Separation Procedures

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE OF RECEIVING BATTALION
FROM ENTERING TIME UNTIL DISPOSITION
PREFACE

You have been admitted to the Receiving Battalion of Wakeman Convalescent Hospital, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  By this time you should have been processed by the Receiving Section of the Registrar's Office in Building 483 on the lower floor and had the following items checked: Records checked, in which a Form 55A accomplished, pay status checked, furlough status checked, (Some of you will have furloughs made out the second day of Processing by Medical Officers), Free Telephone Home Form accomplished, cigarette ration cards issued, Processing Slip issued, and assignment to your Company and Ward.  If the previous mentioned steps have not be done see your barracks leader at once.

Upon arriving at Barracks, Building 465, you will sign in on a roster, in which the Barracks Leader will assign you a bed for that evening only.

If you arrive after 0100 you will not be processed the day of that morning, but given an opportunity to rest, at which time you will remain in your barracks.  You will then begin processing the following morning with the group admitted during that 24 hours.  All those admitted before 0100 will begin processing the coming 0800.  It is to your advantage that you pay particular attention to your processing routing, because the sooner you are processed the sooner you will get your furlough or assigned to your new Battalion.

After the first day of processing, passes may be secured through your company orderly room.  You will have a formation at 0745, 1300, and 1615 every day, except Saturday and Sunday, (there will be only a 0730 formation on Saturday,) at which time information concerning you and company policy will be explained.

INFORMATION

Police

An in all military installations, the standard of cleanliness and orderliness of the Battalion Area and of the Barracks must be very high.  This will necessitate your cooperation to the fullest extent.  Refrain from throwing things on the ground as it will have to be picked up later.  A police of the area will be made daily and as many more times as is necessary to keep the area and barracks clean.

Military Courtesy

Military courtesy is only the act of being a gentleman and soldier at all times.  Saluting is merely saying, "Hello" without words.  Let's say "Hello" and let's be gentlemen.

Passes

Passes will not be issued on the day or night of your arrival.  After you have completed your first day of processing, you may sign up for a pass with your duty non-com (Barracks Leader).  Overnight passes will end at 0630 unless extended by your Company Commander.  Patients nor reporting back from overnight pass by 0630 will be considered to be Absent Without Leave unless sufficient reason for the delay is explained.

Mess

Mess will be held at the following hours in Buildings 469, 468 or 479.

Breakfast 0645 Doors close at 0705
Dinner 1200 Doors close at 1230
Supper 1700 Doors close at 1730

Getting to mess on time assists the limited cooking staff to adequately serve you and clear the mess hall.

A snack bar will soon be in operation in Building 480, and the hours the doors are open will be announced at your Company Formation.  Your cooperation is requested in helping keep the place clean and orderly.  Take advantage of the Snack Bar.

Formations

Formations are held daily at the following hours and places:

0730 beside the barracks (conducted by the Barracks Leader
0745 at Orderly Room (first day group excluded)
1250 at Orderly Room
1645 at Orderly Room

Attendance at all formations is required.

Day Rooms

A day room is available to each Company at the following places: Company "A" day room in Building 464, Company "B" day room in Building 473.

Process Slips

Too much attention can not be paid your process slip.  See that it is initialed in every box adn by your Barracks Leader.

Process slips will be turned in on the morning of your day of transfer only to the shipping clerk who will be at your Orderly Room.

Appearance

Your day of processing will start at the hour shown on your process ship, but it is mandatory that your bunk be made and your barracks policed prior to your first formation which is at 0730 beside your barracks under the supervision of your Non-Com (Barracks Leader).  You will fall in a formation of ranks with the ranking NCO of each rank at the head.  Roll will be called by the duty Non-Com at this time.  You will then be marched to your Company Formation where special announcements will be made.

General

Any problems we can help you with while in Receiving Battalion should be brought to our attention.  We will gladly assist you in any capacity and will appreciate any suggestions you may have to offer co9ncerning the well being of the patients being processed.

FIRST DAY

0700     Make up your bed with clean sheets furnished you by Barracks Leader.

0730     Pack your Barracks Bag for a complete move, taking with you of the bedding only two sheets, and one pillow case that you used the evening before and move them to Supply Room, Building 473, waiting there for the next call, where they will tell you to report.

