The Camp Hulen Searchlight (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, June 13, 1941 Page: 4 of 8
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PAGE FOUR
THE CAMP HULEN SEARCHLIGHT
t
NEWS and NOTES
from the
211th C. A. (AA)
Romantic Pair
The entire 2nd Bn., plus a heavy quitous orchestra that so often
contingent from Btry A, again | figures in print in this column
protected Eagle Lake from the' and saves your columnist so many
ravages of opposing aerial attnck, | headaches in the search for news,
on June 5-6. The popularity of
the place was in no way dimin-
inished by the armistice called
Thursday night, by tacid consent
of all, which was observed in a
very fitting manner by a band
concert in the town. Undobtedly
inspired by the talk previously giv-
en the Rotary Club by Major Os-
Btry H has seceded from the
211th, on amicable terms of course,
and having faithfully promised to
return. Occasion for the defec-
tion was and is the absortion of
the battery in infantry drill in
recent days, as preliminary train-
ing for the mobility with which
car C. Bohlin, the entire town it will be affected during the com
turned out and whooped it up for' ing maneuvers. This Gacserian
the soldiers. The unusual part of | brain-child is mothered by Set.
the celebration was that it was [ Harper, former infantryman, who
working at cross-purposes with it-1 is now teaching his CA eollea-
self, for the band concert was so j gues the essentials of this type of
popular that the scheduled dance warfare
fell flatter than the week end be-
fore payday—all the girls suppos-
ed to attend were down town
watching the soldiers shag to the
rhythm of the 211th tootlers.
The 211th has heard so much
about the airplanes that they are
to ward off from cities and towns
in our land that a few of the boys
have decided to see what they are
And we have the usual Houston
convoy last weekend—all batteries
except G, which was on guard,
i participating. The entire trek was
under the dominion of Lt. Dan’l
Deedy of Btry F. The trip up
and return was accomplished with
no more of the usual incidents
than is ordinary.
Btry E, having had the best in-
really like. Corp. Richardson and' spection of all. the 2nd Bn on
Pvt. Cooidge, Btry. E., have be- J Saturday, June 7. will not lay out
gun flying lessons at the Hous-1 at all this week end, and will
ton airport; both are experienced have the additional privilege of
fliers and have a strong desire to | heading outbound at 10 a. m.
keep it up while in the federal' Others in the second battalion take
CREATOR OF FRIDAY THE 13th
TELLS WHY HE ORKIRATED IT*
By Uncle Egbert
Last night we had the terrify-
ing experience of meeting face to
face the man directly in charge
of making Friday the thirteenth a
horrible and gruesome day, Wear-
ing our civics and ducking through
Palacios .alleys to avoid the MP.s,
we were suddenly confronted by a
monstrous man. His complexion
ashen gray, his teeth needle-like
and
and
supplies. To cover his own faj].
ures he invented such terms as
“You’ve got to get a memorandum
receipt first,” “It’s coming in on
the boat,” “We’ll sure have some J
next Tuesday,” and “We had^-m^
but we issued them all this morn-
ing.”
Within a short time whenever
a man failed to get any supplies,
got clothing two sizes off, hjj.’
or
long, h’s eyes deeply sunk, j friends would sympathize by say-
his lips curled in an ugly ing “Well, that’s Friday the Thir.
service. Corp.Markey and Pfc.
Stewart of Btry A flew last week
end from Houston to New Orleans
and return with Texas friends.
And 1st. Sgt. Harrison of Btry G,
long an outstanding pilot who has
made flying his hobby in civilian
life, discovered a man at Eagle
Lake who owned a plane and who
would let him take it on a birds-
eye reconnaissance of the sur-
rounding territory.
Those officers of the 2nd Bn
whom you may see any morning
now waving a lead pipe in the
general direction of Mexico are
not holding secret practice for ma-
jiuevers. They are merely simu-
<? ting rifles which are the usual
^plement in the Butts Manuel
^ich has replaced the time-hon-
;d exercises this week in the
uattaiion.
