THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 22, 1943
THE BATTALION
PAGE 3
TURRET TIPS
Squadron I
ACTD NEWS
In circulating around the Squad
ron, we have become familiar with
the many nicknames of “our boys”.
Some of the typical ones are “Sim
ple” Merwin, “Gullible” Grose,
“Conscientious” Quick, “Collegiate”
Close, “General Whistle” Teall,
“Laughing Boy” Hartsough, “Dead
End” Sinich, “Monster” Pesefc,
“Brains” Sugarek, “Mirror-Con
scious” McDonald. They fit, don’t
they?
Bouquets of the week go to
Simpleson, or rather to Simpson,
who is Squadron I’s champ ramp
tourist* Last time out there he
was reminded at every round to
pick up the cadence and to
straighten his rifle, but not to much
avail. He was saving himself so
when the ordeal was over, he
could go out in his chariot and
be fresh and ready for a big night.
Not much of a soldier—eh?
Recent accident was Monster
(Pesek’s) stepping on “Midg” Pur-
tell. Purtell gave Pesek a work
ing over when he got up from the
ground, but what he needs is a
pair of stilts, perhaps.
Table two at the mess hall has
three first rate food gorgers com-
(See TURRET TIPS, Page 4)
HART THROBS
Squardron V
Barber and Bobbitt, you know
who I’m talking about, want to
know who the dirty so and so is
who is sabotaging their radio.
Some one with an electric rezor
keeps turning it off and on at
night just the hear the ocifers
sound off.
Earl MacCutchin is back after
several days furlough in Oklahoma
City—that is in Oklahoma, which,
the Texas boys claim is piece of
land that Texas didn’t want, so
they gave it back to the Indians
who, in turn gave it to the Okla-
' homans.But that is getting off
the subject welcome home,
Mac.
One of the boys in C ramp
thinks he is a Bombardier. In the
middle of the night one will hear
a near piercing whistle that con-
(See HART THROBS, Page 4)
When in Doubt About Your
Eyes or Your Glasses
Consult
DR. J. W. PAYNE
Optometrist
109 S. Main Bryan
Next to Palace Theatre
LOUPOT’S
Watch Dog of the
Aggies
Submitted by JoevondeTwerff
University of Washington
I
Spotlight on Sports
By BILL PLATT
The delayed playoff for the
championship of the Detachment
Bomber League were played
Thursday evening but the cham
pionship was not decided as Squad
rons I and V tied 7-7 in a seven
inning game and Squadron II
downed Squadron III by a count
of 10-9 in an extra inning contest.
Squadron V had the champion
ship game sewed up until the final
half of the seventh frame when the
Squadron I boys went on a ramp
age to drive across three runs to
wipe out a 3-1 lead and surge ahead
4-3. Squadron V did not quit then
however and came back strong in
their half of the final inning to tie
the game. The tow teams are sched
uled to try again to determine the
top team this evening.
The game for first place in the
playoff was a pitchers battle all
the way with both hurlers and
their support played perfect for
four innings. It was not until the
first half of the fifth inning that
the scoring ice was broken and then
it was Squadron V manufacturing
three runs to take the lead. Squad
ron I went scoreless in their half
of the fifth frame but after holding
V in the sixth scored a counter to
make the count 3-1. Only three outs
from the championship Squadron
V took the field but a fighting
spirit and a barrage of base hits
drove across a trio of markers to
shoot then to a 4-3 lead. Squadron
V came back with a run in their
final time at the plate to again
knot the score. The game was called
at this time and the playoff will
be this evening.
Second place was decided when
Squadrons II and III went two
extra innings with the former co
ming out on top in the seventh
frame 10-9. The game was a high
scoring contest filled with walks
and base hits. The scoring started
in the very first inning and the
winners started it out with a five
run uprising in their first time at
bat. The losers came blaring back
with four runs to make the score
read 5-4 at the end of a long first
inning.