0800     You will receive initial orientation in Building 483, to include the mission of Wakeman Convalescent Hospital together with explanation of your processing, step by step.  To save a lot of confusion, pay close attention to the above explanation.  At the completion of the Orientation, you will be given a break and a chance to smoke.

0910     Your next step in processing will be a conference in the same building, at which time you will receive information on particular phases of army life and your part in it.

0940     You will receive instructions from Counseling Personnel, w/attention directed to affairs that may have arisen since you have been away.

1040     You will return to Barracks, Building 465, and wait there until your group is taken to Battalion Supply, Building 473.  At this building you will get your bed and barracks assignment, draw 2 blankets and be advised about clothing issue.  You will sign for 2 blankets, 2 sheets, and 1 pillow case, since you have the sheets and pillow case in your possession.

1300     You will promptly report to your Company Order Room --- Company "A", Building 464 and Company "B", Building 473  where you will receive such instructions as are necessary for the afternoon.

1315     Upon completion of company formations, you will proceed to Battalion supply, Building 473 for clothing check.  After your clothing has been checked, you will be taken to a Model Stock Supply Room and the clothing that you are short, issued that day.  When this is completed you have finished your first day of processing , when you will retire to your barracks and see that everything is in order for tomorrow.

SECOND DAY

NOTE YOUR COMPANY SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY DAY OF PROCESSING THAT IS DIFFERENT

COMPANY "A" ONLY

0800     You will have a dental examination in Building 482 on the first floor.

1000     Upon completion of dental examination you will report to the Appointment Clerk, at which time a Medical Appointment Slip will be given you which explains all the Medical Workup.  You will be given appointments from 1000 to 1630 for Ear, Eyes, Nose and Throat, and Physical Examination, Social Work, and Personal Conference.  At the end of the day when all your appointments are complete and your Medical Appointment Slip is completed, you will turn the slip in to the Appointment Clerk on the first floor.  When this is done your have completed the Second day of Processing.

COMPANY "B" ONLY

0800     You will have an Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat examination in Building 482 on the second floor along with Medical Examination by Medical Officers.  They will determine the length of convalescent furlough, if you are eligible for one at this time.  If you are eligible for a furlough you will sign the application at this time.  You will also be given appointments for Medical Consultations, and the proper time to report.  Be sure you meet these appointments, since it is important before your Medical Workup is completed.  Medical Workup will continue the remaining part of the day until you have finished your workup or have appointment for the following day.  After having completed the three examinations mentioned, your second day of processing will be finished.

THIRD DAY

0830     You will turn in your bedding which consists of 2 blankets, 2 sheets, 1 pillow case and bunk tag, to Supply Room, Building 473.  Move your bags to your Orderly Room and wait for the Shipping Clerk to take your processing Slips.

0800     Shipping Clerk will take up your processing slips and move you by bus to your new Battalion.

THE COMMANDING OFFICER
Carl Fleming served in the Air Corps
15 November 2004

By CHUCK MARTIN
Staff Writer

ZANESVILLE, OHIO -- Like millions of young men in World War II, Carl Fleming entered the military expecting to go to war. Instead, he spent most of his three and half years of service in the United States, one of thousands assigned to jobs on the home front.

And, his scariest moment may have come on his way home.

Discharged at Camp Atterbury in Indiana, Fleming said they were taken to a train station, where the train that was to take them home was to leave late that night. They were told they should mail their discharge pay home, because there had been a number of cases of discharged soldiers being robbed.

"Three of us decided to bum a ride home instead," Fleming said. "We took a street car to the edge of town and stuck out our thumbs. Soon, a car stopped and we all climbed into the back seat. There were two men in front.

"We asked, 'How far are you going?' 'Oh, we're staying at a motel a ways out.'

"We kept going and someone finally said, 'How much further?' 'Just a bit down the road.'

"Then we passed a field of hogs on the left," Fleming recalled. "The man in the passenger seat pulled out a gun, pointed it past the driver, and said, 'I bet I can kill one.'

"We thought we had had it," Fleming said, "But they finally pulled into a motel and we got out. I tell you, there were three scared soldiers in the back of that car."

Page last revised 04/13/2022
James D. West
www.IndianaMilitary.org