Daily Work Record of
Captain Stratton O. Hammon
Corps of Engineers
for the Construction of
Atterbury Army Air Field,
Columbus, Indiana
Presented with the permission of The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Ky. 
The Filson Historical Society owns the original and any wish to quote from or otherwise use the diary must be obtained from them.
http://www.filsonhistorical.org/

That portion of his diary concerning the construction of
Atterbury Army Air Field begins on Page 41.

Upon returning home the phone rang and and Mrs. Wipps called me.  Capt. Baldwin said that he had received a call from the Colonel saying that  the Architect - Engineer group of my project was at the Brown Hotel and that I should call early in the morning as they wanted to meet me at Columbus, Ind., tomorrow to look over the site of the proposed air field.  Glad to get started - know it will be pretty bad, but have to start to get finished.

Wednesday, July 29, 1942
At office by 7:30 made call to Brown Hotel and contacted Mr. Matthews of Matthews, Lennox & Wright, the Architect - Engineer group who said they had been given the commission on the :Ground Air Support Command" air field at Columbus, Indiana and that Colonel Hutchings said I would be the Area Engineer.  Next call to D. O. and as Major Johnson and Gill were out of town talked to the Colonel.  He instructed me to pack up and go to Louisville but I told him I would stop off at Columbus on the way to keep an appointment with the A/E group.

Made my farewells to my new made friends, except that Fred Yeager was out of town. Told Elliott Lea to bring down my uniform, which was at the laundry, on his first trip home.  Capt Baldwin was kind enough to give me a government car and driver for the day - suspect he was glad to see me go and wanted to help in the good work in every possible way.

The driver waited while I packed my bags and about 10:30 we were off - first to Seymour then north to Columbus where we found the men waiting for me.  We had a short conference in the office of Mr. Springer of the Land Acquisition Board in the Basset Building and then proceeded to inspect the field and a school building which the group had found could be rented free.  Mr. Lennox will run the job which suits me fine.  This organization has just about completed the last work on Bowman Field at Louisville and will not, as I was afraid, have to be broken in except to the extent that this field is different.  This difference lies chiefly in the fact that Bowman was occupied by troops while this will not be until we finish - guard duty mainly plus fire and medical care, etc.

I agreed to the school for an office and requested Mr. Springer to make every effort to complete his land work so we could speed.  Our job will amount to somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 million and house about 1,000 air men plus landing field, runways, and hangars.

I got away about 3:30 and reported to the main office at 5 p. m. but the Colonel was too busy to see me and everyone else was gone because of the extreme heat. Helen picked me up in the Buick and so to home.

Thursday, July 30, 1942
At the D. O. bright and early and at once went on a hunt for the Directive, the authority from the War Department to spend three million for an airfield.  Someone had seen it, but it took six hours to find it in the mad scramble of this office.  At the same time I started the ball a'rolling for personnel, office furniture, supplies and a military assistant.

At 4 p. m. Mssrs Lennox, Matthews & Wright came in and we had a conference as to how to best speed our beginning.  It quickly developed that the design section did not have a plot plan ready and were waiting weather information so as to design a wind rose.

Picked up white uniform on way home and went to Brown-Bluegrass Room at night with Colonel Rogow and wife.

Friday, July 31, 1942
To office early and pushed the design section.  Got a panel-truck from Mr. Lammers and a typewriter and supplies from Mr. Moss.  Conferences with Major Gill who now has entire charge of Air Field construction. Major Johnson is executive assistant to the Colonel - only.

Got off at 10 a. m. and because the truck was new and could not be driven over 40 mph, arrives at Mr. Springer's office at Columbus, Ind. late.  My chief clerk had not arrived so proceeded over to Camp Atterbury some 15 miles N. W. to see and kid Capt. Arrasmith and do a bit of business.  Arra asked me to lunch so I had my first experience at an officer's mess - some of the troops have already occupied his post.  After a quick inspection of the post, started back to Columbus.

At this point the entire project consisted of one panel truck, 1 typewriter, 1 box of forms, paper, pencils, etc., myself and the authority to spend three million dollars - the last very powerful.  It will be interesting to watch this - which was entirely contained in the truck rolling down the highway - grow into a fine air field, and office with a hundred or so men, and the small city necessary to house the thousand air personnel.

At Springer's office, I found Mr. Hager who is to be chief clerk and who has been at Chanute Field at Urbana, Ill.  He seems fine.  We then met Mr. Pierre and Mr. Bann (Buddle ?) of the A/E group and looked at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School at 5th and Sycamore St., which they had already looked over. They have made  no provision for my office.  However the church trustees decided to let me have two large rooms on the first floor se we agreed to $200 per month rent.

Next we spoke to Mr. Preston at Indiana Bell Telephone Co. who agreed to put in a switchboard and a dozen phones as quickly as possible.  We returned to Mr. Springer's office and spoke to him concerning speeding the acquiring of land but was told that the had not received a real estate directive and could go no further without one.

After this I looked over several rooms for my future quarters but was not too pleased. Drove home and arrived at 6:30 or 7:00. Helen and I took in a movie in the evening.

Saturday, August 1, 1942
Good and hot.  Neal and I drove to the D. O. in the panel truck where I turned keys over to Lammers to have it serviced.  Much running about with Hagen after furniture, supplies, personnel, etc.  With Lennox and Mathews of the A/E group in an effort to get the base layout.  Men rush in to my desk and drop a stack of papers - one actually 6 inches high and rush out again, saying "don't sign any priority forms without reading these as you swear you have familiarized yourself with them."  Another stack 3 inches high contain on each page certain requirements whereby to govern myself - reports to send in to various persons, one saying to be sure to place all confidential papers in a fireproof and locked cabinet or safe and the next saying that I am not to buy any steel cabinets or safes because of the steel shortage, etc.

Mr. Norman M. Kirk or the Penn. R. R. called to say they were ready to help us with our railroad spur.

Spoke to Lt. Dyer about the guard situation.  Had a talk with the Colonel in which he said that he had seen to it that I was sent to Columbus while Major Johnson wanted to place me in Sturgis, Ky.  Thank Heaven for the Colonel.  Also that our job probably would be increased to double its present size which means that we will be there all winter.  A dinner at home in evening - Wolfes, Zack Logan & Beechers.

Sunday, August 2, 1942
Lazied about home all day and to the Iroquois Amphitheatre with little and big Helen in evening.

Monday, August 3, 1942
Drove to Columbus and at once began to organize office.  Furniture, bureau of  ??????, telephones, callers, newspaper reporters, leading citizens in a big whorl - but we did get things going.  So busy did not have time to secure quarters and 6:30 arrived with no prospect of a place to sleep.  Luckily a Mr. Marion Amish, American Legion head when I had called for guards, arrived to invite me to a Kiwanis dinner and to put up at his home for the evening.  Needless to say his invitation was accepted at once.

Upon my arrival this morning at the office Miss Imogene Crane was waiting.  She is a secretary and sent over from Camp Atterbury.

Tuesday, August 4, 1942
Up early and brought to town by my host Mr. Amish and right into the middle of the storm.  It certainly isn't dull.  Reporters, salesmen, those seeking jobs, etc.  Hired 3 guards. Set in with the county commissioners in regard to closing the necessary roads.  Conferences with the A/E group and with Mr. Hager, my chief-clerk who arrived today.  No time for breakfast or lunch.

Made several excursions in search of a room but none acceptable.  Finally at 6:30 p. m. located one that is fairly nice - at least clean - with Mrs. Henry Marr, a widow of about 70 who lives at 824-8th St. Telephone 7290.  The room is on the second floor and comfortable.  Another room is separated by a sort of living room off which is a lavatory.  One must descend to the first floor for a bath.  The second upper room is occupied by a man who rents much as I do. (Mr. Fulkrod).

After unpacking I slipped into a clean uniform and walked the three blocks to the office where I met Hager and his wife.,  We ate together and after I left to return to the office to write this.  Next move is to the room and bed.  This town is, I believe, very dull.  Lacks even some things Vincennes had.

Wednesday, August 5, 1942
A fast day.  Conference after conference within our organization and with the A/E group.  Trips to field with Matthews, O. G. Swan, and and R. E. A. representative.

Mr. Robert H. Coleman, resident engineer reported in morning and left to search for an apartment.  Later Raymond Glass, finance man, reported and also left to search for quarters.  Coleman is a slim Kentuckian from Paducah and Glass is a very twisted hunchback.

A hair cut was indulged in at noon.  Dinner was taken at the Humpty Dumpty (Silly isn't it) but turned out fine.

The greater part of the day was devoted to a three inch stack of letters, (out of envelope) war department circulars, etc., all requiring action.  At 7 p. m. Lt. Austin Griffith reported for duty and delivered the approved plot plans of the field at the same time.  After taking him to eat and showing him a little of the ropes we turned in at my room at 10:30.  Griffith is another from Paducah - that is three on the job now.

Thursday, August 6, 1942
Breakfast with Griffith and to the office by 8 a. m.  Conference with Springer of Land Acquisition Office.  He requested elimination of western ???? i field boundary.  Obtained permission from Wehrley at D. O.

Fulkerson, safety man, fro D. O. called.

Lunch with Lt. Griffith - he is not going to be too bright, I'm afraid.  My only top notch man is Hessler Hager, chief clerk.  Coleman the resident-engineer seems to be a complete bust.  Hope I am wrong. (I wasn't).  Even my secretary and stenos are so-so.  The Architect-Engineer group appears to be very capable, thank heavens.  That is the difference between the civil service employees and those that can be hired or fired at will like the A/E group can.

Much went on today but it is dull to anyone else and is in the job diary so I will not duplicate.

Finest dinner yet at the Palms and a short visit to a movie and back at the office by 8:45 and to work.

Friday, August 7, 1942
Was a hellova day except that at 5 I caught the train for Louisville to take specifications to D. O.  Both Helens met me at the 10th St. Station in a downpour and home we went in the Buick.

Saturday, August 8, 1942
The busiest day I have had yet at the D. O.  Too much to put down here, it is in my job diary.  Helen and I went to the Brown movie in the evening after getting mother to watch Skindix.  Neal is crippled with a bad boil ion his arm.

Sunday, August 9, 1942
In morning to Whaynes then to Meloy to settle old business and incidentally get them softened for a check.  Helen and Skindix went swimming at Tucker's meanwhile.

A good meal at home and after going in town to pick up a U-Drive-It for the job spent the evening quietly reading.

Monday, August 10, 1942
Drove the U-Drive-It to Columbus early in morning picking up a hitch hiker who turned out to be rather interesting.  A busy day followed but the routine of an office and construction job can not but be boring so in he future nothing but the interesting items will be recorded.

Begins to look as if Imogene Crane, my secretary, will make the grade.

Tuesday, August 11, 1942
A hard day of routine - mail in stacks, letters to get out, callers of various kinds, trip to field, conferences with various department heads, long distance calls to D. O. and many other places.  Dinner at Humpty Dumpty and a movie.  Then back to work.  A letter from home and a Courier-Journal brightened the day.

Wednesday, August 12, 1942
Day started in usual way with stacks of mail.  This is the 5th day of our attack on the Solomon Islands - our first offensive - hope he boys make it.  About noon Major Gill called to ask me to come to the D. O. and bring Mr. Lennox along.  Contracts on the buildings were to be let - and without either plans or specifications - what a war.  We went and found that the runways and road contract had been let to Kramp & Koch of Milwaukee  and the building contract will probably be let tomorrow to Farnell Blair. These two contractors were the only gentiles out of a whole pack of Jews.  How they came in low I will never know, but "Praise the Lord."