Squadron II was still chasing
across runs in the second frame
as they counted three times to take
a 8-4 lead. The winners added a-
nother counter in the third to in
crease the lead to 9-4. Squadron
III tied the score with a two run
spurt in the third and three runs
in the last half of the fourth. With
the score tied at the end of the re
gular five inning game the teams
battled on through the sixth with
out either team scoring. With one
out in the seventh Platt, Squadron
II third sacker, shot a single to
(See SPOTLIGHT, Page 4)
ACTD STAFF
Alvin B. Cooter Editor-in-Chief
Jack E. Shaw Managing Editor
Fred J. Rosenthal Associate Editor
Alan E. Goldsmith Associate Editor
Joseph E. Platt Sports Editor
Charles Donnelly Editor Squad. I
Max E. Stump Editor Sqd. II
Martin E. Ismert Editor Sqd. Ill
Joseph B. Ledbetter Editor Sqd. IV
William R. Peters Editor Sqd. V
Bombardier’s
Last Breath
A/S Alvin B. Cooter
The mystery about First Lieut
enant Jack Mathis, bombardier of
the Eying Fortress, The Dutchess,
is not how he died, but when he
died. The “How” is answered sim-
py; in the performance of his du
ty. It is the “When” that takes us
to the wonderful, unfathomable
realm of the spirit of man.
Texas Jack Mathis had earned
the title “hero” long before his
last ride over Germany, depicted
in this second canvas of the epic
series of the men of America at
war. He had already flown fourteen
missions over enemy territory. It
was on his fifteenth that he achiev
ed immortality.
When the Dutchess smoked the
English runway with her wheels
after the punishing raid on U-boat
works at Vegesack, near Bremen,
Germany, the body of Bombardier
Lieutenant Mathis was taken from
the shattered nose of the huge bat
tle bird. A burst from a “Flieger-
Abwehr-Kanone,” the dreaded
“flak,” had knocked him away
from his bombsight just as Pilot
Captain Harold Stouse guided the
ship in the steady bombing run
over the sprawling target below.
The doctors who examined the
dreadful wounds in the chest, side,
and back, of which he died, said
that they must have killed him in
stantly, that he could not have sur
vived the impact of the metal that
struck him down. The boy, he de
duced, never knew what hit him.
One moment he was bent over his
bombsight weaving the cross hairs
into the target; the next, a black
burst, a searing blow and external
darkness.
Medically, and perhaps factually,
the diagnosis was correct. But spi
ritually and equally factually there
is another story, and the story has
a witness, First Lieutenant Jesse
H. Elliott, the navigator of the
Flying Fortress, who occupied the
nose compartment with Lieutenant
Mathis.
And there were still other wit
nesses. There was Pilot Captain
(See BOMBARDIER’S, Page 4)
GREMLIN GAB
By Alan E. Goldsmith
Denton papers please copy—
Wanted—Approximately 100 vol
unteers, female, between six and
sixty, to enjoy the privilege of at
tending the next Wing Ball and
to dance with an equal number of
Aviation students. Address all cor
respondence c/o this column or to
“Letters to the Editor.”
Anyone wishing to participate in
old time ‘Revival Meetings’ consult
“Nickel-on-the-drum” Gruidl in
ramp three, Puryear Hall.
It really happened—
With the same care as though
he were really injured, the “vic
tim” in a first aid demonstration
was carefully stretched out on the
ground—on a comfortable little
patch of poison ivy!
Then there was the man who was
holding his gal friend on his lap.
He held her son long that his leg
fell asleep. When he arose, the leg
crumpled and broke under his
weight,
A perfectly sober gentleman
drove his car into a service station
for a grease job. He was busying
himself trying to locate something
in the glove compartment when
the machine was lifted. When he
had found what he wanted, he
stepped out—into mid-air.
Congrats to Squadron II—A new
system of pep talks has been ar
ranged and one such meeting took
place last Tuesday evening. Keep
your eyes on those boys. They are
really “flying the beam.”
Afterthoughts—
It is better to be silent and
thought a fool than to speak and
remove all doubt—Heard about a
girl who couldn’t join the WACs,
SPARs, V ACs, WAVES, or even
WOWs. She joined the WIVES.—
Definition of chivalry: A man’s
inclination to defend a woman
against every man but himself.—
Ever hear the one about the ab
sent-minded private who wired his
C. O. for a two weeks’ extension
on his AWOL?
RUDDER
DUST
by A/S Jack E. Shaw
Fedigan Rides Again
The forgoten squadron (you
guess what I mean) again comes
to the fore as that jolly gent Leo
Fedigan put on a bit of light hum
or in front of the mess hall. Guess
our old and worn-down band lead
er just doesn’t have the strength
to hang on to that evasive baton.
Incidentally, as this instrument of
destruction flew through the air,
it just missed Sergeant’ Crist and
crippled two trombone players.
