Page 4
THE BATTALION
SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8, 1944
Emphasis Placed On Grades In New Air Corps Directive
New Wing
Cammander
Takes Over
Filling the vacancy left by the
departure of A/S Victor Robinson
to San Antonio, Mr. Charles W.
May officially took over the duties
of Wing Commander on Tuesday
Jan. 4. Mr. May, who has been
here at Texas A. & M. since Sept.
13, proved himself worthy of the
position he now holds by serving
as Squadron Commander of Sqad-
ron III for some three and a half
months.
His army career began back in
1941, when he reported to the 17th
Infantry division on Jan. 27. At
this time the 17th division, which
was later destined to capture Attn,
was stationed at Fort Ord in Cali
fornia. While at Fort Ord he
worked his way up from rifleman
to sergeant of a 60mm mortor
platoon. After 18 months he was
transferred to Camp Swift in
Texas to help in activating the
newly formed 96th division. After
finishing his work at Camp Swift
he was sent to Fort Sam Houston
where he once more resumed his
duties as platoon sergeant.
It was while at Fort Sam
Houston that Mr. May applied for
transfer to the Air Force in June
of 1943. After taking his physical
examination, his division moved to
Louisiana for 65 days of maneu
vers. As fate would have it, the
morning of the 65th day he re
ceived his acceptance for Cadets
and moved on to Sheppard Field.
Mr. May was born some 24 years
ago in Alameda, Calif., where he
spent his leisure time in hunting
and fishing. These two spoi’ts
still remain his favorite hobbies,
although he participated in many
others. In high school he was
active in softball, basketball and
football, being Captain of the var
sity eleven in his senior year. After
the completion of his high school
career, Mr. May continued his
softball playing with the Shell
Oil Co., for whom he worked until
entering the service.
Stapler. In Porterville, Calif.,
William Benedict, out hunting, lin
ed up a couple of deer, bagged
them both with one shot.
MILITARY
TRIMNESS
Choose your Military
Shirts . . . Slacks . . .
Jackets and coats . . .
with an eye to Trimness
and good looks plus qual
ity. You will find all
those specifications here
—stop in and allow us
to show you our fine
stock ' of Regulation
clothing.
Officers Uniforms
Officers Trench Coats
Officers Slacks
Officers Short Overcoats
Dobbs Caps
Regulation Shirts
Reg. Field Jackets
Reg. Serge Slacks
Reg. Wool Shirts
Regulation Shoes by
Nettleton- . . .
Nunn-Bush
Edgerton
riTaMropftfo
“Two Convenient Stores”
College Station Bryan
FIRST SCHOLASTIC
REPORTS REVEAL
Thirty men in the 308th C. T.
D. now boa«st academic averages
of above 90 percent according to
the lists posted in squadron or
derly rooms Thursday evening.
Leading the parade was Avia
tion Student William R. Hodge
of Squadron V with a 95 aver
age... Leaders in their respec
tive squadrons were Aviation
Student R. L. Gaudinok in Squad
ron III with 94 and Aviation
Student Y. C. Greer in Squad
ron II with 92.
Of the 30 high averages, 16
were in Squadron V, nine in
Squadron HI and five in Squad
ron II. Squadron Ps records
were not figured and the high
ranking men in Squadron IV
had been moved up with no re
placements in sight.
At a detachment meeting
Thursday afternoon, Capt. Jack
Greason, plans and training of
ficer, emphasized the importance
of scholarship and reminded the
students that their grades here
would go down on their mili
tary record.
BABY BEAVERS
REPORT
A cross-section of opinion from
Squadron I, which arrived at Col
lege Station to join the 308th De
tachment two weeks ago, reveals
the new Eager Beavers are well
satisfied with their new station.
In response to queries on the
food, the discipline, the studies, the
officers, the instructors, the de
tachment in general and Aggieland,
Squadron I was unanimous in
voicing approval.
A/S CLIFFORD KING, of Vien
na, Ga., who has been in 23 dif
ferent stations since joining the
army 25 months ago, and therefore
should know, thinks the food
“couldn’t be better.”