Called home when I arrived at the office and surprised Helen.  In the evening had a fine meal - Ida Mae was serving just for the day - and the open air movie after.

Thursday, August 13, 1942
Up bright and early to meet Gulden, Leonard and Riley of the D. O. at 7:45 behind the Post Office. We drove to the office at Columbus and he three ring circus started.  At one time there were the three from the D. O., three from the Division Office, five from Penn. Railroad, two from the Ind. Bell Telephone Co., three from Kramp & Koch the runway contractors, all in one big conference and then little ones and some would break out of one and join another - just like a good cocktail party.

Now as darkness falls I am just attacking my mail.

This evening we held an open meeting for the dispossessed property owners at the field.  Mr. Springer, Lt. Griffith and I made short talks  and then answered questions.  I  feel sorry for these people whoa re being uprooted from their old homes - they took it in fine spirits.

Friday, August 14, 1942
Just a usual hard day and to be by 11 p. m.

Saturday, August 15, 1942
Another three ring circus mainly with the Penn RR superintendent Ward and a contractor W. V. Horth, Jr., of Central Eng. & Const. Co. of Indianapolis, Ind.  Left at 10 p. m. with Hager with plans, specifications and a bid on the railroad siding.  Arrived in Louisville 2 p. m. where Major Gill was waiting.  Big Pow-Wow with he and Colonel Hutchings.  At first the Colonel would not hear of my little trick to put in a temporary track to get by the W.P.B. and then after we got it in, declare it a permanent track, but after a lot of hard talking and the support of Major Gill, he consented. This took so long that I missed Virginia and Guy (Frank, my brother & sister in law) who were paying their last call before leaving for Honolulu.

Took a quick little sail at the Boat Club with Margarete and Bill Wolfe and then to Bechers in Indian Hills for dinner.

Sunday, August 16, 1942
Lazed in bed with the Courier Journal until about noon (what a life).  Then up and to see Sam Dant to talk him into paying me the money he owes - got a promise.  Then to see my only Uncle and Aunt and home again to lazy away the rest of the afternoon.  Only Helen and I there which is very unusual in our married life.  Skindix stayed with relatives in La Rue County after attending a reunion.  Neal gallivanting with the Buick.

About six we dressed - I in my white uniform and went to the Addison Yeaman's cocktail party at Anchorage in their new home which we built.  Add has just been commissioned a 1st Lt. in the Air Corps ground troops.  A merry time and home to bed.

Monday, August 17, 1942
Up early and drove to D. O. with Neal in U-Drive-It car which I changed for a bright new Chevrolet.  Hager too the other of two which had been assigned tour job.  After a conference with Lt. Pegg, I drove the new car at low speed to Columbus arriving at 10:30 a. m.  A heavy day to conferences, mail, telephone calls and here I am at the Cinema at night to break the tension.

Tuesday, August 18, 1942
Another hectic day.  Round after round about the railroad siding.  Lunch with Mr. Ward of the Penn. RR and 4 of his men, 4 of ours.  Mail, letters to dictate, telephone call (most long distance), conferences and the day was gone.  Two chocolate milk shakes for dinner and back to work where I am now at 8:45.  Soon to bed.

Wednesday, August 19, 1942
A tough day - finally had to "pin Mr. Lennox's ears back" as the present slang has it. He in true Northern style mistook Southern courtesy as weakness and began to take all the advantage of me he could - going over my head and such.  As he is the head of the A/E group this had to be stopped.  He made his 10th smart-alecky reply to a serious question of my resident engineer, Mr. Coleman, and it was the last straw.

I told him off in the middle of his organization - which I regret.  Last night the heads of his organization and he, and Lt. Griffith, Mr. Hager and I sat in a conference and threshed the whole matter out for 3 1/2 hours.  They now know who is running this show.

Thursday, August 20, 1942
Things were much different and much better today.  Old matters which I had requested done a week ago came up completed in a bunch.  The matter of moving graves was being handled by them in fact all the items which they were neglecting except copper, is being taken care of.  Ate at an old lady's across the street for lunch with 5 men from the office and one girl, Mrs. Robaird, from New Orleans, who works with us. the day was as usual otherwise.  work is and has been underway at the field for two days.  Lt. Griffith and Mr. Coleman are working out great - am much pleased - in fact my whole organization is O. K.  Work at night and home to bed.

Friday, August 21, 1942
Very homesick - a hard day.

Saturday, August 22, 1942
Great speed on all morning to get matters straightened out and plans finished to take to the D. O. It felt great to pull out of Columbus and point the nose of the Chevrolet south and greater still to cross the old Ohio two hours later and ever greater to see my sweet 20 minutes after that.

A clean uniform put on hurriedly and to the D. O. for 6 conferences.  Helen waited in the car and home to change to the tailored uniform and then to Colonel & Mrs. Hutchings cocktail party where we met many new people and many old friends.  Helen for the first time met Mrs. Johnson, Major Gill, Capt & Mrs. Trout and others.  We took on quite a bit of liquor, in fact, I took too much but managed to carry it like a Kentuckian.  Almost all went to Snyder's Gardens where we danced and ate until 2:30.

Sunday, August 23, 1942
IN bed late.  Skindix stayed Sat. night with Grandmother Hammon and as Neal had arrived shortly after us we all slept without hindrance.  First Neal got Skindrix and we had a birthday celebration, her 8th, with cake, presents and such.  She had a picnic the day before.

Had Major Johnson & wife over to see apartment with view to renting in the building - then all went, including Skindix and Herbie their 4 year old son to Old Stine Inn on the Shelbyville Road where we had a wonderful chicken dinner.  On way back a visit to Col Rogow in our Anchorage house and Isobel Yeaman next door, now a war widow with Addison a 1st Lt in the air force at Tampa or Miami.  After dropping off the Johnsons we later went to a good movie in town.  Neal stayed with Skindix.  Good boy.

Monday, August 24, 1942
Up early and goodbye to family.  Met J. Clifford Lewis, newly made a Captain of Engineers.  He is 55 years old and had seen service in 1917 but fit and a fine fellow.  Has been a consultant engineer in Louisville for years and known to all architects.

Am taking him with me for several days to break him in and show him the ropes.  We drove first to Bowman Field where I took my second tetanus toxiod then a drive to Columbus where I found that the organization had functioned perfectly and had not left too much for me to do.  (I am quite proud of myself as an organizer and administrator.)

With Capt Lewis' help checked water, sewage and electric layouts and specifications.  Lt. Franz from Lawrence Twin Engine School, my last station, was here to instruct Lt. Griffith in Safety, Fire and guard duties.  We had gotten rid of our chief guard and a new one arrived today - from Louisville and seems swell.  Much other but that for the job diary.  Capt Lewis, Lt Griffith and I had a drink at Capt Arrasmith's room and then to a steak dinner.  Much get together on old times for 2 hours then back here to work.

Tuesday, August 25, 1942
Capt Corn and Lt Durham from the Division called today.  In the morning Capt Lewis and I had breakfast and saw Capt Arrasmith.  A tough, fast day of conferences, mail, telephone calls, routine, etc.  Dinner with Capt Lewis at Saps Grill and back to work again.  A letter from home, too.

Wednesday, August 26, 1942
Haircut in morning.  Usual routine,  Major Hahn, Air Liaison Officer came in, in late afternoon and said the whole layout - both runways and buildings was wrong. (he is the only man so far who really knows what he is talking about)  Had him talk to Major Gill to whom he proposed that gill and Col Hutchings meet him at the HQ to trash the thing out, but the Colonel backed off.  Took Major Hahn to North Vernon to catch a train and on the way he said he intended to go all the way to Washington if necessary to see the matter thru.  Neal arrived in late morning with a pick-up truck which he brought from the Engineer's garage at Louisville.  Had lunch with him.  Went thru Sarimmen (?) church, and a trip to the field and Camp Atterbury - the latter caused Neal to opinion that maybe this was a big war after all !

Was roused out of bed at 12:45 by my chief guard who thought one of our cars was parked (locked) on the main street.  After two hours fooling around we found it was a similar car - new, green, Engineer's license, etc. - but not ours.  Ours was in Louisville.

Thursday, August 27, 1942
Usual helter-skelter day except that Helen, Skindix and Byln Derning came up in the Buick.  After showing then the office and my room they proceeded to Brown County Sate Park, 18 miles west, where Helen had reserved a cabin.  I followed at 5:30 and stayed the night.  Tried to rent horses for this field so as to make inspection over the torn ground possible.

Friday, August 28, 1942
Left Brown County Park early after a fine breakfast with the family and arrived back at the office at regular time.  Rather hard day.  Back in evening to stay with Helen and Skindix at Brown County and a horse trip.

Saturday, August29, 1942
Here on Wednesday I must go back and catch up as far as can be remembered.  Saturday I called Donald Nelson, chief of the War Production Board, direct in Washington about my railroad situation.  Did I get action ?  Wow.  After the call time came to depart for the D. O.  Helen had not arrived in the Buick from Brown County so left word for her to follow me and so departed in my (government) Chevrolet.

The D. O. was a-hum when I arrived. The W.P.B. had called the Chief of Engineers office raising cain about my railroad and Coyne of the Chief's office was raising hell with the D. O. and - well it all ended well as I got my railroad.

In evening we went to two affairs.  First at Dr. R. Hayes Davis in Indian Hills when the French Expert on tank warfare, Pierre De Loshnig, the Degaulist, and several other French people.  Fine dinner as usual but most of the French conversation went over my head.  Helen caught a bit.  The next affair was an entertainment for officers at the Wolfes where we found about a score and many girls.  After a short stay we returned to Davis.

Sunday, August 30, 1942
What a headache.  Pulled together about noon and went to D. O. where we worked out the changes Major Hahn has succeeded in making on our job.  (Changes which I had tried to get early in the planning)  Had a long talk with Major Gill about Army promotions, etc.

Next took off and met Capt Cliff Lewis and Capt Barnard at the Boat Club where they had a drink while I sipped ice water (damn these friends) while we chatted.

Home to find Helen getting ready for the dinner with Major & Mrs. Johnson at the Big Spring Country Club.  As they must take along their 4 year old boy, Skindix was allowed to go also and acted the polished young lady.  She is a honey.

After dinner back to the apartment where we showed the movies Norm Lewellyn sent home before being killed in India.

Monday, August 31, 1942
Much to do at D. O. so did not get away until 11 a. m.  Took Neal as far as Columbus with me and he began hitch-hiking from there toward Chicago with only $5.oo in his pocket.  Being away so long naturally caused me desk to look like a jungle but succeeded in digging thru it by 9:00 so as to make a movie.  Also held a conference where I put the heat on the Architect-Engineer about pushing the job.  The did not like it at all.

Tuesday, September 1, 1942
A strike and a man run over by an 8 ton grader.  Never a dull moment.  Settled the strike in five hours and the injured man, by a miracle, got only a broken leg.  Major Strassburg, Air Corps grass expert and Lt Snyder CE came in about 8 p. m.  Home about 10 and se up talking to Mr. Fulkrod my rooming neighbor for about an hour.

Wednesday, September 2, 1942
Hitler has been at the  war for 4 years and I have been opposing him for only 2 months today - wonder ifhe feels my weight ?  What a lot of water has gone under the bridge in that short time - it seems like a year.  How it must seem to Hitler after 4 real years of it.

Thursday, September 3, 1942
Regular tough day - labor trouble.  Got a labor organizer told off.  Looks like trouble ahead in this department.

