Greensboro Army Air Forces Technical Training Center #10: 10-Shun

The Great J. Smith Mystery A letter addressed recently to “Pvt. J. Smith, BTC 10, Greensboro, N. C.”, is still in the hands of the camp Post Office. It stands as a perfect example of how mail should not be addressed. The mailman pleads for co-operation. “Finding the right J. Smith eats up more time than a thou¬ sand properly addressed envelopes,’’ he says. “Give us a break and it goes right back to you.” VOL. 1, NO. 1. GREENSBORO, N. C., FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1943 FREE DISTRIBUTION Soldiers Crowd New USO Club Why We Fight Explained By Oran Veteran By PIC. HERSCHEL W. WARD. S/Sgt. Charles W. Anderson is one warrior who knows why he fights. In his own words: “People in the States don't know what war is, and we fight out there to keep them from finding out.’’ By “out there,’’ he means North Africa, for he was a member of the United States invasion party that landed on that continent at Oran last November 8. But he might have meant Australia, China, Alaska, or any one of a dozen places where Americans are now fighting, for the sergeant will soon rejoin his medium bombardment group in seeking out and blasting the enemy wherever he may be found. A veteran at 22, Charles has been in the army since December 5, 1939, when he enlisted at Ft. Logan, Col. He quit a job as junior forester to take up arms because: “I knew when England and Ger¬ many went to war, it was only a matter of time until we'd be in it, too.’’ His first assignment was in Puerto Rico. There, after graduation from aerial gunnery school, he was sent on regular coastal patrol missions in search of nazi submarines that menaced the flow of lend-lease goods to our allies. He got one, too, and now wears a silver star as evidence of heroic action over the Caribbean sea in June of 1942. Before going to Africa he re¬ ceived training in advanced gun¬ nery, also in Puerto Rico. His first station on the dark continent was Casablanca. From that base he sallied forth on some 18 bombing sorties that carried him over To¬ bruk, Tunisia, Naples, Bardia, Sfax, Bizerte and a number of enemy- held positions of lesser importance. He is credited with having shot down six enemy fighters who ven¬ tured too close to the big B-26 Martin bombing plane in which he flew. Early in December he was trans¬ ferred’ to Algiers, and this proved to be his nemesis. For five days (Continued On Page 3) Nine Exchanges Now Serve Men Stationed Here “You can get it at the PX" is rapidly becoming a byword at BTC 10, and “it" refers to anything from a toothbrush to a new set of sun¬ tans. At present, nine PXs, including one at the rifle range and the re¬ cently opened Main PX in 104, are operating. Two more will be ready soon, giving the camp a total of 11 PXs— one for each area. The ice cream and soft drink counters are the most popular with the soldiers, but they also purchase * Main PX, Bid. T-104, (open 11 a. m. to 9 p. m. daily; Noon to 9 p. in. Sundays). Branch No. 1, Bldg. T 701; No. 2, Bldg. T 809 No. 3, Bldg. T 3, No. 4, Bldg. T 688; No. 5, Bldg. T 308: No. 7. Bldg. T. 500; No. 8. Bldg. T 504. (Open 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. and 5 p. m. to 9 p. m. daily, 1 to 9 p. in. Sundays.) many items of military convenience and necessity. The profits made 'by the Ex¬ change go to the organization funds, recreation and chaplain funds or other projects that are for the ben¬ efit of the entire camp. Although they are staffed almost exclusively by civilians, the Army owns and operates the exchanges. Dividends are declared at specific intervals and all profits are turned back to the individual squadrons. Only commissioned and enlisted personnel arc allowed to make pur¬ chases at the post exchanges. Civil¬ ians permanently employed on the post may purchase items of food, beverages and tobacco that can be consumed nn the post. : ■ : l? S-:S8» USO CLUB OPENS — Col. Robert P. Glassburn, commanding officer of BTC 10, pauses at the door of the new USO club following an inspection tour marking its opening to servicemen, Saturday. With him are Howard Holderness, state USO chairman (left), and George E. Perrin, chairman of the Greens¬ boro Community Planning Council (right), who accompanied the C. O. Since then thousands of soldiers have passed through the doors. New Service Club Nears Completion The Service club, fast nearing completion, will be all its name im¬ plies. A club for soldiers, spread¬ ing cheer and conviviality after a hard day’s work, it will offer real service in the form of com¬ fort, relaxation, entertainment, writing facilities, food and drink. There will be a large social hall in which to lounge amid soft lights and countless easy chairs. An en¬ circling balcony overlooking the hall will contain writing tables for that letter to the girl or to the folks at home. A large, adjoining room has been made into a cafeteria, with still another room equipped with a soda fountain. The scholarly soldier hasn't been forgotten, either, for a miniature library will furnish the soldier with boks, magazines and periodicals. Three hostesses, a senior hostess, and a cafeteria hostess will super¬ vise activities of the service club. A portable stage will be placed in the social hall many evenings, and music and plays will be pre¬ sented regularly to .the soldiers. Post broadcasts may emanate later from the stage. Murals depicting the activities of the air forces will decorate the walls. The construction and equip¬ ment of the club are being de¬ veloped under the direction of Lt. William J. Seavers. A British tar recently