And one of the less-informed
sergeants in Btry. F has queried
whether the pipe will be of use
in simulating the lost 37’s, 50’s,
and 30’s which have gradually
trickled away from the defense-
less supply room to other climes.
The lastest report is that Sgt.
notice.
Southern Madeleine Carrol is
about to fall for Northern Stirling
Hayden in Paramount’s Techni-
color romance "Virginia” which
opens a two-day run at the Camp
Theater, Wednesday. Fred Mac-
Murray is also featured in the
history making film.
All this week, the 1st Bn. has
been firing at Indianola Beach.
News and notes from the branch
office indicate that the boys are
enjoying their stay.
However, the clouds of blue sul-
phur smoke billowing gently over
their headquarters do not indicate
that the ocupants thereof have
taken up the opium habit. It is
merely a reflection of the feelings
of the officers and men at the
unfavorable weather which has
dogged their best efforts to carry
out their intensive firing pro-
gram. Ironically enough, when
the sky is clear, there is no plane
available, and when one comes in
sight, the Heavens immediately
cloud over like so much Waldorf
stew. Hundreds of rounds of un-
expended ammunition, dimliish-
ed only by trail and calibration
shots have the battalion C. O.
singing “A Worried Mind” in his
sleep, and dreaming hopefully of
the skies over London. Unless the
situation is readjusted, it may be
necessary to petition E. B. Ride-
over the firing point, the drivers
leap into their cars and set off
in hot pursit. At the nearest point Hulen wish they
from the road, they dismount, race ’ been born.”
sneer. Mistaking him for some
kind of an officer of the day, we
came to a snappy salute and at-
tempted to nonchalantly walk on.
“Hold on,” he cried in a
more blood-curling than a Ser-
geant’s at roll call” "you’re a
newspaperman, aren’t you?" ‘Yes,’
we answered, grabbing our jump-
ing Adams apple and trying to
be light-hearted “you don’t think
I’m wearing these holes in my
socks because I like ventilation."
“Never mind the bum gags,” he
said, visibly annoyed, “in tomor-
row’s newspaper I want you to
remind the soldiers that it is Fri-
day the thirteenth and they should
be on their guard. I am Boris
Krawloff, a white Zombie, High
Almighty King of all that is wick-
ed and evil. I am in personal
charge of all bad luck and tomor-
row I will make some men at Camp
had never had
tcenth for you.” After Friday’s
death this belief became synony-
mous with hard luck. Of course
the Squattermasters have changed
voice ancj now” have everything the
troops need, exactly when they
need it. Out of loyalty to the
father of all Squattermasters,
though, they still remember and
observe Friday the Thirteenth.’’
“That is interesting,” we said
“and we’re glad to get the story.
But what about tomorrow ? What
kind of bad luck are you cooking
up?”
“Hee! Hee! That’s for the sol-
diers to find out,” said Krawloff,
wringing his hands and suddenly
disappearing into the shadows.
over praire and wallow through
swamp to attain the priceless and
coveted prize. There are no Mar-
quis of Queensbury rules barring
gouging, hitting below the belt,
clipping or other necessary rough-
ness. The object is to bring home
the bacon, and not to worry about
cooking the other side’s goose un-
til the bones shiver into narrow-
dust.
This strictly original 211th
sport, probably never to be a fav-
NEWS and NOTES
Iron the
106th C. A. (AA) Bn.
“I can’t believe that,” we said
bravely, interspersing our words
with loud knocks from our knees, I
“Im not superstitious and I don’t C. W. Murray.
think Friday the thirteenth is any
more unlucky than any other day.”
“It is for the army,” said Boris
Krawloff, smiling with pleasure at
the very thought, “It was a Friday
the thirteenth when those metal
mirrors in your bath houses were
invented. Metal mirrors, ha! I
have often seen three or four men
Hq. Btry.
1st. Lt. Robert B. Hail, Cpi.
Howard B. Nesbit and 1st. Sgt.
