Civilian Workers At Camp Atterbury

The Franklin Star - 24 April 1944
Many County Residents Serve Atterbury
A montage of the many civilian workers

Click on image for larger view

The need for more soldiers for field duty has resulted in employing civilians to staff many post positions formerly performed by soldiers in Camp Atterbury.

Thus, Atterbury now has an "Army" of civilian employees.  Hired and placed by the Civilian Personnel Branch, the employees operate typewriters, trucks, the equipment at the Post Bakery; they repair soldier's shoes, do his laundry, repair vehicles; they do book-keeping, filing, shorthand - and in assuming these duties they have made the Army stronger in the field.

In many cases, soldiers taught civilians their duties, and when the civilian became self-proficient, the soldier moved on to a new assignment in the field.  The above pictures show civilians at work - some of them new and still being instructed by soldiers.  Capt. E. J. Croft is chief of the Civilian Personnel Branch.

1.  T/4 Raymond Voiers, Hq. and Hq. sections, 1560th Service Unit is teaching Beatrice Gardner of Columbus, to operate a teletype machine in the Post Signal Office.  Here he offers pointers as she gains experience.

2.  Mary Ann Bundz of Edinburg, occupies a stenographer's desk in the Post Signal Office.

3.  Classifying all post military correspondence for filing is an important duty, now being taught to Mrs. Jean Buckminister of Columbus.  Instructing her is T/Sgt Raymond Golding, chief clerk of Records Section at Post Headquarters, from Hq & Hq. Section, 1560th SU.

4.  Some Atterbury offices are almost completely staffed by civilians who replaced soldiers.  This photo shows four at work in the Post Transportation Office.

5.  Civilians are being aught by soldiers to assume duties in the Post Adjutant's Branch at Post Headquarters.  Lt. A. I. West, assistant adjutant (left) and M/Sgt Louis Dovilla, post sergeant major, Hq & Hq Section, 1560th SU are shown supervising four "replacements".  Left to right are: Betty Howell and Mrs. Dorothy Harrell,  both of Shelbyville, and at right, are Mrs. Melvin E. Adams, Edinburg and Mrs. R. W. Guaineau.

6.  Pvt. William A. Nichols, QM and Service Section, 1560th SU, demonstrates operation of the sole-stitching machine in the C & E Shoe Repair Shop to William R. Mink of Hope.

7.  Ralph Yates of Nineveh has already replaced a sergeant as a foreman of a labor crew that loads and un-loads ammunition in an Ordnance warehouse.  Here he adjusts a "danger" sign to a truck about to be loaded.

8.  Operation of the "dough-dividing" machine at the Post Bakery is being taught Garnet Porter of Flat Rock, by Pfc Merle Englehart, QM and Service Section, 1560th SU.

9.  Pictured here are Post Bakery civilians doing jobs formerly manned by soldiers, but under the supervision of M/Sgt James Fink, QM and Service Section, 1560th SU.  Civilians rolling loaves, l. to r. are:  Maxine Van Sickle, Morgantown, Linnie Henley, Columbus, Jake Burch, Hope, and Mary Richardson, Morgantown.

10.  Sgt. Robert Hildenbrand, Hq & Hq Section, explains the book-keeping system of the Post Signal office to Maryellen Summers of Franklin.

11.  Orean Waugh of Edinburg, (left) checks toolkits for vehicles scheduled to go overseas.  Pfc. Frank Kovatch, Hq & Hq Section watches.

12.  One of the many civilian truck drivers who have replaced soldiers is James Haydn  of Columbus, shown here with a cargo truck.

13.  Operating an adding machine in the Post Finance office Fiscal Section is Mrs. Ruth Long of Edinburg.

Franklin Evening Star - 24 August 1945
Civilians at Work

Typical of the many hundreds of civilians here at Atterbury who helped keep Uncle Sam's war machine rolling along the road to victory, are Ira Pate and Dennis Collins, employed at the Automotive Shop at Post Ordnance.

Pate, 42 years old and married. comes daily to camp from Morgantown
to help repair and maintain the trucks used here. Formerly an electrical worker and mechanic, he has been employed here since last November, and said he plans to stay "as long as they need me."

Collins, also a repair and maintenance worker in the Automotive Shop, left his farm in Trafalgar. last September to take employment here and, like Pate. intends to stay, as long as required. However, the 23 year old mechanic plans to return to farming as a post-war career.

Civilians-1.jpg (137776 bytes)

Helping keep Atterbury's jeeps and trucks m shape .�,- Dennis
Collins Trafalgar, anti Ira Pate, Morgantown, two of tile many civilians who gave up hometown occupations to a&1 in the war effort here.
official U. S. Army Signal Corps Photo.

Franklin Evening Star - 14 November 1945
NEEDING HELP AT ATTERBURY
More Civilian Employees Needed At Post To Speed Releases
The urgent need for additional civilians employees at Camp Atterbury is critical, according to Brig. Gen. Ernest A. Bixby, commanding general of the post.
"We want to release overseas veterans at our separation center and get them on their way home just as rapidly as possible," the general declared. "The thorough and complete processing of some 2,500 men each day requires a large number of workers. With many of our own military personnel here themselves being discharged, over 1,100 this month alone -- replacements must come from civilians.
They are needed, not only at the separation center itself, but at the supporting branches as well-quartermaster, laundry, engineers. transportation and all the services necessary for our operation."