Friday, September 4, 1942
Letter from Mother saying Uncle Jake had died.  He is my father's brother.  A clipping from the Louisville Times of yesterday - we will see how much is remembered after the war - I expect nothing.  Mr. Green and Bellus, 2nd & 3rd civilian engineers from the D. O. were here today. Rather easy.  Took some color pictures at the field.  Will go to the funeral tomorrow at Louisville.

Saturday, September 5, 1942
Out early to office and then off for home where I changed from my cotton uniform to tailored summer wool.  Then after picking up Mother we went to Uncle Jake's funeral  Arrived at D. O. about 3:30 where hell was popping again.  This time the railroad.  The Colonel, Major Gill and I went round and round.  Internal feuds in the Pa RR caused Lenfel, General Superintendent, to go over my head and call the Colonel about a tiff we were having and the Colonel got mad because he did it and ordered me to issue a stop order on the track.  I need this railroad so will follow his order but try to find a new way.

After one of Helen's usual fine dinners we made a movie in town accompanied, very proudly, by Skindix.

Sunday, September 6, 1942
Sleep late then to Bowman Field where Helen received a medical examination.  Doctor said a little trouble might be developing on left ovary but wasn't sure.  Will examine again in six months to see developments.  Can't have anything happen to her.  From there to Rock Creek Riding Club where we talked to my second cousin, Jane Howell.  Propositioning her father about supplying a stable of horses.  Then to Whayne's and Helmes.

In evening to Zack Logan's where we had dinner along with 4 or 5 other couples including Lt Herman and wife from Chicago.  Herman was killed in action later.  Ended day by playing kid games - such as murder.

Monday, September 7, 1942
Up early and drove to Columbus by 9:10 a. m.  Usual routine day.  Mr. Kaye, chief auditor, asked for a release from this job - he is a civil service employ - granted it of course but hated to lose him.  Mr. Hoffman, new office engineer, reported and got at his job - glad to get him, so maybe I am still even.  Worked until 8:30 when Mr. Kaye and I listened to President Roosevelt's speech stabilizing all wages and farm prices.  Than to a movie.

Tuesday, September 8, 1942
Ordinary hard day.  Steady rain until 4 p. m. Am asked to dinner tonight at Mr. Hager's along with Lt. Griffith.  Dinner was great.  Mrs Hager really put on a spread for us.  Even Cress pie.  First real meal I have had since being in Columbus.  After the meal we sat about and discussed the various people we knew in different sections of Kentucky - as is the habit of homesick Kentuckians.

Wednesday, September 9, 1942
Big conference in morning about the railroad.  Rain has stopped work for two days.  About 4 p. m. Helen called saying Pierie de Loeschnigg and wife had called saying they were to drive to Chicago this evening and she had jumped at the idea of riding as far as Columbus with them.  About 8:30 p. m. they arrived and we all, including Lt. Griffith, went to Sap's grille for dinner.  The de Loeschnigg's left immediately afterward.  Helen drove with me to the plantation (as we Kentuckians have dubbed the field_ to investigate the matter of one of the farmers trying to sneak out his fences in the night.  All fence material has been frozen by me.

Thursday, September 10, 1942
A great day with my honey in town. Left her asleep and I came on to the office - unfortunately it was one of those days - two Majors and a Captain, all separately - called about various matters.  One was Major Johnson here for the first time - we took him to the field.  Also spent 5 solid hours in an argument with 6 labor organizers.  They are trying, by intimidation, to force me to let them into the field - I do not scare easy and they got nowhere.

Managed to slip out to have lunch with Helen and returned again at 5 at my room to get her and her bags.  We ate at Mrs Griffith's and then to the train at 6:50 p. m.  Hated to see her go but it will only be two days until I see her again.

Friday, September 11, 1942
Went to Camp Atterbury to talk to Colonel Modisette, Camp Commander, and quiet him down.  He had his feelings hurt because I brought in the High Rent Moderator to control this unpatriotic town.  He claims this town is under him - 15 miles away.  He is wrong, it is my bailiwick but I let him have his way then tried to borrow 2 jeeps - Thinks I will get them.  Bayse Howell, who married my second cousin, came up to rent me some horses.  We made a deal for five - need them to go over the field for inspections as a car will not make it after rain and we are in for plenty from now on. Horses also will save on gasoline and tires - of which thee is practically none left to waste.

Saturday, September 12, 1942
After firing my chief guard departure was made for Louisville about 2:00 p. m.  After the usual conferences at the D/O arrives home at 6:30.  In evening made the Blue Grass Room at the Brown Hotel in company of Mr. & Mrs Wm. Crutcher, and Marge & Bill Wolfe. The music and bright lights really looked good after dull Columbus.

Sunday, September 13, 1942
Lazied in bed with the paper.  Then to the drug store with Skindix for a soda.  After this to Bowman Field for 3rd tetanus 'shot'.  Skindix went off to Fountain Ferry with Blinn and Helen and I to a movie.  Neal swam the river 4 times today.

Monday, September 14, 1942
Early to the office and goodbyes to the family.  After 2 or 3 conferences off in the gray Chevrolet to Columbus at 9:00 a. m.  Arrived Columbus at 11:00. Balance of the day very fast.  Jumped the contractors Kramp & Koch and told them if it wasn't improved at once I would let at least part of their contract to another man.  Went to see Walt Disney's Fantasia in late evening in company of Mr. Kaye, chief auditor.

Tuesday, September 15, 1942
Rough and tough - came to the conclusion that the principal contractor did not know his business and threw the machinery into gear to get another to take over part of his work.  Much ado.  Lt. Griffith went to Camp Atterbury and brought down our first beep (a small jeep).  If in the future this name is lost - it is a tiny rugged automobile which because of complicated gears and 4 wheel drive will go over or thru almost anything.  The entire office force took turns at riding in it.  Worked on several conferences until 10:30 p. m. and then tired and worn out, dragged home to find Mr. Fulkrod, who occupies the only other room on the second floor of Mrs. Marr's house with me, had a relapse of a recent siege of pneumonia.  Had to walk back, get a car, and drive him to the hospital at Seymour, 20 miles south. When I at last reached bed, it was 12:30 and I was really worn out.

Wednesday, September 16, 1942
Another fast day - they are coming more often now - tried out the beep on some rough going at the field in company with Lts. Griffith and Smith - the latter, signal officer at Camp Atterbury.  Called Major Gill in regard to giving part of Kramp & Koch's contract to someone else in the interest of speeding the job.  He is evidently interested as he said he will be here in the morning.  Helen arrived in the evening.

Thursday, September 17, 1942
Big conference with Major Gill and entire organization.  Decided to take $265,000.00 of Kramp & Koch's contract away from them.  A very fast day so did not get to see much of Helen until 4:30 p. m.  Talked a little and then to dinner after which she drove away for home.

Friday, September 18, 1942
Paver machines stopped because of lack of materials.  Raised hell.  Horses arrived but too busy to get to ride.  John Mallon, of Louisville Cement Co. came up in evening. Worked until 10 p. m.

Saturday, September 19, 1942
Had my first ride on Spencer - my charger- what a horse skin full of explosive !!  The wildest I have ever ridden - or attempted to ride but a beauty.  Have him all to myself.  We have two three-gated steeds and there walking types. Drove to Louisville as usual.  Colonel H and Major Gill were gone Saturday, to a football game and the entire military personnel Sunday, so I got very little business completed.  Good to get home where Helen spreads cheer, comfort and good living.

In the evening we met Lt. Colonel and Mrs Ragow at the Blue Grass Room of the Brown Hotel for a delightful; dinner, a few drinks and a dance or two.

Sunday, September 20, 1942
Up early and to the office, but as stated above found no officers on duty so met mother at my old church, St. Paul's Evangelical on Broadway which I haven't visited but several times since boyhood.  Mother was ll puffed up with pride at having the minister call my name and one other as old members, now in the army and present at the service.

Returned to the D. O. but still no officers so gave up to do business by phone from Columbus Monday - after a fashion.  In afternoon visited Bowman Field for medicine and thence to visit Junior Ogsbury's. After dinner at the apartment Helen and I made a movie.

Monday, September 21, 1942
Drove early to Columbus and the usual fast Monday.  Much ado, pushing the contractor, conferences, etc. and finished at 11 p. m.  Dragged self to room to jump into bed at once.

Tuesday, September 22, 1942
Slow in morning so made a complete inspection of field work by horse. What a bundle of springs !  hard to manage.  Wisely changed from an English saddle to a McClellan or I would surely have come a cropper.  While crossing a field at full gallop a covey of bids took to the air directly in front of Spencer and he did everything but a hand (hoof) spring. Except for the high build of the McClellan saddle, I would have slid into the next country - and incidentally have provided some 900 workmen with a good (and long expected and desired) laugh.

Work got very fast from noon on and now at 9 p. m. have just caught up with the day's mail.

Wednesday, September 23, 1942
Regular day except that Helen arrived in riding pants just as I finished dinner at Mrs Griffith's (old lady with whom we eat in evening - no relation to Lt. Griffith) after a quick meal for her we went directly to the field and saddled two horses.  After a few minutes it became dark and we rode for an hour or two in the blackness.  Of all the wild rides at a full gallop into nothingness on a skittish horse.  Luckily we had used western saddles instead of English and they saved us once or twice from coming a cropper.

Thursday, September 24, 1942
Helen slept until 11 a. m. while I trotted off to work as usual.  Felt good just to know she was in town - sure crazy about her and no doubt about it.  As usual, when she is here, things went tearing off like a thunderstorm but I managed to pull away in the late afternoon and take her to Camp Atterbury and at the same time get a prescription filled. Helen left just before dinner so as to make Louisville just after dark - we have war time - daylight saving which pushes the clock forward an hour.

Friday, September 25, 1942
A wizz-bang of a day - conference after conference - some with 20 or more attending.  Major Gill on hand and he did what I think at this time a foolish thing.  He allowed Kramp & Koch the concrete contractors until Oct 10th to prove they can turn out their work fast enough.  Should have taken 150,000 yards of paving away from the - I objected all I could and made him assume all responsibility of the job falls behind schedule because of paving.  Feel it in my bones this outfit can not make the grade.  Neal arrived on the 9:10 train and we tried out the jeep for him.

Saturday, September 26, 1942
Raised hell all over my office and that of the architect-Engineer group about not carrying out orders and not doing a good job of inspection of construction.  Drove to Louisville in the afternoon after Neal and I had taken along trot on horseback inspecting the construction.

In the car beside Neil and I were Mrs Hager and Neil Huffman, my office engineer - a not so bright fellow - but a hard worker.  At home went shopping with Helen and spent the evening quietly at home.  It was raining hard and Helen had gotten me a good book "We Are Expendable:, which I read from cover to cover without getting out of the chair.  Felt like my kid days again.  Really enjoyed being home with my beautiful wife.  Neal was out to a Hallechs meeting and Skindix at her friends - Blynn

Sunday, September 27, 1942
Up at 10 and to the Highland Baptist Church with Helen.  Later to the D. O. but very little work as the officers did not show up.  Sat around and gathered the office gossip from the civilians,.  After a great meal at home, Helen, Skindix and I went calling.  First on the William Crutcher's and the the Al Weindel's. Al Weindel, one of Lousiville's best architects, has had two operations and although up, looks as though he will die (he did).  Dropped Skindix off at home and took in a movie - Skindix was not taken because of the nature of the picture.

Monday, September 28, 1942
Said goodbyes and took Skindix to school and then to the long drive to Columbus - mussed on religion and morality to while away the time and the trip proved all too short.  Not a bad day at the office but too fast to permit a trip of inspection to the field.  With Lt. Griffith intend to see a movie of the Midway battle at a local show after which we will go out to the field to see the nightshift.

