July 1943

608th Tank Destroyer Unit Likes Camp Atterbury.  Newest Post Battalion Comes Here from Tennessee.

Priest, Ordained in War Torn Italy Now Serves the 1537th.

LET FREEDOM RING 1776 - 1943  No other day is more significant pf the principles for which we are fighting than Independence Day !  W, like our forefathers, have been called upon to choose between peace and liberty --- and like them we have chosen liberty.  We have so much good news to celebrate this day, but the fact that we have won many a battle should not lead us into the pitfalls of over-optimism; we should rather train and work all the harder to take full advantage of our growing offensives.

1560th Medical organizes new band.

Hospital WAACs Replace Scores of Men in Many Jobs.

Lovers of popular dance music, sweet and hot, will be "riding the skies" when they see "Stage Door Canteen", a soldier's love story, the movie to be shown at Theater No. 6 tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday; and No. 4 and 5 Wednesday and Thursday.  Six famous bands appear, each playing new hit tunes.  Included are Guy Lombardo, Count Basie with Ethel Waters singing, Kay Kiser, Benny Goodman, Freddie Martin and Xavier Cugat.

Bivouac Training Prepares 349th Ordnanced MT Co. (Q).  Set up and camouflaged in a woods, the 349th served as a motor supply depot for other units of the 8th Detachment, Special Troops, 2nd Army.

'Indiana's Own' Hospital Unit Nears Goal --- Foreign Service !!
"Made Up Mostly of Indiana's Finest !!"

This picture was snapped shortly after nurses of the 32nd General Hospital toasted Atterbury farewell.  The unit, "Indiana's Own" made a name for itself in World War I while serving in France.  These 47 nurses are now at Fletcher  General Hospital, Cambridge, Ohio, completing their training for overseas duty.  The group (l-r):  Seated: Lts. Lois Beck, Lebanon.; Celia Burkhart, Indianapolis; Helen Hoover, Princeton; Blanche Caskey, Princeton; Dorthory Smith, Valpraiso; Edit Ross, Spencer; Dorothea Hays, Wilkinson; and Mary Pogue, Indianapolis.

Kneeling: Lts. Annabelle Varguas, South Bend; Freda Stewart, Anderson; Mary Mathis, Nashville; Florence Vote, Boonville; Glenn Wildman, Oaktown; Mary Culbertson, Bloomington; Wanda Plunkett, Rose Center, Mich.; Margaret Allen, Osgood; Vivian Saurey, Marblehead, O.; Martha Shufflebargee, Elmira; and Francis Bussee, Indianapolis.

Standing:  Lts Angela Brinker, Richmond; Ann Kitfoil, Vincennes; Juanita Quinn, Indianapolis' Crystal Halstead, Modoc; Marie Kaufmann, Ste. Marie, Ill.; Helene McCann, Defiance, O.; Helen Wentland, Robertsville, O.; Janet Wilson, Dayton, O.; Capt. Beatrice J. Quin, chief nurse at Post Hospital here. (She is holding "Jack", a Collie dog given her by the group); Helena Sutton, Lancaster, Ky.; Mary Murray, Indianapolis; Kathleen Jones, Akron; Mary Stuart, Logansport; Georgia Ward, Delaware, O.; Lenor Mays, New Castle;; Francis Brown, Indianapolis; Elizabeth Seery, Indianapolis; and Ann Bauman, Indianapolis.

Not in the picture are: Florence Bittner, Decatur; Martha Blaze, Madison; Eva Floyd, Bloomington; May Jane Hickerson, Boonville; Elizabeth Lithrow, Fair Oaks, Pa.; Dorothy O'Bryant, Jamestown, O.; Elizabeth O'Connell, Indianapolis; Liuene Robbins, Hartford City; Erma Scarborough, Chicago, Ill.; and Sarah Wills, Indianapolis.

Those wearing civilian clothes were so new in the Army Nurse Corps that they had not time ti obtain uniforms.  (U. S. Signal Corps Photo).

July 1951

First Discharges of Reserves Here Scheduled Today.  Sgt Hapner of the Camp Bakery is first to go.

Estal R. Coy, assistant chief dispatcher of the post motor pool, is a busy man.  Guarding the ignition keys, figuratively speaking anyway, of 217 vehicles ranging frim spacious station wagons to sturdy trucks, Coy's principle duty is to receive the request for transportation from various sections on the post and decide as to hwo get what and when.  Coming to Atterbury in July, 1950, he worked for six months in the Cold Stoarge Section of the Post Quartermaster.  Then in January of this year, he transferred to the motor pool as a civilian driver and worked up from there.  Father of four children, he and his family live in Amity.

Hospital NCO Mess finally opens doors.  Located in Building 1036, it features a tasteful decorating scheme, highlighted by several large distinctive murals, painted by Cpl. Clair Wickman.  Beautiful chrome furniture and lovely curtains further enhance the club's appearance.  At present only one section, the east wing bar, is completed.

28th DIVISION ALERTED FOR EUROPEAN COMMAND  --  Maneuvers Still Are Scheduled for August - September.  Former Guard Outfit to Join Army, Air Units in Operations.