described how it felt to be torpedoed: “A bump, a swim, and a pickup." Form Group Councils To Represent All Trainees Each Barracks Selects Delegates A Training Group council is be¬ ing set up in each group to give the trainee an opportunity to have his say. Through this council trainees may obtain information, offer construc¬ tive suggestions for improvement of conditions and procedures, ex¬ press grievances or complaints and discuss matters of interest to them. Trainees of each barracks will elect "one of their number as a council member to serve for two weeks and be eligible for re-elec¬ tion. The T. G. first sergeant will preside at each session. Nei¬ ther officers nor enlisted men oth¬ er than elected council members and the first sergeant will be per¬ mitted to attend. Meetings will be held Thursday evenings at 6 p. m. and will not run more than an hour. Trainees in barracks will in¬ struct their delegates as to the nature of problems to be present¬ ed. The council is not authorized to make commitments on matters be¬ fore il. Full minutes of each meet¬ ing will be placed, before the group commanding officer within 24 hours after each meeting. He will take appropriate action where de¬ sirable. Wing commanders will inspect council meeting minutes. Col. Glassburn And Staff Tour Opening Day The doors of the USO Club at 363 North Elm Street are open all day to the men of BTC 10. This latest addition to the faci¬ lities far servicemen in Greensboro was opened on Saturday afternoon when George E. Perrin, chairman of the Community Planning Coun¬ cil, proffered its use to the soldiers and Col. Robert P. Glassburn, com- manding officer, accepted. That evening more than 1,500 soldiers entered the USO and quick¬ ly made themselves at home. On Sunday 5,000 visited the building. The hours: Daily from 9 a. m. to 11 p. m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a. m. until 12 midnight. At the opening, Col. Glassburn and his staff were escorted on a tour of inspection by Perrin and Edson H. Denman, director of the USO club, and Howard Holderness, state USO chairman. During the tour they were served punch as they passed by the snack bar. The snack bar is only one of the features at the club. There's a liv¬ ing room used for dancing until the large dance hall being constructed next door will be ready to hold 800 couples. A game room, a music appreciation room with a new ra¬ dio-phonograph player and albums at the better known classics, a let¬ ter-recording service, writing room, showers and library are among the other facilities. Attractive Venetian blinds, mod¬ ern furniture and fluorescent light¬ ing are features of the commodius two-story building. When the dance hall is com¬ pleted the USO club will be the scene of camp shows and dances as well as recitals. Mr. Denman explained that representatives fre/m the various training groups will work in conjunction with the USO staff in preparing programs and other activities at the club. Hostesses Will be in constant at¬ tendance. There will be an in¬ formation desk to aid visiting servicemen. The formal dedication is tenta¬ tively set for July 4. College Campus Rules Enforced Unless you have a date with a co-ed, or you have been invited by a member of the faculty, soldier, stay off the Women’s college cam¬ pus. So many uniforms have been con¬ gesting the university grounds that sightseers can't see the scenery. In a special memorandum. Colonel Glassburn makes it clear that this order in no manner reflects an in¬ hospitable attitude on the part of college authorities, but originates with the CO himself as an effort to prevent undue congestion on the campus. MP’s are regularly patrolling the grounds with orders to return to camp any enlisted man whose pres¬ ence in that vicinity cannot be sat¬ isfactorily explained. “-It Is Your Responsi This is the first full-dress is¬ sue of your camp newspaper. You make up the first contingent of trainees and the first complement of permanent party — it is your re¬ sponsibility to get the camp off to a good start. This should not be a difficult task. The camp is set down in pleasant surround¬ ings within the limits of an at¬ tractive, hospitable city. The training aids are adequate and fa¬ vorably located. Briefly, we have the essential physical equipment necessary for success. The responsibility for success, therefore, rests squarely upon us. on our conception of our job, and upon the way we do our job. Our job is to prepare the trainee effectively to receive the specialized training he must have to help “keep ’em flying." That job will be best done if every¬ one of us will bear in mind it is best accomplished by collabora¬ tion — collaboration between the two principal elements of the command: The trainees and the permanent party. The permanent party man or officer must approach the trainee with the same conscientious effort to understand, the same desire to help, to which he himself would respond if the situation were re¬ versed. On the other hand, the trainee can help by bearing in mind he must leara many new things fast; that they are all nec¬ essary to his success as a soldier; and that he will succeed accord¬ ing to the thought and attention he applies to learning. Recently, I have been proud to hear favorable comments from citizens of Greensboro on the con¬ duct in town of the men of this command. You have already established a good reputation. You alone can maintain it. In maintaining a high reputation for good conduct, you make your due contribution to the good reputa¬ tion of the Army Air Forces everywhere. ROBERT P. GLASSBURN. Colonel, Air Corps Commanding.