Censored
Some of the latest dope on what
the censors have to work out,
comes via the latest “bull session”
and starts with the one about the
little girl that sent two sticks of
gum in the letter to her father -on
the African front. In the letter,
she wrote, “One stick for my dad
dy and one for the censor.” The
censor affixed the cryptic remark
—“Thanks, the censor!” ^
Some censors even write out the
part that is on the reverse side of
the material which is so neatly
cut out. About their only remark
about this phase is, “The young
man loves you alright but he talks
too much!”
One young father had written
in his letter that he was sending
some Japanese coins had forgotten
to enclose them in the envelope,
so the censor promptly slipped
some of his own souvenirs.
GOODBYE
Gentlemen, during the past few
months that I have worked on
this, our newspaper, I have en
joyed every moment of it. Each
and every word was a thrill for
me to write. My fondest desire
is that you enjoyed reading my
column as much as I did writing
it for you.
I wish to express my apprecia
tion to the members of the staff
for their cooperation, and for do
ing an excellent job. I can assure
you that the paper will be as
good, if not better than before.
I also thank Lieutenant Kelly
for appointing me Editor in Chief
of the A. C. T. D. Newspaper. I
consider it a privilege, and high
honor.
Just a ,small bid of advice from
one that has been here ever since
this detachmeht was born. I can
safely say that all that is put in
here will come back to you some
day with interest. I can say for
myself, and some day you also
will say, that the most pleasant
days of my army career were
spent at A. and M. College in the
308 A. C. T. D. Make the best of
all that may come, and your very
all into your work.
Again thank you, and it was a
pleasure working with you and
knowing you as my friends.
Yours Most Sincerely
Alvin B. Cooter.
PROPWASH
Squadron II
Thanks a lot fellows for the
turnout at Tuesday’s softball game.
Although the cheering section
wasn’t as large as it might have
been it was appreciated and we
like to see that old fighting spirit
that Squadron II can put out.
Ramp 6 became infested with
ants early Tuesday evening and
the fight was on. Masses of the
insects were in the comers and
on the walls. Several methods of
extermination were proposed and
finally the burning out one was
adopted and most of the ants were
destroyed. Any suggestions or
secret formulas for keeping them
out will be welcomed.
The first orangeade party of the
summer was held on the top floor
of Ramp 3 Tuesday evening after
the gentlemen of that flat se
cured the necessary ingredients.
Drinks were served in room 81 by
Richard Fields. Leo Guidl was ra
tion chief as he dolled out the
oranges, lemons, and sugar. John
Hagopian acted as ice man when
he mauled the 25 lbs. to bits and
cooled the liquid. This all added
up to a tasty bit of refreshment
and the party was declared a suc
cess.
Today’s Guest
Your amiable Rudder Dust edi
tor, Jack E. Shaw, is the star to
day. He was bom in West Des
Moines, Iowa on October 17, 1920,
and ever since then he has had
the friendly twinkle in his eye.
We will skip the beginning years
of Jack’s life and get along with
his career.
He attended Valey High of West
(See PROP WASH, Page 4)
Circling the Field
Squadron HI
Everyone is reminded to join
the golf club (pun here) who is
interested in banging the old ball
around for the summer. The fam
ous Driven N. Putt, Professor of
golf at a noted university, defined
golf as “a game in which one
pursues a small sphere upon a
larger sphere.”
Congratulations to A/S Charles
R. Sturge who entered the holy
bonds of matrimony Sunday even
ing, quite unexpected and unan
nounced. We were put on the trail
of this scoop when Mr. Sturge
wanted to use the orderly room
telephone to phone a minister and
inquire if he could be married i"
three hours.
This is the second week for the
student officers of this squadron
being the officer of the day and
they seem to be enjoying it as
before.
A/S Allen W. Houston claims
to be the most polite “chow hound”
in the detachment. He eats his
meal along with his tablemates
and after they have left he really
goes to town on the leftover food.
Mr. Houston said: “I’m not afraid
of getting my next meal, but then
why take chances. What if the
stoves blew up?”
There was a slight error in
this column Tuesday in that we
mentioned that the colors of the
Air Corps were gold and blue. Ac
cording to the Basic Field Manual,
(See CIRCLING, Page 4)
DRIFTING
By A/S Fred J. Rosenthal
SERVICE FLAG
Hedge Hopping
Squadron IV
School days, School days, good
ole golden rule days.