Tuesday, September 29, 1942
Comparatively long day.  Advent into Columbus society by way of invitation to dinner and a show by Lucy Brent Altshellee of Louisville who married John Graham of this city.

Wednesday, September 30, 1942
Days are getting harder and faster as the job grows.  We now have 6 prime contractors and many sub-contractors.  The daily correspondence, much of which requires an answer or some action, is more often than not, 8 inches thick.  I sign my name hundreds of times each day to this an to that.  Hope it doesn't get me in trouble in the future. Most of trust in this direction is placed in Hessler Hager, Chief Administrative Assistant.

Felt rotten all day and had knocked off at 5:30 to go home, or to the room, when to my delight Helen came up the steps.  Had given her up and was feeling lonesome.  We dressed up and went to the Hagers, where Lt. Griffith had been working for several hours with Mrs Hager, preparing his special dish of Italian Spaghetti.  It was the finest we had ever tasted.  Helped out with Bourbon, Burgundy and Santeria, it made a banquet. Roy Kirk also attended.

After dinner all six of us piled into the jeep and drove to the job.  After I had made an inspection, Lt. Griffith showed the party what a jeep would do and thereby loosened all eye teeth on the party.

Thursday, October 1, 1942
As Helen had come directly from Dayton, Ohio where she had visited her sister, and had her mother along she decided to leave early.  Her mother has put up nearby as we had no extra room.  However my sweet kept to bed until about 10 a. m. as this is her only chance to sleep late,  I returned to help her pack about 11 a. m. and she drove me back to the office - always hate to see her go - she means so much to my daily life.  The lack of a home she makes and her companionship is the worse part of this war.

Dressed down the contractors again today for being behind schedule - their schedule - the job as a whole is 9% ahead of schedule - the best record in the district and probably in the division.  Rode my steed Spencer  on a searching expedition to remote parts of the field today and discovered a barn which no one had seen before.  Let the old boy out to a full gallop for several miles and he was ready to quiet down afterward.  Almost tossed me several times shying at different objects while at a fast run.

Friday, October 2, 1942
Rather easy day so I made an extended inspection of the job on foot.  In evening Lt. Griffith and I drove down to Seymour where we met Lts. Case, Lucket, Basket, Snyder and  ______ at the country club. We ate and sat about and discussed various angles of our jobs until 11 p. m.  Pleasant evening.

Saturday, October 3, 1942
Usual fast and furious Saturday in an effort to get off early enough to catch someone at the D/O.  Took Major Johnson, who now lives in the Greenhill Apts. across the court from us, home with me.  We had dinner at their apartment later and spent a very pleasant evening talking about the army.  Neal smashed the Buick in Cincinnati.  Mrs Crane, my secretary quit.

Sunday, October 4, 1942
Major Johnson got me out early wanting me to take him to the office.  Maybe it wasn't such a good idea finding him an apartment.  However he was ready to return shortly so it wasn't so bad.  Collected $950.00 of old accounts - my last big money for the duration.

Helen and Skindix went with me to Harry Whaynes where he paid me my balance.  in the evening Marg and Bill Wolfe came in and we played chess.

Monday, October 5, 1942
The tough job of saying goodbye to Helen. Harder this week because she can not come to Columbus on Wednesday as usual.  The day was pretty tough.  The usual pushing the architect-engineers and the contractors.  Dinner at Mrs Griffith's and after working until 9 off to my room, a little reading and to bed.

Tuesday, October 6, 1942
This day Colonel Hutchings visited the field for the first time and if we had previous notice of his coming the stage could not have been set better.  A fine crisp bright day, more activity that at any time in the past, and I had decided to make a thorough inspection on foot of the entire field and consequently was in the midst ofit - grimey and dusty - when he arrived.  He stayed only about 20 minutes and seemed impressed.

Having been obligated to (Major) Arrasmith for several lunches at Camp Atterbury I invited him to Seymour Country Club with Lt. Griffith and I.  There we ate with Major Gill and the 6 Lieutenants - not including Case who has his family along.  We met a Colonel and a Captain of the Air Corps in charge of the field.  A rather good evening with Gill becoming bored at Arra and leaving early.

Wednesday, October 7, 1942
Lt Gill and I had to go to Camp Atterbury to be "mugged" for identification passes and while there contacted Major Lamb, Major Arrasmith, Capt Fish, M.D. (with whom we ate at the hospital) and several other officers.  We got another jeep or rather 2 in exchange for our present one.  Spoke to a Capt in Col Modisette's office who is in charge of ranges and arranged to do some shooting with small arms (pistol and rifle) and machine guns.

After return to office worked like hell to catch up.  Did I mention before that I have anew resident engineer ?  Mr. Roger, brother-in-law of Mr. Bellis and a good hard hitting kid.  Helps a lot in whipping the A/E into shape.

In the evening repaid more obligations by having Mr. & Mrs Hager, my chief clerk, out to dinner at the Palms and a show after.  Lt Gill also was invited and in attendance,

Thursday, October 8, 1942
A notable day for two reasons.  1st Helen called by phone and it brightened the day to hear her voice.  2nd, Capt Faivell and Lt Leslie arrived from Godman Field to inform me that his base has been changed by the 3rd Air Force Command from a Ground Support Base to an Army Air Field, a promotion.  Now I am Commanding Officer of an Army Air Field.

Visited Pruitt Jennings, of Louisville, today in the County Hospital. He was the oiler who fell into the machinery of the power grader yesterday.  Badly cut up but will pull thru, according to the doctor.  It man has nerve and smiled up at me when I went in.  These fellows here are giving just as much as any soldier on a battlefield except that they get more - an oiler is about the lowest job we have and he makes $90.00 per week - I get $80.00

Friday, October 9, 1942
Spent day in bed in room - sick as a dog.  Flu or grippe.

Saturday, October 10, 1942
Shaky and sick but able to get back on job.  Hard fast day because of absence yesterday.  Lt Griffith is alright and is very helpful in many ways but he cannot run this job.  He likes to gad about too much and never really settles down to work. Had a strike or walk-off  of the truck drivers today - these unions are as hard to fight ad the Japs - harder in fact.

Started for home at 2:30 p. m. and drove south in a Plymouth I have acquired.  Too sick to work upon arrival at the Mason-Dixon Line so proceeded home and got into a horizontal position.  Dinner in evening at Glee and Bill Crutcher's - rather dull but good to be home again.

Sunday, October 11, 1942
Telephone call from Lt Griffith early saying that our strike had taken a turn for the worse, so strapped on the harness and down to the D. O.  The Colonel was in and spoke at length about the strike. He said let the Bastards strike and that is a new approach.  When told that they were staying out because I would not give their organizers a permanent pass to the field he said he would back me to the limit.  Some C. O., eh ?'Have to read and lazy around with both Helen's.  Later to Anchorage to visit Capt Cliff Lewis and wife, who was entertaining Major Lucey, Area Engineer of Lewis' new post at the Vigo Ordnance Plant at Terre Haute, Ind.  The Major, a Bostonian in the army about 10 years, very nice (to use a woman's term). Next to Bob Logans and back home/

Take off again with Skindix, and to a movie at the Brown.

Monday, October 12, 1942
Up early, took Skindix to school.  After saying goodbye to Helen and off for Columbus.  Had a labor meeting in morning and because, after talking to the Colonel, I did not care whether they struck or not.  I handled them easily and won.  Their only power over me was my fear of them walking out.

Job shut down today because of lack of aggregate (gravel).  Doing everything to get it in but so many big jobs nearby that all can not be supplied - ours alone requires 100 cars of material per day for concrete paving.  Railroad cars are short also.

Mr. Gregory, chief civilian engineer of district and Mr. Bellis next in line were here today.  Get along fine with both of them.  Movie at night with Lennox, Matthews and Wilson of the A/E.

Tuesday, October 13, 1942
An easy day punctuated with a pleasant surprise.  Lt Dyer walked in about 10:30 with Rose Ziekiel, the most charming girl at the D. O.  Seems she had been assigned to accompany him on a 3 day trip so as to take his notes.  I instantly took her off alone to see the field and ride in a jeep.  Upon returning we found Dyer gone so told the guard to send him to the Greeks.  Rose and I buried so deep into the back part of the Geeks that Dyer failed to find us and we, not knowing that he had been here, waited and waited - not at all impatiently.  Finally we did return to the office to find Dyer anxious to leave for Indianapolis - wish he had been run over by an elephant or something meanwhile.  Movie at night alone.

Wednesday, October 14, 1942
Our new stationary 

A rather easy day.  Worked until 10 p. m. and home to read in bed.  Wish I could get in this war - beginning to get bored here.

Thursday, October 15, 1942
Very little to do at office.  Went to Camp Atterbury with Lt. A  Secured a pound of coffee which is very scarce in Columbus - gave it to Mrs Robert upon return.  She works in office, is from New Orleans and a coffee addict.

Journeyed to Seymour Country Club for dinner with Major Arrasmith, Lt. Griffith and Lt. Williams.  Pleasant meal, a few drinks, good conversation, and home to bed early.

While we were gone the office was being moved from the church to our new building at the field.  Lt Gill and I piled in and helped - especially in arranging the furniture at the new location.

Friday, October 16, 1942
First day in our new office and very nice.  Inconvenient to get to and from - or rather the inability to walk out of the office to my room or to town on the slightest whim, but good to be right on the job.

Helen and Skindix arrives at 9:40 Penn RR from Louisville and after dressing came out to the field with me and they took out tow horses while I went back to work.  At noon we all went back to town for lunch after which I left the two ladies to sleep

The three of us had dinner at the Seymour Country Club.  Then back to Columbus to a movie.  A very pleasant evening with two very pleasant ladies.

Saturday, October 17, 1942
The two Helens slept late but later came out to the field to take out the horses again.  Next I gave them a ride in a jeep, much to the delight of Skindix.  We then had a very pleasant drive in a perfect Autumn day to Louisville.  Balance of afternoon was spent at D. O.  A movie in evening.

Sunday, October 18, 1942
With Major Johnson to D. O. early - made several calls to people who weren't there.  To Helms and Whaynes after lunch.  Then took a walk with Major and Mrs Johnson.  Doctor Hayes Davis Polly (Mrs. Davis' daughter) and Helen from Davis home to the Louisville Boat Club where we had a drink.  Had dinner with John and Hazel Kingham in evening.

Monday, October 19, 1942
Took Skindix o school then pointed the nose of the Plymouth toward Columbus where I arrived at 10:30 a. m.  The balance of the day way very fast.  A movie in the evening.

Tuesday, October 20, 1942
An extremely fast day - very tired in evening - a movie after dinner.
(Things moved too fast to keep this diary up to date.  It is now the 29th and I will try to remember some of the last week).

Friday, October 23, 1942
Helen arrived on the 9:40 train,  We had lunch together after which she went to bed to read and I back to work.  Helen uses her visits here as a rest period after her strenuous sessions raising Neal and Skindix (without a maid, in these times of low pay, it is a feat).  Had business at Camp Atterbury in afternoon so took "my love" along.  Fells great to have her near.  Dinner together at Seymour Country Club and a movie at Columbus later.  A swell evening.

Saturday, October 24, 1942
Helen took the horses at the field while I worked and at 2:30 we departed for Louisville.  She to home and I to the D/O.  After finishing my necessary business as far as possible (officers and men do not hang around there much after 5p.m.) took Major Johnson home.

