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All Facilities Of A&M Extended To US Government
Walton, Welty Urge Cadets To Continue Studies As Usual
"Technicians Vital
In War”“CoI. Welty
Dec. 8, 1941
Wasting no time, the officials
of A&M made definite statements
yesterday concerning the role of
the Cadet Corps in the present
emergency.
Emphasizing the importance of
remaining in college until called,
President T. O. Walton and Col
onel M. D, «. Welty, commandant,
issued statements to The Battalion.
“Technicians as well as soldiers are
necessary in waging a total war,”
Colonel Welty added.
“A&M students have a sane atti
tude in regard to the present cri
sis,” President Walton explained.
Following is the text of the two
messages given shortly after Presi
dent Roosevelt had delivered his
message to Congress and both
houses of Congress had taken im
mediate action.
President’s Message
Office of the President
Texas A&M College
December 8, 1941
To the Cadet Corps
Texas A&M College
Today the President of the Unit
ed States has dedicated the entire
resources of this nation toward the
end of preserving the American
way of life.
To the Cadet Corps of Texas
A&M College a national emergency
of this character brings forth a
grave responsibility. Already the
full facilities of the college have
been pledged to the President. I
feel sure that you share these
statements and are behind our chief
executive in whatever course he
may lead us.
As president of the A&M College,
I counsel you to render full service
to your nation in this great crisis.
Let us all remember that it is to
the best interests of this country
at the present to serve this nation
as students. Many members of
the cadet corps will eventually gain
commissions in the Army of the
United States. I congratulate you
upon this opportunity to serve your
country in this present time of
need.
Even before the events of the
past few hours, the President, the
War Department, and administra
tors of the selective service act
have urged you to maintain your
positions as students. I urge you,
gentlemen, to remain in college and
render service to your country in
this manner. I feel sure that when
your government calls, you will re
spond for the service where you can
serve more effectively
T. O. Walton
Commandant’s Message
Office of the Commandant
Texas A&M College-
December 8, 1941
To the Cadet Cox - ps
Texas A&M College
Your country today has entered
into a state of war with Japan.
Most of you have had military
experience while at A&M. With
out question many of you will
enter upon active duty with the
Army immediately upon gradua
tion. This is your opportunity to
serve your country.
I urge each of you to remain in
college at the present time. Every
American will have a place in this
nation’s defense efforts. At the
present, your place in national de
fense is hei'e at college where you
can better prepare yourself for the
task ahead. You can rest assured
that when your country needs you,
it will call.
A&M has a great military Uadi-
tion to maintain. I feel confident
that A&M men both in the army
and in college are again ready to
serve their country.
M. D. Welty, Colonel, Infantry
Commandant and P.M.S.&T.
Aggies Ready
Survey Shows
By Mike Speer
At 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon
the A&M campus was enjoying its
usual quiet, sublime way of life.
Then from the airwaves came the
almost unbelievable news that Ha
waii, Philippine and Wake Islands
and many more protectorates of
the United States had been the
victim of a surprise invasion by the
Imperial Nation of Japan.
Idle gossip was immediately
changed to talk of war, as quickly
as one might change from one ra
dio station to the other. The “bull”
stopped flowing in the “bull ses
sions,” all radios were tuned in on
news broadcasts crying out the
startling events of the past few
hours and the A&M campus was
literally blitzkrieged with the fer
vent talk of war with Japan.
These are the comments and
opinions of students typical of
those men throughout the campus.
David Pinson, C Troop Cav, Junior
“I’m not in favor of Avar Avith
Japan but I am ready to go when
called for service. I have been ex
pecting this for quite some time
but was greatly surprised Avhen I
heard of it.”
J. C. Black, E. Inf., Freshman
“I’m in favor of war Avith Japan
under the existing circumstances
but Avill not volunteer. However,
in the event the age limit should
be lowered and I was called I Avould
be Avilling to go.”
Chuck Chalmers, G.F.A., Junior
“We’ve been fooling around so
long I’m glad things finally came
to a head. Now the only thing to
do is to “beat the hell out of Jap
an.”
That simple phrase “beat the hell
out of Japan” seems to have be
come the Aggie Avatchword in the
past feAv hours portraying the sin
cere feeling of every cadet.
(From The BATTALION, Dec.
8, 1941)
Full Credit Given ’ Pledge Of Support Mailed
‘If Called To Duty Roosevelt Following Meet
The Battalion
DECEMBER 8, 1941
If Called to Duty Full Credit Will 1x1 Given .... Welty.
Climaxing the day’s tense events the organization com
manders held their first meeting with Colonel M. D. Welty,
commandant, last night in Sbisa Hall and adopted a resolu
tion of loyalty and fidelity after Colonel Welty made the
important statement that he would see that some arrange
ments were made to have the men receive credit for their col
lege work if drafted or called to active duty before the end
of the semester.