We’ve started to school, now, and
everybody is sweatin’ under the
strain. Remember, fellas, back in
the days when you, as small chil
dren, went traipsin’ off to school
in the morni’ swingin’ your books,
and your mother’s voice echoed in
your ears, telling you to be good
in school. Them days are gone for
ever. Nw if you don’t be good, you
get gigged. Horrible word, GIG
GED. Also, we have begun the
course in P. T., and from this
view, it looks like the thing that
will put the men in top notch shape
for the y grueling strain that is
combat duty.
it shall be—
To force this proud world to do
homage to me..
Be sure it will say, when its ver
dict is won,
“She reaped as she sowed—this
man is her son.”
May we suggest that you clip
this out and save it to read on
those days that you feel sort of
discouraged.
This paper is going to devote a
column to “Letters to the Editor”
beginninig in the near future.
Please address your letters to the
ACTD News and give them to your
Squadron columnist or leave them
in your orderly room. We will wel
come all criticism and suggestions
that you may have to offer. Let
us know what you think of our
efforts.
The following poem was submit
ted by Mr. Philip K. Mershon:
THE AIR CORPS GOES
TO COLLEGE
The air corps has gone to college,
and has a short time to stay.
The chow is good and we are
treated fine,
in the good ole army way.
The squadrons marching down the
, street,
put on a very good show.
And you can tell at a glance that
the beavers,
are really in the know.
We’ve got a commander who’s
aces,
he really is the best.
He’ll back us up and fight for us,
I’d say he’s the best in the
west.
The college itself is a beautiful
thing,
with it’s grass and trees green.
As we wander about and view the
place,
a better spot we have never
seen.
When we are through with our
training here,
and on we will have to go,
We will stop and think of the
friends we made,
and be kind of sad I know.
So the air corps has gone to
school,
to gain some useful knowledge.
And we’ll give a cheer as we bid
goodbye, to Texas A. & M.
college.
° p ■■ I' ^ n *i8 no n — i' ■■ n — a»
LOUPOT’S i
A Little Place and a
Big Saving! ?
Within the church there hangs a
service flag
And every week the stars of blue
increase,
And each one represents a boy
/ who’s gone
To fight for us until the day of
peace.
KEEP COOL---
And every time I look upon it there
I find one star that seems a deeper
hue;
And this it brings a message
straight to me,
Somehow, as tho I’d seen the face
of YOU.
—another poem from home
LIFE’S LITTLE MYSTERIES
Why do little men invariably
smoke big cigars?
ROSIE’S LEDGER
My brother still doesn’t know
what the D. C. after Washington
stands for—Darned Crowded or
Downright Confused.
JEST IN PASSING
Love is like apple pie—a little
crust and a lot of applesauce.
ROSIE’S JOURNAL
Just read that an eastern factory
formerly devoted to the manufac
ture of rat traps has been taken
over by the government for war
production. And why not? Ater
(See DRIFTING, Page 4)
On a Hot Day
drop in for a
refreshing drink
that’s really cooling
— at —
GEORGE’S
Everything’s Regular Now! Visit Us!
Typewriter Smoke
A/S George A. Martin
A naval aviation machinist’s
mate wrote a letter describing
minutely his unit’s action over
seas—but the censor did not mind.
His parents received a letter which
said:
“I’ll describe our place and how
we got there. After leaving where
we werer before we left for here,
not knowing we were coming here
from there, we couldn’t tell whe
ther we had arrived here or not.
“Nevertheless, we now are here
and not there. The weather here is
just as it always is at this season.
The people here are just like they
look.”
“I had better close now, before
I give to much valuable military
infrmation.”
The censor added: “Amen.”
The following is a peom that
A/S Kenwood Jackson received
from his mother. It is one of his
most prized possesions and we
would like to take the liberty of
reprinting it.
TO MY SON
Do you know that your soul is of
mine such a part
That you seem to be fibre and core
of my heart?
None can pain me as you, son, can
do;
None otl^r can please me or praise
me as you.
Remember the world will be quick
with its blame,
If shadow or stain ever darken
your name.
“Like mother, like son” is a saying
so true
The world will judge largely of
Mother by you.
Be this then yqour task—if a task
Due to Labor Shortage—A Condition Beyond Our
Control
We Will Close
Each Sunday Afternoon
1:00 O’CLOCK EFFECTIVE
JULY 25
This will make if possible for us to render you better
service during the time we are open—and to keep up
the high standards we maintain in our business.
We ask our customers to please make
note of this change in store hours —
THANK YOU!
Madeleys Pharmacy
“The Store of Friendly Service” — South Gate