Sunday, October 25, 1942
Spent a lot of time at the D/O today clearing a lot of various matters pertaining to my job - the is - the Columbus Air Field.  Work is slacking off in this district so the boys do not "hit the ball" as hard as a month or so ago.  We all expect to be sent out of the country around the first of the year - I hope so.  Would like to see some of this war first hand. Home about 3 p. m.

Vivian and Kenneth Tuggle of Barbourville, Ky., dropped in on us in the afternoon for a pleasant visit.  Caught up on all the gossip of our acquaintances there.  Both Helens, Neal and I took in a movie in the evening.

Monday, October 26, 1942
Drove, very pleasantly, in the Autumn morning to Columbus where everything was found more or less in order. The backbone of this job is broken and everything from now on unless additional construction is ordered, is downhill.  We still lead the district and I believe the division in percentage ahead of schedule (12%).

A confidential letter was received from Colonel Hutchings ordering me to personally see that the office organization was reduced.  Even though we have the smaller overhead (in proportion) in the district and I will comply.  In fact it gives me a good excuse to weed out a group of "dead heads" we have been carrying for sometime.  Had to shut down concrete pavers at night due to cold - first time.

Tuesday, October 27, 1942
Caught up with my work today for the first time in several weeks.  Drove up to Camp Atterbury to get 20 fire extinguishers for the Post Engineer.  Nice trip. Swieget was advanced to Major yesterday.  Stayed out on the paving operations at night to see the effect of my order to keep pouring in the cold.

Wednesday, October 28, 1942
A fine day and the job running pretty good - could be better but we are increasing our percentage ahead of schedule.  Evidently succeeded in my plan to keep pouring concrete in low temperatures.  Heated the water going into the mixers and covered the finished concrete  with heavy paper.  Worked fine.  Night operations are very spectacular. Will try to photograph one.

This job has been one of putting constant pressure on the Architect-Engineer to do his work properly and with speed and working on the contractors for the same results.  The general habit is to do work half-right in a lazy manner.  It takes constant punch and drive to keep "pep" in the job.  The boys are however finally getting the idea that I will force them to get results one way or another, so are beginning to do it on their own.  This makes my job a lot easier.

Left the office at 2:20 p. m. drove home (to Louisville0.  First tried on my new overcoat at the tailors - it is a beauty - I like well-tailored clothes.  Next to the D/O to talk to Major Gill and Mr. Bellis about compaction, stabilization and avigation clearance zones.

Hurried home to dinner.  Had Colonel and Mrs. Hutchings, Major and Mrs. Johnson, Major Gill (he is single) and Capt and Mrs. Guy Trout. Helen had a wonderful dinner set up in a grand manner, as she usually does, with two maids serving.  Felt again like the way we lived before the war.  After dinner we all drove to the Little Theater to a very good play.  We occupied almost the entire front row and made a very grand entrance at the end of the first act.  After the play, Bill and Margaret Wolfe invited the bunch out to have a cocktail and we had a very nice time there.

Thursday, October 29, 1942
Drove to Columbus early and am now working away at my desk.  Rumors were floating around at the D/O that I would soon be sent out of country.  I would like to go just after the first of the year as at that time my majority would be due and a promotion is usually given a man sent out of country if it is at all possible - meaning his six months between promotions is up.  Feel terrible.

Friday, October 30, 1942
Sick all night so decided to put in at Camp Atterbury's hospital.  Busocher drove me up.  They found a sinus infection and Major Bolin worked on my head then put me under a sun lamp.  While there the attendants began to bustle and presently General Milburn, C. O. of the camp - took the next bed to mine.  He is a pleasant fellow but just "off the hand" did not seem to have what it takes to be a general. I like them tough.

Later I bedded down in the officer section of the hospital - private room and bath.  And then discovered that the place was full of officer's wives.  It was more like a big party than a hospital.  Those able to walk all made several visits each day.  One of these was a dashingly beautiful French girl - Mother from Paris - Father a French-Canadian.  She was the embodiment of all the best features you might imagine a French girl could have.

Major Baring was in charge assisted by 1st Lt. Pat Haroin.  The place was full of radios so we had music at all hours.

Saturday, October 31, 1942
The crowd arose at 4 a. m. and turned on the radios and I milled about.  what a hospital - hate to be real sick in here.  Did not know when I came in that one cannot leave until given a discharge by the medical corps.  Started a campaign to get a release and since I knew Major Fish in charge of medical service was able to make it.  Am not well but have too much business to attend to and do not want to go home.  Cheuffer Hill called for me at 1 p. m. and after some trouble got out.  Wanted principally to go on a matter of sabotage at my base - someone is putting emory or iron filings in the motor oil.  Six ruined in 5 days.

Much work to get out at the office but managed to go thru it and get  off for home at 3:30 p. m.  Upon arriving got to bed again.  At 10 p. m. Helen and I dropped in at the Blue Grass Room of the Brown Hotel to say hello to a large party which we had been asked to join.  Then we drove to Gypsy Village at Fountain Ferry to the Engineer's Masked Dance where we again just looked on for 10 minutes - then home to bed.

Skindix has been very sick and out of school all week and Neal has been made a 2nd Lt of ROTC.  He is very proud of his Sam Browne Belt and sword and spent all of Sunday polishing them.

Sunday, November 1, 1942
Stayed in bed late.  To the D/O at 12 p. m. where I found no one on duty except Capt Bailey and Mr. Bellis.  Left about 3 p. m. to stop by me Uncle George's where mother was having dinner.  Next home then to our home at Anchorage to meet Lt Col. Rogow (our tenant) and his contractor.  Found not one at home so after going thru our stored duffel returned to the apartment.  Helen & I called on Piere de Loschoeing and wife - where we found Dr. & Mrs. R. Hayes Davis and _________ and wife, a De Gaullist (Fighting French) who escaped from France and is now training the armored force at Camp Knox.

Monday, November 2, 1942
Off early to Columbus.  Skindix still too sick to attend school.  Everything at the base going fine.  Took in another movie (this is a boring place) at night and to early bed.

Tuesday, November 3, 1942
Completed a minute inspection of every corner of the field - everything fine.  Informed by Fifth Service Command at Ft. Hayes that Capt Cooper would be the Post Engineer - he is at present Asst. Post Engineer at Camp Atterbury.  We all dodge such a job as it amounts to nothing more or less than a glorified camp janitor.  Hope I do not get such an assignment.  Election today and a clean Republican sweep - first in years - feels great.

Wednesday, November 4, 1942
Received today from Vivian Tuggle of Barbourville, Ky., a book, "Learning to Ride."  Making every effort to clean up loose ends and close this job.  Poured our record amount of concrete yesterday, 1,295 square yards in 20 hours.  A call yesterday asking how long it would take me to get a runway ready to "set down" a plane makes me believe that the Air Corps will not be long in arriving.

A movie after dinner at Mrs. Griffith then home to bed.  Just as I was dozing off at about 10:15, Helen called me long distance and it was sure good to hear her voice.  She, however, gave the disturbing news that Colonel Hutchings had received orders to report for troop duty at Fort Claybourne, on the 15th of this month and that a Lt. Col. Hanms was being sent down from Wright Field to be District Engineer.  He is reputed to be an old retired army officer which they dug up to hold down this kind of job (since construction is being terminated or rather no new work started) for the duration.  This breaks up my little plan which was to finish this job and be promoted about the first of the year then sent out of the country with Colonel Hutchings help.  Now I may not ever be a Major or get in any real fighting.  War is sure hell.  (Rumor was wrong !!)

Thursday, November 5, 1942
Had to make many telephone calls to other projects and the D/O today in search of copper wire and while doing so picked up a bit of information here and there about the Colonel,  Major Gill says that there have been many rumors lately about he and I going out of country but a strong one today looked like the real thing.  Capt Drummond and Major Shire received orders to report to Fort Claybourne which is the hopping off place.  Looks like things are stirring.  British are giving Rommel his worst trimming in Libya - We are fighting in the Solomon's - nothing to amount to anything but begins to look like we will really turn on in the Spring.  Rain

Friday, November 6, 1942
Still raining - all outside work stopped, dammit.  Made trip to Camp Atterbury for my coffee ration and other business.  Rotten movie at night but it is more boring out of the movie theater than in, so it is the lesser of two evils.

Saturday, November 7, 1942
Still raining - gloomy day but my love is coming. Helen, Neal and I are off to Vibana & Champlain, Ill. today, while we can still get gasoline, to look over Illinois University.  It will give the boy a chance to look over the place and be turning it over in his mind until February so that he will not feel so strange when he finally arrives there alone (if we have no gas).

A letter from Skindix this morning enclosing a card from her Uncle Guy in Hawaii.

Helen and Neal arrived and shortly we were off.  After lunch at the Seville Restaurant in Indianapolis we drove to Vibana without incident except to get lost somewhere to the north east of Vibana.  Helen was knitting, I reading and Neal who was driving doesn't believe in signs.  We arrived at the Vibana - Lincoln Hotel about 7 p. m. and ate in Champlain after which we saw "Gentleman Jim" at a movie.

Upon returning to the hotel we learned of the wonderful news of the invasion of North Africa by American Forces. Wish I could see that show.

Sunday, November 8, 1942
We were all up early and off to breakfast in the hotel coffee shop.  Gave the entire campus of the university a close looking over - we even drove thru the stadium.  Neal appeared impressed but said little.

At 11 a. m. by appointment we met Dean Rexford Newcomb, whom I had known before, and he was more than kind; showing us thru the architecture building in detail and explaining a great deal about the college. He gave us almost two hours.

After leaving him we returned to the hotel, packed and returned to the Union building for a fine meal. The drive to Indianapolis followed and at that city we tried unsuccessfully to get in a movie so continued on to Columbus where after waiting in line 45 minutes we finally got a seat. All these towns are teeming with soldiers, sailors, waves, waacs, nurses, ambulance drivers, etc., including some foreign officers.  British, Chinese, etc.,, all looking very nice in their different uniforms, but making it almost impossible to secure entertainment or food.  My arm was tired from saluting. After the movie Helen and Neal drove off to Louisville.

Monday, November 9, 1942
Left for the D/O after cleaning all business off desk.  Upon arrival at Louisville proceeded to the 235 Club since it was noon.  Glad to see old acquaintances again.  Next proceeded to the Federal Building where I told the Colonel of my appreciation for all he had done for me.  He remembered that in his efficiency reports he had given me 4th place out of the 70 officers under him.  I had figured myself as the 5th place and cannot imagine who I unseated for 4th position.  My idea was Majors Arrasmith, Gill and Johnson in the order named and Capt Trout, the Colonel's old friend, next.  I do not know who, of them, was set aside to let me in - No matter.

The Colonel asked me to stay in town during his last several days so as to attend several of the parties to which he had been asked.  Mighty nice of him.  We (Colonel, Major Gill, Johnson, Capt Trout, Barnard and the top civilians) took off for the Pendemm where we had a time at the Board of Trade cocktail party. Home next to the family.

Tuesday, November 10., 1942
A day of talk and speculation with the other officers at the D/ O upon the future with  the new District Engineer and the possibility of being sent to North Africa. Lunch at the Brown Hotel with Colonel Hutchings, Major Gill and Johnson.

Evening spent very pleasantly at Major Johnson's with Colonel Hutchings, Major Gill and Lt. Pegg and wives of all, except Gill who is single.

Wednesday, November 11, 1942
The Colonel went to Cincinnati to say adieu to Colonel Hall, Division Engineer.  I remained in bed until late and took Helen to the St. X ___ Male High Football game.  Swell to be home.