Karl Pate, Jr., returned Sunday
night from a week visit in Madi-
sonville, Kentucky. They were
accompanied back by Sgt. Pate’s
mother and sister, who will stay
a few days in Palacios and then
orite among anybody but ping- crowded around with one unknow-1 make a tour of Mexico and Texas.
pong addicts, adds considerable | ingly shaving his neighbor, ruth-
spice to the daily diet, and the I lessly nipping off ears, noses, and
outcome of each day’s tussle is | other protruding flesh. Their re-
awaited with tense anticipation! flections make thin men fat, fat
by each gun crew, the victor be- men thin, and average men hide-
ing awarded with the lustiest of ous. Oh joy, one of my first but
cheers—and whatever else is nec- most ingenious concoctions.”
Deering is working nights on a [out (through channels) to take
new way to make slingshots out
of memorandum receipts.
A rousing welcome back was
accorded to Corps. Thomas and
Michaud of Btry A, when they
reenlisted last week after the
usual twenty day periods of grace
allowed by law and the prophets.
They were probably led to this
by the visit of the girls from the
restaurant in Midland most pat-
ronized by the boys of the battery.
New commissions go to former
Sgt. Glover of Btry G, assigned
to Btry. H, and to St. Sgt. Crocker
of Btry G, now of Btry E. The
two are to be congratulated on
their attainment of their position.
The open house at Bay City for
the 211th Friday, June 6th was
marked by a rainstorm that wash-
ed out the ball game with the
204th, as well as the scheduled
outdoor dance. However, the band
held firm as the Rock of Gibraltar
and their concert went off in the
customary star-spangled style.
Nor was the formal opening of
the park season postponed, and
the attending firemen were en-
abled to enjoy the other sports
facilities that the good people of
the town have made available to
the men.
the appropriate disciplinary ac-
tion. Barely fifty shots had been
fired at the end of the first week;
but when the weather breaks, the
roar of the 3-inches may well re-
semble the chatter of a thirty-
calibre.
In line with the above, Btry. A
has issued a call for volunteers to
man the slipping sky-hooks which
hold up the ceiling at 1100 feet.
They swear that that is the mini-
mum height at which a plane may
successfully be tracked.
essary in the way of splints and
bandages. The race is not al-
ways to the swift nor the battle
to the strong.
“Well, anyway,” we said in re-
buttal “you can’t break them and
have seven years bad luck.”
“That’s the beauty of it,” said
Sailors on leave who go rowing Krawloff, fixing his hypnotic eye
in the Public ‘Gardens have noth- uPon the water-squirting flower
ing on the inhabitants of the In-
dianola beach, who spend their
Sundays on hikes and target shoot-
ing excursions far down the beach.
These amusements vie in popuar-
ity with the abundant swimming,
and the typically Texas sport of
surf-fishing. But last weekend,
the place was deserted as after
in our lapel, “they will last for-
ever, growing duller and duller
until the blood of thousands will
be upon the hands of the Quarter-
master.”
“Well,” we said, squeezing the
bulb on our squirting flower, “if
Friday the thirteenth is more un-
lucky than any other day there
the famous hurricane of 1770, as.must be some reason. Why have
all but a skeleton force of faithful J y°u chosen this particular day
retiners took off on convoys to. and date-?”
convoys
Houston, Rockport, and Corpus
Chisti.
Not to be outdone by other near-
by settlements, the good people of
One morning last week, the panel j^or^ kavaca l?ave a party for the
section of the 1st Bn was pressed; ?prv'ce mon the battalion on
into action when radio communica-1 Friday last at the town recreation
tion between plane and firing | center. Several truckloads of sol-
point became disrupted. The tar-idiers. enjoyed a sbeial evening of
get plane, a huge B-10 bomber, I dancing, singing, and games, top-
swooped low over the command j Ped w'th some superb refresh-
post in reply to panel displays, i ments.
diopping mesages with astroishing 1
Rumor hath it that the 211th
will festoon the El Campo Recrea-
tion Hall the night of June 28,
leading the proud beauties of the
place around the dance floor, un-
doubtedly to the strains of the ubi-
accuracy. This particular pilot
appeared capable of hitting a dime
■with unerring consistency, and be-
ing entitled to seven cents change
every time.