Colonel Welty qualified his statement, however, by going
on to say that such credit w ould be recei ved only of the men
stay in college as long as they possibly can. If any student
receives his papers to report on April 1, he should not quit
school now but continue on with his studies until the time
for him to report for duty. This is the only way any ar
rangements can be made to see that full credit is given.
“Should the seniors be called before June, steps will be
taken to see that they are graduated.”
The seniors at the meeting were urged by Colonel Welty
to keep a cool head and stress to the underclassmen the
value of staying in school and not leaving the college with
out authority in order to volunteer for duty. The War De
partment wants them to stay and receive their degrees.”
After Colonel Welty’s message a resolution was pre
sented by Cadet Colonel Tom Gillis. The resolution was one
that backed up the previously made statement of the faculty
pledging the loyalty of the cadet corps in this time of na
tional emergency.
By a unanimous vote the resolution passed and it was
agreed that a copy should be sent by wire to the President
of the United States.
Dec. 8, 1941
Meeting- in an extraordinary ses
sion yesterday at 3 p.m., the Aca
demic Council of the college unani-
mously adopted a resolution ex
tending all facilities of the college
to the national g’overnment in this
present war crisis.
Ail the research, extension, and
instructional facilities of A&M
were placed at the disposal of the
President of the United States.
Individually and collectively the
faculty pledged itself to support to
the utmost the policies of the Fed
eral government in the present
emergency.
Immediately after the outbreak
of hostilities the college moved to
render its aid in the crisis. T. O.
Walton, president, called a special
meeting of the executive committee
of the college and presented to
them a suiwey of what aid A&M
might offer. At that time college
officials agreed to reaffirm the
stand of the college in national
defense. An immediate meeting of
the Academic Council was sched
uled and the offer of A&M aid
was immediately adopted by that
group.
FACULTV RESOLUTION
The Congress of the United
States has declared a state of war
to exist;
The Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas is a land-grant
institution, established under an act
of Congress in 1862. Among the
major purposes is the preparation
of men for military service and
technical pursuits;
The conditions of modern war- i
fare demand technically trained
men both in the military service
and in practically every other ac
tivity supporting military opera
tions;
The college is the largest pro
ducer of reserve officers in the
Nation with thousands of its grad
uates, and a considerable number
of its faculty, already on active
military duty, with ether thousands
of its graduates engaged in tech
nical activities essential to the suc
cessful waging of a total war, and
with 4842 of its students enrolled
in the Reserve Officers Training-
Corps preparing themselves that
they may render more effective
military service to their country;
THEREFORE, we the faculty of
the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas, in conformity
with the action of the Board of
Directors, again tender to the Fed
eral Government all the research,
extension and instructional facili
ties at this College and avc hereby,
individually and collectively, pledge
our utmost support to the policies
of the Federal Government in this
emergency. We stand ready to
carry out the policies of govern
mental agencies in whatever re
spect we can render the most ef
fective service.
Over a year ago A&M first of
fered its services to the nation in
the interests of national defense.
Yesterday’s action reaffirmed this
previous action. Throughout the
past feAV months A&M has been
offering defense courses in all
parts of the state.
“This action will enable this in
stitution to do the job Avhich is
expected of it in this time of na-
tonal emergency,” Walton explain
ed.
Immediately after the adoption
of the resolution, a copy was tele
graphed to President Roosevelt in
Washington.
In addressing the council prior
to its adoption of the resolution,
Dr. Walton stressed the need for
A&M to do its share in the present
Avar. “This is a renewal of our
pledge to the President of the Unit
ed States of our support,” Walton
said.
“A&M men stand ready to re
spond to the needs of the nation,”
a statement made by Walton seem
ed to keynote the desire of the
college to do its utmost.
War Volunteers
Boosts Enlistment
Reports from around the nation
that activity around the various
army and navy recruiting stations
had increased considerably Avas
also true at the Bryan recruiting
office according to £gt. C. G. Jan-
ney, Avho is in charge of the station
at the Bryan Court House.
Janncy said that by noon Mon
day 12 applicants had signed pa
pers and that three of these Avere
for duty as flying cadets. His
usual quota of applications has
been from six to eight per week.
Only one Aggie Avas among the
group Avho requested affidavits yes
terday.
College at War
1 i 1 U OJC>>-X
Our Hat’s Off
to
A&M College!
Seventy-five years ago this institution
was established to help meet the educa
tional needs of ambitious Texans.
Since then it has grown into one of the
great agricultural and engineering col
leges of America. Many thousands of its
alumni are prominent leaders in various
fields of endeavor.
Only West Point contributes more men
who are rigorously trained to serve as
officers in the Armed Forces of our na
tion.
Again, our hat’s off to A. & M. on its
Diamond Jubilee!
SAN ANTONIO MACHINE & SUPPLY CO
Carl C. Krueger, President (Class of 1912)
• SAN ANTONIO • CORPUS CHRISTI • HARLINGEN • AVACO
5.exying T^xos. ArkansQS.Oklahoma..LQuisicina
pfr Zhe Southwestern States ZelepkoneCo