Thursday, November 12, 1942
Up at 6 a. m.  and off to Columbus.  Arrived at 8:30 and Major Gill came in about 9:30 to take my concrete contractors off to another job. Since we are getting close to finishing I feel like a skeleton with the vultures picking my bones.  Had lunch with Gill - like him very much.  He is acting D/E until Monday.

Friday, November 13, 1942
Keath arrived on the early train and I went down to meet him.  He was very much impressed with the "jeep" and on our first ride we flushed a large red fox and chased him 'cross country for about 4 miles.  Keath got a big kick out of it.  Later I let him take off a jeep all alone and he stayed with it until dark.

We ate in town and I let him to to a movie alone after which we retired.

Saturday, November 14, 1942
Keath spent the morning in a jeep - very delighted.  We drove home about noon and he was again permitted to drive.  Feeling rather rotten so went directly home after dropping Keath.  Found Helen off to the races and Skindix at a movie with Blym.  Neal studying.  The two Helens and I to a good movie at night.

Sunday, November 15, 1942
To the D/O at noon.  The mice taking advantage of the D/E cat being away - no one was there.  Bet next Sunday the place will be teaming.  Left and tried to collect money due me from Samuel Dant and Mrs. Kennedy Helm but found them out..  In the evening we had dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Pierre de Loeschnnig, de Gaulist Frenchman, Dr & Mrs. R. Hayes Davis, two other French couples, one Russian couple and about 4 children including Skindix.  Very interesting evening when I was able to understand what was being said.

Monday, November 16, 1942
Up early to take Skindix to school - her first time for 3 weeks - a spot onher lung - Helen and I very worried - must do the very best we can to clear up this matter.

Drove to Columbus and put in a hard fast day sitting on my fanny in front of a desk - getting bored with it.

After dinner at Mrs. Griffith's off to a movie with Lt. Griffith, (no relation) and home to bed.  The radio bringing in the first news of the naval victory at Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon's

Tuesday, November 17, 1942
Arose as usual by turning on the radio to world news, shaving and dressing in my lonesome room, coffee and cookies with my landlady Mrs. Marr, then my blond secretary gets my car from the garage and calls for me - Quite genteel, Eh !  A rainy gloomy day.  Cannot pour concrete.  Little other work being done outside the office.

In the evening Lt. Griffith and I were invited to the Hagers for dinner - and what a dinner.  Kentucky country ham, sorghum, crab apple jelly, all from Kentucky.  Sat about and talked after.  To my room by 9:45 for the 10 o'clock radio news, then to sleep.

Wednesday, November 18, 1942
Still raining - this is doing no good to my progress record.  Made a trip to Atterbury for my pound of coffee.  Generally getting ready for the visit tomorrow of the new District Engineer, Col. Henry F. Hannis, which has been reported by our very efficient army grapevine.

About 4:30 Helen called with the astonishing news that an x-ray of Neal's chest showed active tubercular. I hopped into the car and drove to Louisville - 70 miles in 80 minutes the last half in dark and fog.  By that time the situation had developed to the point that the Doctors thought that the trouble might be pneumonia instead - but advised that he stay in bed for a month - bad enough but a great relief from the first report.  We spent considerable time with Dr. R. Hayes Davis.

Thursday, November 19, 1942
Up early and off at 6 a. m.  Heavy fog slowed me down so that I arrived at the Columbus office at 8:15. A very fast day.  Major Seieget, Post Engineer of Camp Atterbury called in company with Capt Cooper, our Post Engineer,  Later Lt, Lewis called with Mr. Leonard of the D/O.  Then Colonel Hannis arrived with Capt Trout.

Lt. Griffith and I put them in a jeep as the place was knee-deep in mud and drove all over the place.  The Colonel asked many questions, all of which, thank goodness, we were able to answer.  We climbed the half-completed control tower which affords a bird-eye view of the field, inspected the A/E office, and all the buildings and utilities.

We then went to lunch at Sap's Grill during which the Colonel warmed up considerably - think everything will be all right.  Movie in evening.

Friday, November 20, 1942
For some days rumors have bee flowing about that two 4-engine bomber schools will be built in the district.  This is discouraging as one will probably be assigned to me as I am farther ahead than any Area Engineer building air field.  I am put to the expedient of even asking for the one which to to be built at Bowling Green, Ky. to keep from getting the one which will be located at Terre Haute, Ind.

Took my last ride on my steed "Spencer" and what a ride.  He was bad before but this time he hadn't been ridden for 3 weeks and was really wild.  To make matters worst, I used the flattest English saddle.  He did every trick known to horses but the hand-spring.  By the merest chance I got him back to the stables without being unseated.  My record is clear on this job.

Our evening meal at Mrs. Griffith's usually develops into quite a discussing among the 6 of us now attending and we sit on for an hour after talking.  Next I take the car into the garage, buy a Life Magazine and walk home to read and listen to the radio.  A dull life.  After the 10 o'clock news - off to sleep - And Helen and I used to reach bed about 1 or 2 in the morning.

Saturday, November 21, 1942
It is raining hard today - this rain is stopping all work and hurting my schedule.  Clearing the ail ends of work and soon off to the D/O.  Everyone thinks there be be quite a few changes soon.

Upon arriving home found Neal much better and raising cane to get out of bed.  Helen informed me that we were invited to a cocktail party by the Major Johnson's at which the Colonel would be.  After that a dance at the Bowman Field officers club.  Everything turned out great.  Mrs. Hannis is very nice - from Oregon - and should be fine to get along with.

We drank a lot.  First at the Johnsons then at the officers club, and later at the Big Springs Country Club.  The Colonel holds his liquor well.  Took quite a liking to Helen which shows his good taste.  Helen looked like a million dollars.  She is tops in everything she tries to do - am very pleased with her.

While Colonel Hutchings was here she laid the groundwork (like a smart girl) for the next Colonel.  Some of the officers, chief of whom was Major Arrasmith, devoted all their attention to Colonel Hutchings and little to the other officers - and now after the change to Colonel Hannis, they must start from the bottom again (socially) while Helen has us right at the top by making friends of Major Johnson and Gill. The Johnson's invited only Major Gill, Capt Trout and us (from the Engineer Corps) and omitted all others even thought Major Arrasmith was in town.

Sunday, November 22, 1942
This morning while discussing our terrible heads at the D/O, a letter arrived while the Colonel, Major Gill, Capt Trout and I were talking.  It was from the Adjutant General and contained a promotion to Lt Colonel for Joe Gill.  Everyone was delighted as he is such a swell fellow.  He declared that it was well that it hadn't arrived  yesterday as we would have really "turned on" last night.  Helen and I called on the Colonel & his wife during the afternoon (as the instruction book states) then took in a movie after which we called on Bill & Marguerite Wolfe.

Monday, November 23, 1942
Drove to Columbus by 10 a. m. after taking Skindix to school.  Not a great deal to do as it is still raining.  A hint or two while at the D/O makes me think that I may be ordered in to the D/O when Lt. Col Gill or Johnson is ordered away as we expect soon.  I do not like that job but it is a way to quick promotion and service overseas.  It also lets me live at home.

After dinner I wandered alone to a local movie showing the Russian Moscow battle.  While buying a ticket I was hailed by Major Arrasmith who informed me that he had been ordered to report to the 6th Corps in Rhode Island on December 8th.  He was quite put out as Colonel Hutchings and he had made all arrangements to have him transferred with the Colonel (who will be a General) to the 4th Corps, but this order ruined everything.  The 4th Corps was just beginning to train which would give Arra a chance to prepare while the 6th Corps is evidently about to leave the country as they sent for his head and shoe size for battle dress.  The same will happen to me sometime.

Tuesday, November 24, 1942
Just another dull Columbus day.  It is still raining.  Information reached the office that Lt. Col Gill has been ordered to report for duty as District Engineer of the Cincinnati District.  Sure hate to lose him.  Major Johnson is next.

Wednesday, November 24, 1942
A fast day at the office.  Word reached us that Major Johnson and Capt Trout will be called out within 15 days.,  Things are certainly moving fast.  Seems that since I am so far completed here that I will be involved in some change.  When these men leave there will be 3 majorities vacant, but I can not be promoted until after January 2nd, worst luck.

Capt Augustus Cooper of Georgetown, Ohio reported to me this day as Post Engineer.  Got him properly installed - he seems to be a fine scout.

In the evening I journeyed to Camp Atterbury to a farewell dance in Major Arrasmith's honor.  Colonel Modisette, Lt Col. Johnson and many others.  The office personnel of Arras and a great deal of mine.  A big time was had by all - especially Lt. Griffith, whom we proceeded to get drunk by the simple expedient of proposing toasts to some lady in the crowd, in relays.  There or for officers or men would propose several toasts which he could not refuse to drink, then after a little while they would move off and a new group take over.  He carried his liquor well and managed to walk from the car to his own quarters under his own power and straight - a true Kentuckian - but oh what a load he was carrying.

One of the girls at the dance was rather clever.  She was short, about 5'-2" and wore a gardenia in her hair.  When dancing the flower was directly under the nose of her partner - if he had any height at all.

Thursday, November 25, 1942
Lt Griffith did not appear Wednesday morning so when noon came around and he still was absent a group of us secured several bouquets of rather worn out flowers from the local florist, among them a bunch of sweet-peas and very slowly proceeded to Lt Griffith's room where we found him still in bed.  Grouped about hsi bed we presented our gifts !  With the flowers all about him, his haggard face looked like some horrible apparition arising over a field of beautiful flowers.

When at 4 in the afternoon he had still not appeared we took advantage of a new telegraph machine which had been installed this day, and hence unknown to him, and prepared the attached fake telegram and signed it Col Henry Harris, District Engineer.  Upon delivery he was very worried that the D/O had heard of his dissipation.

X-rays proved Neal is perfectly sound and we are delighted.

Thanksgiving day.  Against three direct orders from the D/O District Office, I am letting the office personnel off at noon.  We really do not have enough to do so why not ?

A quick trip to Louisville and both Helen's and I off to the Manual-Male High game - a beautiful day and Manual won 26 to 6.  We regretted it as we would have liked to see Neal's school win just once while he attended, but it wasn't to be.

Helen's sister Virginia was in town to say farewell before going to Hawaii and she, Helen, Skindix and I met hazel and John Kingham at the Brown Hotel for Thanksgiving dinner.  I hadn't eaten for 25 hours so naturally enjoyed the meal.

Friday, November 26, 1942
Up early to drive back to Columbus, this time with Neal. Since th3re was little to do here, Lt. Griffith, Capt Cooper, Neal and I drove down to the Twin Engine School at Seymour to look it over.  Dinner at Mrs Griffith's and a show afterward with Neal.

Saturday, November 28, 1942
Neal drove me to Louisville and after unloading personal belongings I proceeded to D/O.  Immediately Major Johnson asked me into his office where he gave me the unwelcome news that I was to replace Capt Culbertson, Area Engineer, at the Sturgis Air Support Command Base, Sturgis, Kentucky, better known as the Black Hole of Calcutta.

He started three weeks before I did here and is now 4 1/2 % completed.  Everything is wrong with it and it is a terrible place to live, I am told.  Arrasmith, when told said, "My God they can't even hear you pray down there."

Not a yard of concrete has been poured and the worst part of winter is upon us. Some fun.  Helen and I made a movie in the evening.

Sunday, November 29, 1942
To the D/O at 12:30.  Kidded a bit with Col Harris about my new assignment, but the laugh is on me.  Major Johnson indicated that my Majority would come thru as soon as my required 6 months is up.  That is January 2nd.  There is some rumor that Col Harris will not be allowed to remain ling.  Called Lt Col Gill to say goodbye as he did not intend to come in before leaving for Cincinnati where he will be District Engineer.

