the
groups military mission is to
provide complete mail service
for a maximum of 10000 troops.
There are 16 men in this
unit and they are all residents
of the Washington metropoli-
tan area.
If we get recalled, we get
recalled" said 1t. Fisher
philosophically. Il have been in
the reserves for about 10 years.
You have got to expect these
things"
DR.. r. M. Van Matre, a
Washington physician an d
commander of the 354th Gen
eral Hospital unit, Rockville,
Md, said that his group is
trained to operate a l,000-bed
general hospital.
Ready to Function
I'VE have physicians in
several specialities, and are
ready to perform many classes
of surgery as we'll as care for
medical patients" he said.
The whole setup is geared to
function under canvass"
DR.. Van Matre. who is a
colonel in the reserves, said
that unit drew its professional
officers from most sections of
the metropolitan area as well
as suburban Maryland.
While Army officials would
not disclose the actual strength
of the hospital unit, the
authorized strength of this
organization is SIG enlisted
men and I'll officers.
A spokesman for the unit
said the officer positions in
cluded So male officers, most
of them physicians, and Ill
female officers, most Of them
nurses, physiotherapiSts and
technicians.
Confidence in MPs
! Lawrence Walton. command
ing officer of the Booth Mill
tary Police Company, Rock
Vile. said that he is very con-
fident Of the unit as a whole
and of the capabilities of ev-
cry individual man"
He said that while some of
his men are police officers in
civilian life, others come from
many walks Of life"
R. w. Van Wagenen, a re-
serve colonel and commanding
officer of the 439th Military
Intelligence Detachment. Fort
Myer, said he considered the
priority status given To his and
other area military units "a
logical development in Mr..
Kennedy's buildup program.
I'm that sense, I am not
surprised at ALL"
/ However, Col. Van Wagenen,
who is dean of the graduate
school and professor of inter
national organization at Ameri-
can University. said Il would
Just as soon continue in this
work, but who knows?"
Morale Is High
Erhardt H. Boehley. COM
manding officer of the 10th
Engineer Company, Panel
Bridge, said his unit is totally
prepared and morale is excep-
tionally high"
/ Mr.. Boehley, who is a cap
tain in the National Guard,
said the units new status has
not caused any resentment
among the men he has talked
to.
Heinz Just, a major in the
Reserves and commanding Of
ficer of the 223d Military In
telligence Detachment. Fort
Myer. said his unit has several
World War II veterans and an
equal number of younger men,
He said that most of his mer
seemed resigned to the posi-
bility that they may be called
to active duty.
Il feel that with the training
WIN ho,,n Iaal onl eA,ooA aIl;