Wakeman General Hospital also requires additional civilians, in order to give proper and deserved care to sick and wounded veterans.  In addition to civilians, needed to take over the duties now being performed by military personnel, there are many jobs that German prisoners of war are now doing, which will have to be handled by civilians as the Germans will be returned. "Any job being performed by a prisoner of war will be replaced by civilian labor, if available and obtainable," General Bixby stated.

While typists, clerks and stenographers are especially needed at this time. There are many other job openings at the post and Wakeman Hospital. Painters, carpenters, mechanics, linoleum repairmen. male cooks, butchers, laundry workers, truck drivers, firemen, janitors, kitchen help, mess and ward attendants and general laborers are required.  Interested persons should apply at once to the civilian personnel office at post headquarters, Camp Atterbury.


Following begins the Korean War Era at Camp Atterbury

Franklin Evening Star - 15 February 1952
Franklin Man Has Key Role in Camp Manpower Project

Richard .A. Parkhurst of Franklin has a key role in the Manpower Utilization and Conservation program at Camp Atterbury.  A separate branch, headed by Mr. Parkhurst, has been set up to carry out the Department of the Army's manpower economy policies. A survey of the effectiveness of the program here will be made by an 11-man team from Fifth Army Headquarters. The group is slated to arrive Monday.

A separate branch. headed by a civilian manpower specialist, has been set up to carry out the Department of the Army's manpower economy policies.  The manpower utilization branch was set up here at the request of Maj. Gen. Paul W. Kendall, Commanding General of VI Corps and Camp Atterbury.

Camp Atterbury's Manpower Utilization and Management Branch is headed by Mr. Parkhurst who has been working for different government agencies for nearly 10 years.  Mr. Parkhurst works closely with Lt. Col. John P. Mallon, Camp Atterbury's Personnel Officer. who also is an expert on manpower. Col. Mallon has made several extensive studies of manpower utilization for the Department of the Army.

Studies Manpower Problems

The new branch, which has been in operation about a month, Is making continuous studies of civilian and military manpower problems and offering ways and means to obtain maximum utilization of all manpower.

One of Mr. Parkhurst's first steps was to place a ceiling on the employment of civilians in each staff section, such as Ordnance, Engineers, Signal and others.  A voucher was given each section chief telling him how many civilian employees he was authorized on Feb. 7. The section chief may have less civilians in his office than his base figure. However, if he wants to hire more civilians than he is authorized on his voucher, he must first get permission from the Manpower Branch.

Must Justify Additional Men

Each request for additional personnel will he studied to determine if such spaces are justified and essential to maintain minimum operations. It then will be either approved or turned down, depending on what the results of the survey are.  If approved the Section Chief then will be issued a new voucher showing his corrected civilian strength.  Other surveys also will be made to eliminate excessive civilian spaces not currently being utilized to the maximum or which are riot justified by the current workloads.

"Our job is to see that available manpower and facilities are utilized so that the maximum efficiency and productivity will be obtained at all times," Mr. Parkhurst said.

Section Surveys Workflow

The manpower utilization branch also will make surveys of administrative procedures, assignments and workflow plans.  Already several offices have. moved from one building to another to increase the speed of their work flow with less manpower.  This was done in the case of the Military Personnel office which was located several blocks from Post Headquarters.

Much of the work done by Military Personnel must be approved by officers in Post Headquarters. One man spent a good part. of his day carrying letters and other papers back and forth.  It was recommended that Military Personnel be located if possible in Post Headquarters. Several weeks later, it traded places with another section in the Headquarters Building.  The other section also benefited by the move. Now both offices are getting full use from all personnel and time-consuming trips from one building are no longer necessary.
Franklin Evening Star - 20 February 1952
Comprehensive Manpower Survey Is Launched by 11-Man Team at Camp

A comprehensive manpower survey, to determine in what ways utilization of manpower can be improved, was launched at this southern Indiana Army camp this week.

Camp Atterbury is one of eight Army installations throughout the country where the Army is malting comprehensive manpower studies. The surveys were ordered by Mr. Frank Pace, secretary of the Army.  The survey here, which will be broad and comprehensive in scope, will take approximately ;ix weeks. Daring this time, a team of 11 manpower experts will inspect all organizational activities and all other operations which affect manpower re Every phase of personnel utilization will be explored.

Camp Atterbury's survey, which will be under the direction of Col. William D. Paschall, is part of a 90-day "action program" which began in Washington on Jan. 18. Final preparations for the surveys were made at a three-day conference Jan. 28-30 at the Pentagon.  Results of the eight individual surveys will be reported to the Department of the Army.

Six Objectives Listed

Six specific objectives of the program were defined by the Army. They are:1 -To establish the most economical organization consistent with effective accomplishment of assigned missions.

2. To install the most efficient administrative procedures and operating methods in all activities.

3.-To insure that all jobs are properly released to the performance of essential tasks alone, and that the skill demands of jobs are no higher than required.