Merger Joins Camp's Two MP Detachments - Military Detachment No. 2, of the 5015th ASU, Station Complement, formally charged with the operation of the Post Stockade, was consolidated this week with MP Detachment No. 1 of the Station Complement when special orders were issued transferring the personnel into Detachment No. 2.  The consolidated unit will be known officially as MP Detachment No. 1, 5015th ASU, Station Complement, Camp Atterbury, Ind.

Everyone Here To Get Dog Tags; Center Able to Make 1,000-a-Day."If you have not received your set, you soon will for every man in the army is required to carry a identification tag at all times."

New Civilian Mess Is Expected To Be Open Early Next Month.

Hospital Named Testing Site By Surgeon General.  Projects to Improve Care Given Patients Will Be Tested Here.  The U. S. Army Hospital here has been designated a test hospital for Class I hospitals throughout the Inuted States.  This means the hospital will become a proving ground for projects designed to improve the care given patients.

General Chamberlin Arrives - CG of Fifth Army on Command Visit.

Refreshment Stands Will Be Open Soon - The buildings, one located next to Theater No. 1, Fifth and Fairbanks, the other at Clark and Division will serve frozen custard, hot dogs, soft drinks and a variety of tempting snacks.  Other stands are planned.

General Mark W. Clark, chief of the Army Field Forces tours Camp Atterbury.  Met at Atterbury AFB by General Kendall, commanding general of Camp Atterbury and  VI Corps.

BIRTHS Announced at the U. S. Army Hospital at Camp Atterbury:

Boy, Herman Carnell, 7 lbs 8 oz, born 26 June to Pvt and Mrs Herman Carnell.  Pvt Carnell is a member of Hqs, 110th Inf Regt.

Boy, Eugene James Foust, Jr., 6 lbs 2 oz, born 27 June to Pvt and Mrs Eugene J. Foust.  Pvt Foust is  assigned to Co C, 112th Inf Regt.

Boy, Michael Clifton Sprouse, 6 lbs 2 oz, born 27 June to Sfc and Mrs Clifton T. Sprouse.  Sgt Sprouse s a member of Hq Det. 5015 th ASU.

Girl, Linda Louise Haylett, 7 lbs, form 28 June to Sgt and Mrs Clarence B. Haylett.  Sgt Haylett's unit is Co L, 112th Inf Regt.

Girl, Diana Jean Evans, 6 lbs 9 oz, forn 30 June to Cpl and Mrs Ira P. Evans.  Cpl Evans is assigned to Co F, 110th Inf Regt.

Boy Stephen Thomas Sracic, 7 lbs 8 oz, born 1 July to M/Sgt and Mrs Stephen T. Sracic.  He is with Co A, 628th Med Tank Bn.

Boy, Lawrence Paul Taylor, 7 lbs 12 oz, born 2 July to WOJG and Mrs Estel V. Taylor.  Mr Taylor is a member of Hq Det, 5015th ASU.

Boy, Michael Scott Timerman, 6 lbs 5 oz, born 2 July to 1st Lt and Mrs Dixon Timerman.  Lt. Timerman's unit is Hq Det, 5015th ASU.

Boy, Terry Lewis Aloia, 5 lbs 13 oz, born 2 July to Cpl and Mrs Dominic Aloia. Cpl Aloia is a member of Hq Co, 110th Inf Regt.

Boy, Conrad John Kelly, Jr., 5 lbs 1 oz, born 2 July to Cpl and Mrs Conrad J. Kelly.  Cpl Kelley is assigned to 28th Sig Co.

Girl, Betty Lou McConville, 6 lbs 1 oz, born 3 July to Cpl and Mrs James J. McConville.  The Corporal is a member of the 3622nd MM Ord co.

Girl, Katherine Sue Finan, 7 lb, born 4 July to Pvt and Mrs Thomas J. Finan.  Ovt Finan's unit is the Med Det AAA.

Boy, Alfred Roy Williamson, 6 lb 3 oz, born 5 Kuly to M/Sgt and Mrs Roy Williamson.  M/Sgt Williamson is assigned to Hq Co, VI Corps.

Girl, Anna Marie Wissinger, 6 lb 10 oz, born 6 July to Sgt and Mrs Robert A. Wissinger.  Sgt Wissinger is a member of Med Co, 112th Inf regt.

July, 1943

Open House for Visiting Youths to Mark July 4th Celebration.

405th Army Band formed here 6 months ago.

Recreation Area for Freemanites on White River Nears Completion.  Beach-on-the-Creek to open when guard ropes are placed in river.

Construction work on Service Club begins this week.

907th Quartermaster Company began December 5, 1942 when 46 enlisted men and three officers stepped off the train at Seymour. 

WACs Are No Longer WAACs.  President Roosevelt signs bill dropping "A".  Corps now in the Army.

Camel Caravan arrives tonite; Play two shows at Post Theater.

The Fightin' 36th.  Always fighting - fighting for first place on the chow, pay and three-day pass lines, the men of the 36th are always there punchin' away.