“Especially,” he declares,
“When one has been on maneuvers
as many times as I have.”
A/S King adds: “The discipline
is just what it should be in view
of what we are being trained for;
as long as you stay on the ball
it isn’t too tough.”
Before coming into the army
he was a truck driver, before ap
plying for flight training he was
crew chief on a bomber. He expects
to be able to use the training he
will get here after the war “just
plenty. Especially the mathematics
and physics.”
A/S L. V. BRUNETTO, South
San Francisco, Cal.—“The food is
fine; the weather, almost as good
as California; the studies—all new
to me and kind of tough.”
A/S PRESSLEY MICK, Poca-
hantas, la.: “The 308th makes a
man out of you or else. The tac
tical officers are the best I’ve met
in the army. But the history
teachers seem to think history is
the only thing in the life of an
aviation student.”
A/S RALPH LAYTON, St.
Louis, Mo.: “On of the things this
place lacks is sand in the food.
I consider myself lucky to have
been sent to school at A. & M. I
like the way we are treated, and
the strickness of the discipline.’ 1
PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED
Three promotions among the en
listed personnel of the headquar
ters staff of the 308th College
Training Detachment were an
nounced Thursday by Capt. Sam
B. Hill, commanding officer.
Sgt. Norman L. Fox, who works
in the service record department,
was promoted to staff sergeant;
Cpl. Irvin Grossman, who is the
file clerk, was made a sergeant;
and Pfs. Charles T. Eubanks, who
works with the plans and train
ing office, supply, personnel and
the tactical training departments,
was promoted to corporal.
All three men were among the
first to arrive here when this de
tachment was set up in February
1943. Corporal Eubanks coming
here February 18, Sergeant Gross-
men and Sergeant Fox, both ar
riving about February 20. Of the
three Sergeant Grossman has been
in the army for the longest per
iod. Previous to coming here Ser
geants Fox and Grossman were
both members of the staff of the
Pre-Flight School at the San An
tonio Cadet Center. Sergeant Fox
was a personnel clerk there and
Sergeant Grossman was in the file
section. Corporal Eubanks came to
this detachment from Ellington
Field, where he worked in person
nel headquarters. Previous to that
he was a member of the staff of
the recruiting office in Houston.
EDITOR .Francis D. Wallace
Managing Editors William A. Miller
Richard K. Brome
Feature Editors Hilary B. Mattingly
Sports Editors Samuel S. Hauert
Anthony Shemroske
Music Editor Vincent Nonnemecher
Calendar Editor Howard E. Leap
Editorial Board
Lt. W. F. Moist A/S F. D. Wallace
A/S W. A. Miller A/S R. K. Brome
Reporters
A/S Sidney I. Greenberg
A/S Ivan R. Meek
A / S Harry Katzakian
A/S Charles Miller
A/S Jerome J. Kalk
A/S Harry J. Owens
A/S Robert J. Kerrigan
Wing Tips
SQUADRON II
ATTENTION HOT PILOTS—
A/S A. Offenbecker “Force Land
ing” challenges anyone of you to
surdo his record of force landings.
As of last Friday his score was
two, and by today it will be at
least four.
A/S R. THURMOND—(Hot Pi
lot). Next time you leave the
field, lets not walk off with the
ship’s door. Your pilot may hit
the air. You wouldn’t want that
to happen, WOULD YOU?
A/S A. Hill—Attention please!
So sorry—can’t punch your T. S.
Card. Next time don’t have switch
on “Contact” and call “Close and
Off”.
A/S Van Waren—THE idea of
shooting landing is to make a
three point one, not three bounces,
than do a 180 degree turn, and stop
your ship with the brakes.
A/S B. N. Edminsten—Will you
be FUBAR when you run out of
cigars! What will Chapman say?
Better yet, what will your flight
report say?
FLYING RUMOR—A/S Grind-
stead is contemplating a more
drastic step than taking poison.
He’s taking on a better half. How
about that little book you have?