Had lunch with Lt Peggy and Capt Barnard at the Brown Hotel.  About 2 o'clock a letter arrived from the Adjutant General's office addressed to "Lt Col S. T. B. Johnson" and as he was at home, I called him and had the pleasure of announcing the event to him. He asked me to bring the notice up to him - which I did.

In the evening he and Bobby, his wife and son; Pierre and Lilly, his wife dropped in for a drink.  They left early and Helen and I spent a quiet evening at home.

Monday, November 30, 1942
Drove to Columbus after taking Skindix to school.  Announced to Lt Griffith that he would be Area Engineer come Saturday.  Lots to do dropping the reins and showing Griffith how to hold them.  Made a movie in evening and to bed early.

Tuesday, December 1, 1942
A dreary, cold, dull, windy day.  Almost made the cinema in evening but worked until 10:30 and home to bed.

Wednesday, December 2, 1942
6 above zero, snow in ground.  Got in too late last night to get car in garage so it was covered with snow and hard to start.  Day is brilliant - flooded with sunlight.

In evening Lt. Griffith asked Major Arrasmith and myself to the Seymour Country Club for a farewell dinner.  We had a pleasant evening and good conversation, mostly jokes.

Thursday, December 3, 1942
Had hope this morning of harping on a certain subject but no success.  Regular dull day.  Dinner in evening at Sap's with Roy Kirk, chief clerk at Camp Atterbury.  Next a show then home.  Temperature near zero.

Friday, December 4, 1942
Have most of work completed - very dull here.  Three twin-engine planes circled the field 4 or 5 times today but did not land.  Bright sparkling day and getting warmer.  In the evening I picked up Andre Allred, my secretary, Mrs. Sargent Daimuth and took them to the reception in my honor.  About 200 people wee there, including officers and civilian personnel from Camp Atterbury and Seymour Twin-Engine Scho0ol - among them Arrasmith.  Dinner, drinks, music, poker, dice and dancing were offered and those present too their choice or tried all of them.  Most  of my time was spent dancing.  About 1 am we wended our way wearily home after a grand evening.

 

Saturday, December 5, 1942
The day dawned miserably damp and depressing in line with my mood.  Leaving those whom I had known for just four months was much harder than expected.  Yesterday the office force called me out and presented me with a very fine pen and pencil set - it was very kind of them. The Architect-Engineers presented me with a fine expression of their appreciation of their appreciation of my work with them.

About 3, my work was caught up and I took leave first of my secretary, Mrs Charles Allred, whom I hated to leave very much as she can not be replaced in these times.  Next the office personnel, then off thru the falling snow to the A/E office.  After this and upon reaching the gate I was informed by the guard that several officers were in my office to see me.  They turned out to be Lt Col Johnson and Capt Trout and wanted to see the field. This was done in the driving snow.  Wish they hadn't come as it caused me to have to say goodbye the second time and it was rather hard to do.

We all left the field about 3:30 or 4 pm and started for Louisville. the trip was extremely difficult by reason of the slippery road and the windshield being covered with snow.  Arrived about 6 pm and went directly home.

Helen was in town and called me to meet her at Canary Cottage, where we ate dinner and took in a show.  Neal's' X-rays had proved his lungs all clear and we were very happy.

Sunday, December6, 1942
Lazed about t the apartment reading the paper and etc.  Very pleasant.  Pulled out for the D/O about noon and stopped at Uncle George's on the way down.  Here I saw Mother and jollied her a bit to raise her spirits.  At the D/O had conversations with the Colonel and several others. Stayed home in the evening.

Monday, December 7, 1942
Arrived early at the D/O and settled the final business of the Columbus Air Field as far as I was concerned.  Finished there 14 % ahead of schedule with al the loose ends tied up and the job left in a clear cut shape 90 % completed.  Began to probe into the reason for the trouble at the Sturgis Air Field - something radically wrong down there and I intended to eliminate it quickly.

Took Col Harris, Lt Col Johnson, and Capt Trout to the 235 Club for lunch.  Later ran into Donald Dinning on the street and he requested that I contact Gavin Cochran.  This I tried to do but missed him - however did see Bill Crutcher and from him learned the news concerning Carlisle Crutcher who is 1st Lt in the Air Force and in England.

In the evening we had a dinner party for Col and Mrs. Harris, Lt Cols Johnson and Rogow and wives.  Helen, as usual, served a grand and beautiful meal in grand style.  I am very proud of her - she does everything just right.  After dinner we all went to the Little Theater and were lucky to have front row seats.  The evening was a big success.

Tuesday, December 1942
Up early and packed for the new job.  Picked up Miss Moore, who is the Colonel's Secretary, at her home at 8:30 am and started for Sturgis.  The roads were still covered with ice but we made fair time as the traffic was almost nil due to gasoline rationing.  We had lunch at , or near, Dade Park near Evansville.

The diary, as it pertains to Atterbury Army Air Field ends with his page 122.

First plane to "land" at Atterbury Air Field

THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR II
ON A CITIZEN SOLDIER.

By STRATTON HAMMON*

The very worst confrontation of things military upon a civilian newly commissioned happened to an architect friend of mine from Louisville named W. Earl Otis. For some unexplained reason, since he had no experience or connection with flying, he wanted into the Army Air Corps and somehow managed to get a commission as a captain. He was ordered to a small air base and, upon reporting for duty, was told that he was the ranking officer, therefore the commanding officer, and that he would have to take the review which began in just half an hour. He did not know what a review was!

My own advent into the army resulted in a clash between twenty-two years of intense civilian constructional experience and habits and one hundred and sixty-seven years of Corps of Engineers military constructional experience and habits. When America entered World War II perhaps the most immediate problem was that our physical plant, necessary to train and prepare all the military services, was only a small fraction of what it needed to be. Forts, camps, airfields, hospitals, depots, and facilities of all kinds - even buildings to print army maps - had to be erected at once. In the army, then including the Army Air Corps, this gigantic task fell to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

The organizational setup of the Corps of Engineers was at that time exceptionally well suited to handling such a situation. The Corps was roughly divided into two parts. The first, commonly called "Going to Troops," was the regular army organization of companies, battalions, regiments, and corps composed of enlisted men and officers. The second, labeled the "U.S. Engineer Department," covered the entire country even in peacetime and was composed of a few career engineering officers and thousands of extremely well-entrenched civilian bureaucrats. There were no enlisted men at all, not one.

The trouble was that the peacetime U.S. Engineer Department was principally concerned with lakes, dams, and inland water transportation and did not have the necessary military personnel. It was ill-equipped to handle the vast military construction projects. In order to fill this gap it called in many reserve officers and commissioned many new officers from the civilian construction industry. These citizen soldiers outnumbered the career West Pointers about ten to one.

The office of the Chief of Engineers was at the top of the pyramid, and under it were a number of divisional offices which usually embraced several states. Next were the district offices which encompassed about half a state; their boundaries, however, were determined mostly by geographical rather than state lines. Under them were the area offices, and the areas occasionally had a number of branch field offices. The Chief of Engineers was a general officer. The divisions and districts were commanded generally by a "chicken" colonel, and the areas by a major or a captain. All division and district engineers known to me were West Pointers, and all area engineers were reserve officers or, like me, had come in by being commissioned directly from civilian life.

An area engineer could wear several other military hats. He could also be the commanding officer and the contracting officer of the project he was building or he could possess any combination of these three titles. The area engineer could have half a dozen great constructional projects going at one time while being area engineer on all of them; but perhaps he might also be the commanding officer on several, or the contracting officer on some of them, or maybe only the area engineer on one or two. Each contracting officer had a monetary limit. My limit was one million dollars a day. If I needed to spend more, which I frequently did, I had to telephone my colonel whose limit was ten million dollars a day, equal to approximately a hundred million by present standards. Between July 1942 and July 19433 my colonel, with about a half dozen area engineers, spent an amount equivalent to approximately a billion 1985 dollars. This was the complicated organization into which I was about to stick my head.

It came to my attention that the Louisville district engineer, Colonel (later General) Henry Hutchings was inquiring in local circles about construction men who might fit into his command. I was thirty-eight years old, had been an architect for twenty-two years, and had operated my own firm for thirteen years starting in 1929. 1 went to see him at the Federal Building in Louisville, where his main office occupied an entire floor. Much later, when we had become friends, he told me that I had been accepted because my back was bowed out of shape by two decades of bending over a drawing board and because I wore a bow tie. He was clever enough to realize that men working on a drawing board seldom wore a four-in-hand tie because it hung down in their way. I explained that my hand was crippled, and he said that he would arrange a waiver. After taking a physical in early 1942, 1 received the usual letter from the adjutant general telling me that I had been appointed a captain in the Corps of Engineers and ordering me to report to the Louisville district.

From the Corps of Engineers' point of view, I was, perhaps, the greenest officer ever to report for duty. At least I felt that way. One of the first things that struck me was that everything -tables, chairs, boxes, whatever, was stamped "USED." Since they were obviously not new and were apparently used, it puzzled me why they had to be labeled in that manner. It was several days before I realized that this stood for "U.S. Engineer Department."

When I had come to that headquarters before, trying to join up, everyone was friendly, courteous, and helpful, even the colonel. Now, no one paid me the slightest heed, especially the colonel who, I quickly learned, was a supreme being to be talked about in hushed terms. I had no office or even a desk and chair that I could call my own and seemed destined to wander forever around the halls. Not even the lieutenants wanted to have anything to do with me.

It turned out later that the colonel had a plan for me, but he did not deign to acquaint me with the fact. Instead he acted as if I did not exist. So I spent my time bothering the civilian heads of sections in an effort to learn how the organization worked. I read reams of manuals, contracts, etc., and journeyed out to local military construction projects to talk to the area engineers about their problems. Early in July Major Joe Gill, a West Pointer who afterward became a general in the Air Corps, informed me that the next day I was to report to Lawrenceburg, Illinois, a hundred miles to the northwest, where a great army airfield, with several satellite fields, was being constructed. My title was to be the executive assistant of the district engineer, and my job was to help the area engineer expedite the construction which was behind schedule.

What an area engineer really was, especially what the lines and extent of his authority were, was still a mystery to me. How much power did he possess to rectify his position if he did fall behind schedule? I had never heard of a contracting officer. The colonel, in his wisdom, realized all this and was sending me on this mission so I could catch up on my learning. I soaked up army knowledge like a sponge and that was all to the good because there was precious little time for me to learn. My education here also embraced the constructional peculiarities of an airfield, a type of engineering knowledge foreign to me up until that time.

On July 29, 1942, when there had barely been time to become acquainted with the area engineer and his two lieutenants, I was ordered back to the district office. Here I was told by Major Gill that the colonel had appointed me area engineer, commanding officer, and contracting officer of an army airfield, with all customary facilities, to be built seventy miles to the north of Louisville in Columbus, Indiana. I was handed a one sheet, two paragraph letter of authority which stated that I had only five months to get a group of farmers off their land and have military planes flying in. This project not only included four mile long concrete runways but even the design of the airfield and the construction of housing, shops, schools, gasoline storage, fire department, water system, sewage system, electrical system, etc. The purpose was to train Army Air Corps flyers to work with ground personnel troops to be quartered at Camp Atterbury, then under construction ten miles away.