The releasing of targets at the
conclusion of each day’s tracking
is another matter entirely. Accur-
acy is impossible owing to the
flinisiness of the silken fabric, the
vagaries of the wind currents, and
other factors beyond human con-
trol. But out of this uncertain-
^ as to the uultimate landing
place of the elusive wind sock the
drivers of the battalion command
cars have developed a sport which
combines the best features of
chariot racing cross-country and
sandot football.
As the target floats eastward
Trained Guides Show
Soldiers New Orleans
Soldiers visiting gay old New
Orleans from various army camps
in the New Orleans area are en-
joying sight-seeing tours under
supervision of trained guides of
tfie WPA Recreation Program.
The quaint old Louisiana city is
noted for its many landmarks and
places of interest, and is visited
by many soldiers. Famous places
such as the Pontalba building, the
Cabildo, Jackson Square, Napolean
House, the Old Mint, St. Louis
Cathedral and the French Market
have been repaired by the WPA,
and it is these places that the tour
covers.
“It’s a long story,” answered
Krawloff, quickly taking a pull
at a whisky jug and using our
water spray ns a chaser, “It all
goes back to the very first army.
It was several thousand years B.
C., and was organized by the
Neanderthal men. One of the I
Neanderthals was a good looking
but worthless dandy named Fri
day. He was the thirteenth child
of a large family of twenty chil-
dren and he was therefore known
to one and all as Friday the Thir-
teenth. Well, sir, Friday the Thir-
teenth didn’t like to drill or work
out in the sun so he pulled strings
and got a job handling the sup-
plies for the troops. He didn’t
do anything al! day but rest in his
chair and he became an accom-
plished sitter. The Neanderthals
therefore be^an calling him the
Squattefmaster, from the Nean-
derthal “Squat,” meaning to sit,
and "Masterus,” meaning to be
skillful at. This name has lasted
through the ages and to the pres-
ent day people in charge of sup-
plies are known as “Squattermas-
ters.” or some similiar derivative.
Since Friday the Thirteenth did
little besides rest, the various unit
commanders began putting the
pressure on him for badly needed.
The battery baseball team is
stil in the same place as 1
week by winning one game a
losing one to Btry A of the 203rd
iH a doubleheader last Saturday.
iPvl. James GiviHs has been
granted a furlough after an ap-
pendicitis operation.
Btry B.
Pfc. Davidson is the proud fa-
ther of a son, William Allen Dav-
idson, Jr., who was born June
7th at the hospital a.t Victoria.
Both the baby and mother are do-
ing nicely. Congratulations T& the’
Davidsons.
Pvt. Sinclair was visited by his
father of Columbia, Kentucky this
past week.
Guests at the Houston dance Sat.
urday night were: Sgt. Grisson,
Cpls. Wilbur Buley and Frogede,
Pvtjs. Stoenburgen, Nelson, and
Phillips.
Btry. C
The Battery track team under
the guidance of Sgt. Carrido plac-
ed second in the field meet held
last week. The boys hope to be
in better condition for the next
meet.
The Battery went on a one day
convoy to Francitas last Wednes-
day for a C. P. X., Problem which
worked with much success.
The boys of the Battery have
decided to stick to baseball where
team work wins. The reason is
because the battery did not enter
the winning limelight, of the Field
Meet held last Friday. As one
sportsman to another: Better luck
next time.
Hours for Swimming ,
Here are Cancelled
Announced^ hours for swim-
ming at Camp Hulen for use of
the 800-foot pier southeast of th^
Station Hospital in TresFalaci
bay have been cancelled, it
been announced.
Henceforth, the pier will he
available to members of any unit
stationed here during off hours.
A life guard willl be on duty
during these hojirs.
1 M
re^dj
hiW
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Witt, William H. The Camp Hulen Searchlight (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, June 13, 1941, newspaper, June 13, 1941; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth720215/m1/4/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.