MR. WAITS—How can A/S
Stogel pass his flight training,
when instead of studying his flight
maneuvers, he’s studying D. R. His
grade in that subject is 5. He
can’t even make a take-off, never
the less a three point landing. Tell
him to stick to planes, they can’t
say no.
NERVOUS LIAN—Mrs. L. will
you get down here and stop Mr. L.
from going crazy till you do come?
I don’t mind it during the day,
but at nite when he practices—
that’s all.
SQUADRON HI
Covering the detachment meet
ing of Jan. 6th. Much to our re
gret, when I say our, I mean
Squadron III. It looks as though
the. boys will have to buckle down
and study a little harder. If priv-
ilages are to be expected. I don’t
know, but could it be that the
Beavers of this squadron aren’t
as eager as they used to be!
Some of the Beavers are going
to be dissappointed now. No more
superman during study period. It
looks as though we will have to
study from now on and get that
old ‘on the ball’ feeling. Whats’
say we do just that!
* * *
MR. ROY SMITH seems to be
having trouble with tumbling.
Seems he has trouble trying to get
his feet off the floor. (PS. Must
be the Graviey.) Those who were
in swimming are finding P. E.—
nice (?) now.
* * *
A/S F. H. PARE—Mrs. Pare is
coming all the way from Haverhill,
Mass. Now Mr. Fare’s freedom is
coming to the point as his wife
enteres the scene—once more.
* * *
A/S R. H. HARDING is a
proud papa we see. Mrs. Hard
ing has returned from Eureka,
Kansas with their little off-spring.
* * *
A/S J. C. COTTRELL and A/S
A. D. MONTGOMERY would like
to say—HELLO.
SQUADRON V
THROUGH SOME CAREFUL
FINAGLING AND THE LOCAL
SQUADRON V BEAVERS BEING
ON THE BALL — SUCCESS.
SQUADRON WINS THE REVIEW
RIBBON—AT LAST! ! ! NOW
CROW!
* * *
If we can ever get our Messrs.
Melton, Butler, Shemroske, and
Kopec without too much confusion
to the Flight A’s, it will virtually
be an accomplishment on the part
of one Mr. Lightstone. . . . The
real eager-beaver a la de luxe—
shall we rave on, sir?
* * *
A/S JOE TALLAL—fixes glass
es, piccilos (spelled right?) clocks
so that they don’t work. He is
one of the Slide Rule Commandos
so expertly named by local talent.
* * *
A/S LAWRENCE BERLOW—
has been kind enough to cut out
the ARMY AIR CORPS SONG for
the convenience of those who would
like to sing at the Detachment
Meetings. The song is in this is
sue. Please cut out and place in
wallet for general use.
* * *
T/Sgt. CAS DISHMAN — A
prayer to a chop-chop ball (bawl)!
He might have been a beautiful
baby, but oh, look at his head—
now!
Military Band News
Membership in the Military Band
will number sixty-five when all
new Squadron I members secure
their instruments, A/S M. B. El
liot, band director, announced
Thursday.
Fourteen men from the new
squadron have joined the band.
The membership should continue
to grow according to Mr. Elliot,
since only eight men will be lost
with the departure of Squadron II,
and it is hoped that these will more
than be replaced by the new Squad
ron II.
TO STAFF MEMBERS
Two War Department Civilian
Award ribbons were presented to
civilian members of the headquar
ters staff of the 308th College
Training Detachment at the weekly
review Friday afternoon, December
31, 1943.
Presentation of these ribbons
was made by Capt. Sam B. Hill,
commanding Officer of the 308th
C. T. D. to Miss Mary Beal, secre
tary in the plans and training of
fice, and to Mrs. Virginia Spacek,
payroll clerk. Mrs. Spacek’s hus
band, Cpl. Edwin Spacek, is the
morning report clerk.
These ribbons, which were in
augurated recently by the War De
partment, are given for at least
six months of faithful and effic
ient service on the part of civilian
employee.
LIEUTENANT ASKEW
LEAVES FOR SCHOOL
Lt. Rual Asked, Jr., who had
been acting adjutant for the past
two weeks was ordered to report
to the Army Intelligence School at
Harrisburg, Penn., by Jan. 8.