A panel truck was provided, and this was stocked with several typewriters, a file or two, and mounds of army forms. Included was a heavy manual which informed me how to act as an area engineer. All alone I crossed the Ohio River, drove north, and wondered how on earth any human being could possibly accomplish the task that was assigned me. Incongruously a wisp of a newly-learned engineer song kept popping into my head: "The engineers, they have no fears, they live in caves and ditches." I wondered if they had any caves in Columbus, Indiana, for I had no place else to stay that night!

As I drove along, I remembered that my good friend, Major William Strudwick Arrasmith, former Louisville architect, was the area engineer building Camp Atterbury; I stopped and gave him a call, knowing that he had a staff of a hundred or so civilian employees. I asked that he let me have an office manager and a dozen secretaries. He just laughed at my plight because the same thing had happened to him when he started Camp Atterbury. He did consent to have one secretary and a jeep sitting in front of the courthouse when I rolled into Columbus.

When I arrived an hour later, there she was waiting for me, and we conferred in my panel truck, conjecturing how to put together an army airport in five months. Having been included in this situation once before, she suggested we appeal to the local chamber of commerce, and off we went. That body was flabbergasted. They had heard nothing of my project which promised to disrupt the little town, but they managed at once to procure us an office by taking over the Sunday school of a Lutheran church. They began to round up all typists and anyone else whom they thought would fit in. We got the telephone company to install a lot of telephones. The first calls were back to my colonel's office; I began badgering the various department heads for personnel and got the promise of an office manager, several persons to start our financial section, and a dozen civil engineers and inspectors.

Next we contacted several firms of architects in nearby Indianapolis and called the Columbus Chapter of the American Legion, asking if they could put together a group of Legionnaires to form a guard for the proposed airfield. We obtained a court order allowing us to survey a two square mile tract even before the farmers realized that they would have to move off the land some of their ancestors had obtained by service in the Revolutionary War. Indeed, one of the first local groups to come to my office was a Daughters of the American Revolution delegation to obtain my promise that the remains of the Revolutionary War veterans would be carefully re-interred in a cemetery of its choosing.

In about ten days Colonel Hutchings sent me an assistant area engineer. This was Lieutenant Austin Griffith who had come straight from the Kentucky Highway Department. He knew his roads, and an airport runway is simply a good road built one hundred and fifty feet wide. We had to fight not only for personnel and four million dollars worth of heavy earth-moving and concrete-paving equipment, but also for every bit of material needed. My first estimates told me that in order to meet our schedule, we would have to move in ten carloads of cement and fifty-five carloads of aggregates (sand and gravel) every day.

In my ignorance I innocently called the cement company that I had been buying from for twenty years and instructed them to send me ten carloads of cement daily. They nearly fainted, telling me that their entire output would not begin to equal that amount. They did agree to try to put together a cartel of cement suppliers all over the mid-west in an effort to accommodate me. Their last question was, "What siding do we move this cement onto?" This raised another problem. We had no siding, and when I called the Pennsylvania Railroad to ask that they put in one for us, they were scornful, telling me that they had no rails and that in any case there were scores of other new military installations ahead of us. So we sent out one of our "expeditors" to locate rails, and he found them in an abandoned coal mine in Sullivan County, Indiana. The word leaked out, however, and before we could get the equipment together to bring in the rails, they were gone. This made me angry, and, as a commanding officer having the highest telephone priority (all telephone calls were completed only on a priority basis and each installation had a priority number), I forthwith called Donald M. Nelson, head of the War Production Board. He was most tolerant and said, "Captain, tell me exactly where you are." Two days later the Pennsylvania Railroad was beginning to build a railroad spur into my airfield.

This episode had a sequel. I reported to my colonel's headquarters each Saturday to bring him up on the week's developments. When I next walked through his doorway, he was yelling at the top of his voice, "If you take him out of that job, you can take me out of this one!" As I passed his secretary, I asked, "What's that about?" She replied, "You." All the colonel said to me was, "Don't call Donald Nelson again." Nelson did not complain; it was the Chief of Engineers office. In my civilian ignorance I had not gone through channels, which would have taken months; by reason of my military orders I did not have months to spare.

These problems kept sweeping over us in waves as the office filled out and construction began. By that time the weather was turning cold and winter was setting in. This complicated the concrete-pouring process. Normally constructors just quit pouring concrete in freezing weather, but we could not. My schedule called for me to put down an average of one mile of concrete twenty-five feet wide each day through the middle of winter. I did not know that no one had ever achieved such a record before. Later, when I knew my colonel better, I asked, "Why did you assign the area engineers who had been architects to engineering projects and the engineers from civilian life to architectural jobs?" He answered, "You all knew how to build, but, by assigning you projects outside your disciplines, you did not know the jobs I gave you were impossible, so you did them."

One day while walking through the district office I happened to cut through the estimating section which was staffed with about forty estimators. One of them, working on my airport, called out, "Captain, what is your airport going to cost?" I gave him a figure off the top of my head which evoked a round of laughter as I had intended. Later, when the contractors' bids came in, my facetious estimate was just short of perfect while that of the estimating section was over a million dollars off. Thereafter, I enjoyed an undeserved reputation as a whiz with constructional figures.

Union organizers began to give me trouble, stopping work here and there on the field while making speeches to the workmen. My guards would throw several out one gate, but more would enter another gate two miles away (the field had an area of four square miles) posing as ordinary workmen. Finally we appealed to the draft board at Indianapolis, asking why these young healthy males were allowed to evade military service. (One of them was a professional wrestler.) The organizers began to disappear, and when it began to sink in what was happening, my troubles in that direction ceased.

As construction hit its peak, my big headache became quality control. My inspectors just would not inspect. They all wanted to be "good ole boys" loved by everyone. It seemed repugnant to them to tell anyone that he was doing something wrong. However, the Corps of Engineers civilian bureaucrats were on my back, and they were fanatical about obtaining not merely good concrete but perfect concrete. I have seen a district supervisor rub his cheek on one of my concrete walls to feel its texture. A honeycomb was absolutely unthinkable to the old line Corps civil servant engineers. The trouble was my inspectors were concrete contractors scrounged from private industry during the emergency. They did not know that the kind of concrete demanded by the district could actually be produced, and until being commissioned into the Corps, neither did I.

Nevertheless, it was my responsibility to put down 352,000 square yards of perfect concrete in the dead of winter, and I meant to do it. This was equal to a strip twenty-five feet wide and twenty-four miles long, and there were only twenty-four days in which to accomplish it. It was, of course, necessary to pour concrete twenty-four hours each day seven days a week.

Because of the cold, our concrete finishers were always working about a mile behind the paving machines. Every one of these finishers were paid more money than the commanding officer, area engineer, and contracting officer.

In order to frighten my inspectors into being more demanding, I would appear at different work sections all over the field at any time, night or day. One morning at 4:00 a.m. I drove my jeep fairly close to one of the operating concrete pavers and was not heard because of the racket the machine made. I walked silently out of the dark up behind my inspector who was gazing down into one of the worst batches of concrete yet seen on my field. It was covered with water which was a prime Corps "no-no." Touching the inspector on the shoulder I asked, "How are things going?" He answered, "Just fine." It was said that they could hear me yell a half mile away.

When mechanical equipment is pushed to these extremes, it is difficult to keep it running. We had five tremendous concrete pavers, which rode on steel tracks placed twenty-five feet apart and mechanically put down the concrete paving. By desperate efforts we kept two of these operating, on the average, while three were being repaired.

Administrative problems were continuous. On one visit to the district headquarters a department head said to me, "Captain, you are running a most unusual construction project." When I asked why, he said, "Not one change order has reached my desk from your airport." Since I had signed scores of change orders, I hurried back to my field and called my office manager. "How many change orders have I signed?" was my first question. He answered, "seventy-three." "What did you do with them?" was my next question. He took me over into his office and opened a drawer in his desk and said, "Put them in there." He had not processed them up through our own architect-engineer staff, through the concerned contractors, nor into our area and the district financial section as was required!

My title as commanding officer was valid only until the Army Air Corps sent in their commanding officer to take charge, but this did not happen while I was at the field. As the end of 1942 approached, a number of military aircraft, assigned to the field, appeared, and we were able to allow them to land on one runway and provide the personnel with housing facilities. We had accomplished our mission, the rest was cleanup.

The vast Camp Atterbury ten miles north of my field was being simultaneously completed by Major Arrasmith. Since he also lived in Columbus we had spent many of our evenings together trading shop talk. Occasionally we were invited to partake of rationed steaks at the Seymour Country Club by Captain Case, who was the area engineer of another air corps training field with five satellite landing fields twenty miles south of Columbus. The gigantic powder plant across the river from Louisville was also beginning to produce even while it was under construction.

Upon receiving my orders to report to my next post, the personnel on the field arranged a farewell dinner at which they presented me with a large framed declaration. It read:
Whereas it has been determined that in view of the fact that a group of sundry Masterbuilders under the masterful direction of a Contracting Officer is engaged in defense construction and that said construction is nearing completion with astonishing rapidity and that the group of Masterbuilders is and will be dissipated and that ere long it will be Gone With The Wind and that the Contracting Officer will be promoted and assigned to ever greater responsibilities elsewhere, it is desirable and fitting, and in the best interests of goodwill, good fellowship and considerations of Auld Lang Syne that we should meet here tonight in Building No. 109, Type FO-1, without cost to the Government, to break bread together, to let down all barriers of rank, caste and distinction, and to congratulate ourselves heartily that the damned job has gone as well as it has.

The expression "Masterbuilders" was prophetic. I was indeed soon promoted to major and was assigned to greater responsibilities. These included the finishing of three more army airfields, a general hospital, a quartermaster depot, a medical depot, and the construction of a modification center for the alteration of Army Air Corps bombers. In six more months, about the middle of 1943, even these were nearing completion, and this
meant that the Louisville District of the U.S. Engineering Department had just about erected all the emergency military constructions assigned to it. Most of the officers, West Pointers, reservists, and those who came out of civilian life, were being "ordered to troops" in batches; I went along with the others. My colonel was the first to go.

It was ironic that then, and only then, the reservists and ex-civilians were first ordered to fly to Engineer School of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to learn how to become proper officers. Never again in the army did I have the power of a commanding officer, area engineer, and contracting officer, and never again was I able to accomplish so much for the army. When we entered that Engineer School, we learned many of the fine points of being an army officer, but we lost much of our spontaneous initiative. I would no longer have dared to call Donald Nelson to obtain a railroad spur!

EPILOGUE

The air support command base at Columbus was closed after World War II but was reopened in 1949 for the training of reserves. On October 11, 1954, the Air Force renamed the base after Lieutenant John E. Bakalar who was killed in action over France on September 1, 1944. By 1965 it was the home base of the 434th Troop Carrier Wing which trained about 2,000 reservists from Indiana and Kentucky.

The Defense Department closed the base in October 1967 when it had 40 active military personnel and about 356 full-time civilian employees, about half of which went on active duty as reservists on weekends. Since that time the field has belonged to and has been operated by Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Jim: 

In case you were not aware of the fact, after Major Stratton Hammon finished building airports in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky for the US Corps of Engineers,  he was sent  to the  University of Virginia and given a course in military government and sent to Europe.

After the invasion of France, his C of E division was transferred there, and he later served four or five months as the head of Fine Arts and Monuments Department in France. 

These so called "Monument Men" were made somewhat notorious by the recent movie of the same name, and Stratton Hammon was the head US officer in charge of the outfit in France.

He replaced a US Marine captain, who was transfered to Italy. He left that job about April or May in 1945 because of illness. 

courtesy of Neal O. Hammon

Page last revised 10/18/2020
James D. West
Host106th@106thInfDivAssn.org
www.IndianaMilitary.org