Post Mechanics School covering all phases of plane maintenance.  Sixty-five hour course to cover 13- week period.

Recollections of Bob Hope's USO Shows
Camp Atterbury, Indiana
November 1951
By Joe L. Glass Recollections of Bob Hope's USO Shows

By Joe L. Glass

I arrived at Camp Atterbury in July, 1951 as a 2nd Lieutenant, having graduated with a U.S. Army commission from Texas A&M University in 1949. I was assigned to the 91st Transportation Car Company, attached to 6th Corps Headquarters. Our CO was Captain Thomas J. Worlein, and the Camp Commander was General Paul Kendall. The 91st had twelve 1950-51 Chevrolet sedans, in which we transported 6th Corps officers and others to their destinations. Some called us the camp "Taxi" service, but that's another story.

In early November we learned that Bob Hope was bringing his USO troupe to Atterbury. There was a contest linked to his then-latest movie "My Favorite Spy." Contestants had to write why it should be premiered in his or her hometown, and a soldier at Camp Atterbury won. 

So Bob brought the movie and troupe to Atterbury, and it was premiered at two of the camp's movie theaters. But there was more! Hope's other purpose was to visit the patients at Wakeman Hospital, many of whom had been wounded in Korea, and were brought to Wakeman for special care. While he was at it, he and the troupe put on two USO shows for the rest of the camp.

Our job was to pick them up at the Indianapolis airport and convoy them to camp in our fleet of sedans. A 2½ ton truck also went for their equipment and baggage. November 28th arrived and there they were. They deplaned, and Atterbury staff officers made the welcoming overtures and instructed them where to board the vehicles. Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell got in the back seat of the sedan where I was located, and we waited for everyone else to board theirs.

The convoy was about to leave. No one was in the front passenger seat of the Hope vehicle, so I climbed in. As we drove off, a Major from Corps, whose name I do not recall, walked toward us, and I'm sure expected to ride in the car with them. He saw me there, and put his hands on his hips with disdain as we left for Camp Atterbury. He didn't even wave goodbye! Regrettably, I do not recall our driver's name.

So I got to ride in the car with Hope and Maxwell all the way to camp. They were very cordial and the conversation was light, but it became obvious that he was not feeling well. We were to find out why a little later. The 31-mile drive went by rapidly. We pulled into camp and everyone disembarked at the large theater-gymnasium where the shows would take place that evening. Camp brass greeted them, and then the cast and crew retired to the theater for rehearsal, food, and rest.

Meanwhile, Hope's manager and I scheduled the transportation needs for the rest of the day. There were two USO shows, with the hospital visit between them. The manager told me "confidentially" that Hope was sick, and had 102 degree temperature. He swore me to secrecy, and to this day I don't know whether he actually wanted me to leak that information or not.

In the troupe with Hope were stars galore. Regular cast members besides Hope were Jerry Colonna, Les Brown (and a combo, not the whole orchestra), and his announcer. Other stars besides Marilyn Maxwell were Jan Sterling, Rhonda Fleming, Academy Award winner Gloria Grahame, and a group of seven or eight "Golden Circle Girls," young starlets, including Mary Murphy, who later starred in several movies, one of which was with Marlon Brando.

I did not attend the first USO show because we had to be ready to transport the troupe to Wakeman as soon as it was over. The visit to Wakeman was memorable. A few of us followed as they toured the patient areas for about an hour and a half. All the stars were very attentive to the patients. They chatted, held hands, smiled, and put on the "happy face," even though the condition of some of the patients was grim. They had been well prepared to handle all situations in the hospital. They knew just what to say and do and they did it with grace and aplomb. I was impressed.

Then - back to the theater for the second show, which I did attend. Hope didn't miss a beat, 102 temp or not, nor did anyone else. The soldiers, of course, really enjoyed the starlets, and Hope made the most of their beauty and persona. They laughed, giggled, flirted, sang, danced, and used their considerable talents to the delight of the entire audience. Comedy dialogue kept us laughing, and ovations occurred frequently. Calls for encores lasted a long time.

In retrospect, here's a man, Bob Hope, who knows how to give soldiers a taste of home better than anyone. I don't know if his temperature broke or not, but his staying power was extraordinary; it never exhausted. I figure from the time the first show started, he and the whole troupe were on the go for at least eight straight hours. In fact, I believe they went from the second show straight to the airport. They had to fly out that night to be somewhere else the next day. I didn't make that trip.

Regular readers of these pages will remember that this was Hope's second visit to Camp Atterbury, the first having taken place December 1, 1942. What an entertainer, what a trouper, and what a guy.

God bless Bob Hope during this season of his 100th birthday.

Here is one of those "Absolutely Must Visit" sites.
It takes a while to fully load, but I guarantee you that it will be worth the wait.
Sent in by the oldest of Clarence Stroemer's
(388th Evac Hospital - Wakeman General Hospital)
five daughters, Kathy Stroemer Czuba
 

http://bengal.missouri.edu/~leveronj/wesupportu/WeSupportU.htm