While there Lieutenant Askew
will take the basic intelligence
course, which will last for approx
imately a month and then return
to this detachment. He left here
Wednesday evening and will begin
his school work Monday.
Wedding of Beaver
Takes Place Tonight
A/S ROBERT J. KERRIGAN of
Squadron 5, to marry Miss Ann
Mullineaux of the state of New
York, today at St. Mary’s Chapel
of College Station. Father Tim
Valenta will officiate the wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. George Huffman of
Indiana will be the best man and
bridesmaid in the wedding party.
The bride will be given away by
Captain Sam Hill.
Mr. Kerrigan and Miss Mulli
neaux are high school sweethearts.
Mr. Kerrigan went to Colgate Uni
versity in Hamilton, New York,
where he played half-back on the
varsity football team in 1942.
The Army
Air Corps Song
Retrain:
Off we go into the wild blue-yon
der.
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet
our thunder.
At ’em boys, give ’em the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame
from under,
Off with one helluva roar,
We live in fame or go down in
flame, Boy!
CHORUS:
Here’s a toast to the host of those
who love the vastness of the sky;
To a friend we will send a message
of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their
all of old,
Then down we roar to score the
rainbow’s pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we
boast, the Army Air Corps.
Off we go into the wild blue yon
der.
Keep the wings level and true.
If you’d live to be a gray-haired
wonder, , s
Keep the nose out of the blue!
Flying men guarding the Nation’s
border.
We’ll be there followed by more,
In echelon we carry on, Boy!
Nothing’ll stop the Army Air
Corps!
Beavers Warned Washouts
Possible for Low Averages
Captain Greeson Tells Detachment
Higher Scholastic Rating Expected
In accordance to the latest bulletin received from the
Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Central Flying Train
ing Command at Randolph Field, Texas, Capt. Jack Greeson,
plans and training officer of the 308th College Training De
tachment, informed the detach-4
ment about the major change
whereby an Aviation Student can
be eliminated due to lack of in
terest, or in course failures.
This policy goes into effect im
mediately. Classes and their sched
ules have been slowed up to allow
the students to absorb the work
more readily. This does not mean
that the mid-semester exams will
be limited to the mid-semester
term. Eliminations can be made
before the examinations take
place, proving that the obvious cas
es warrant it.
The military training and mili
tary lectures will be longer; physi
cal training also lengthened.
If the grades warrant it and
prove that the academic deficienc
ies are a result of disinterest, in
the opinion of the college faculty
member, this may be considered
grounds under this policy. Students
who shcKv special aptitude and are
highly proficient in all subjects
may thus be moved through the
subject matter. This too provides
an opportunity of the faster men
to go through, providing that the
grades prove he can be moved up,
and take more work. Students will
still take 22% weeks of work.
The academic subjects will be
allowed to run over a 20-week per
iod. Flight period should begin
with the 19th week of academic
training. There will be a final
exam as a standard basis of pro
ficiency at the end of the 18-week
period. This is to provide a check
on final eliminations for academic
deficiencies prior to the flight in
structions.
Every effort will be given the
man to keep above the average
grades and if the man shows signs
of honest interest and is applying
himself all the time, he will have
nothing to fear. As long as he is
honest with himself and continues
to do his best, then his chances
of coming through are better than
the average. Each man should
know his own weakness and strive
to eliminate these weaknesses im
mediately. If he is weak in some
subject there are many men who
have more knowledge on the sub
ject who will be only too glad to
help.
Applying yourself conscientious
ly and using all the resources in
class that are open to you, you
should make the grade. We want
pilots, navigators and bombardiers.
This is the golden opportunity that
so many talk about.
Have You Mailed
Your Date a
Letter?
WING DANCE
JANUARY 22, 1944
Hear Richard Crooks
METROPOLITAN OPERA TENOR
on Town Hall at
GUION HALL
Tickets Will Go on Sale at
STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE
at College
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13th
General Admission $1.00 Reserved Seat Adm. $2.00
JANUARY 20
8:00 P. M.