4.-To determine that all workers are assigned to jobs in accordance with their highest skill, and that full productivity is being obtained.
5.-Proper -utilization of the various categories of personnel, military and civilian.

6.-To insure that wage patterns and grade spreads are in line with the responsibilities of the jobs concerned and the services performed.

On Team

Members of the survey team include Col. Paschall, Team Chief; Lt. Col. John W. Cooper, Jr., Maj. Robert H. Mac Pherson, Maj. Fred W. Thicle, Capt. Joseph P. Early, Lt. Fred C. Windoes, Mrs. C. S. Newcomb, Mr. Henry P. Welzian, Mr. Marvin Lesht, Mr. Louis Haynes and Mr. R. W. Amberg, of the Department of the Army.

Only one other military installation in the 13-state Fifth Army area. Camp McCoy. Wis., is being surveyed. Other camps which are to undergo similar inspections are Ft. Devens, Mass., Camp Edwards, Mass., and Camp Kilmer, N. J., all in the First Army area; Camp Rucker, Ala, in the Third Army; Ft. Lewis, Wash., in the Sixth Army area, and Ft. Belvoir in the Military District of Washington.

Mrs. June De'Spain
Wakeman Hospital Worker during WW2
During the war years, big buses loaded with civilian workers from all around the far reaching area rumbled into Camp Atterbury every morning. Peak employment was said to be 15,000 people.  Many arrived in carloads as carpooling was common during gas rationing years and ordinary motorists were issued only 1 1/2 gallons of gasoline 'stamps' per week.  At the Civilian Personnel Office, it was possible to apply for supplemental gasoline and new tires.
 
Civilian employees were paid on a weekly basis with standard payroll deductions of Federal Withholding Tax, 5% for retirement, and also for the purchase of War Bonds.  (The purchase of War Bonds was not mandatory, but certainly strongly recommended !)  There was a program covering Sick and Annual Leave.
 
Civilians worked in the offices, the hospital, the mess halls and the laundry and various duties including teaching illiterate recruits to read and write before entering basic training. The Civilian Workforce relieved  Military Personnel for active duty.  In the year 1946, the hospital held  8,500 beds, requiring a large work staff.
 
At the end of the war, the civilians went back to normal lives, husbands, sons, fathers and sweethearts were returning home also.  The country was in a period of prosperity and the former Atterbury civilians were absorbed into the regular workforce with remarkable ease.
Civil Service hospital employees ate at the hospital mess hall.  We bought 'cards' and they were punched when we ate. (Wish I still had a card.) 
 
While the PX didn't sell directly to civil service personnel, they were helpful in getting a GI who happened to be in the PX to purchase for us, no secret at all. I guess big sale amounts was what they were really interested in.  It was quite a good savings on large items, cameras etc. and while I have never smoked, the civilians would get a GI to buy them for them.  It rather seems like GI's were limited on the number of cartons they could buy a week though.
It stands out in my memory, the 'sets' of Holocaust photos that they sold, they were so graphic, like we see on TV now and it was surprising how well they sold.  If I had realized how historical they were, I would have gotten a set, grisly as they were. I remember it as maybe 20 photos per set.
 
When a car or bus approached the Guard Shack, the guard, a GI, would mostly check the sticker on the bus and ask the driver if it was the usual 'crew' and let us pass.  I didn't go with a carpool but assume it was the same for them.  Once in awhile, they would get very 'military' on us and check thoroughly, but seldom, sometimes a couple or three days in a row. (On a bus, it can be time consuming).  Sometimes, they would enforce wearing our ID all the time, but mostly, we got by with carrying it clipped on a purse or in a pocket . It wasn't as simple to enter and leave during the war as it is now.
Franklin Evening Star - 02 April 1952
Manpower Surrey Completed At Camp -  Effective Utilization Of Men Goal Of Team

A manpower utilization survey teary, has completed a comprehensive six week study of the way military and civilian personnel are being utilized at this southern Indiana Army camp, it was announced today.

The team, headed by Col. William D. Paschall, of Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., reported that it received "wholesome cooperation" from Camp Atterbury personnel in its effort to solve the camp's manpower problems.

The purpose of the survey was to determine in what ways utilization of manpower can be improved and was part of an Army-wide manpower utilization program.  Similar surveys were conducted at seven other Army installations throughout the country, including ports of embarkation, Army schools. and training camps.  Results of the eight individual surveys will be reported to the Department of the Army.
Franklin Evening Star - 05 April 1952
Manpower Controls Set Up For Camp
Atterbury Affected By Efficiency Plan

Fifth Army headquarters announced today establishment of comptrollers, or efficiency experts, at nine of its major installations in seven mid-west states.  The announcement said creation of comptroller offices is an effort by the Army to get the "most out of manpower, material and funds." The comptrollers will advise commanders on management planning in each installation. Army personnel will staff the offices. 

Installations affected are Camp Atterbury, Ind., Camp Carson, Colo., Camp McCoy, Wis., Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., Fort Custer, Mich., Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Leavenworth, Kas., Fort Riley, Kas., and Fort Sheridan, Ill.
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