V1944-02NC.DOC

Pre Technical Cadets, Seymour Johnson Field NC   1944

            Arrival  It was late at night when our train load of soldiers and civilians pulled into the station at Goldsboro, NC. Two of us got off and looked about the dimly lit platform as the train pulled out. A soldier came by saying, "if your going to Seymour Johnson Field get on the 6x6 truck over there."  The other fellow and I helped each other load our barracks bags on the truck. By unwritten code this act of mutual support stamped us as "buddies". It was too dark to see each other but Ned Kendall and I were to be close friends through the Cadet Program, then never see or hear from each other again. All soldiers have close buddies they never see again. Ned became a Cadet Colonel, the top ranking cadet, and I a Cadet Lt. Colonel in part due to Ned’s support.  Ned had been in flying cadets and knew the ropes on how the cadet system worked. He would fit a casting directors image for the top ranking cadet.

   

Cadet Landau                Cadet Patch                                Cadet Pass                  Cadet Kendal

            Cadet Basic Training  The next morning we moved in with others forming a new K Squadron and began the process of cadet training. For the first two days we were given basic training, being caused to take turns drilling each other. Little did I realize how close our performance was being observed, Tac (Tactical) Officers were beginning the process of making selections of who they would promote to help them run the operation. By the end of the week we were organized into squads, flights and squadrons for marching to and from assigned activities. There were daily changes in cadet rank as determined by the Tac Officers in charge, they were trying us out. At the end of the second week Kendall was the squadron leader at front left and I was second at front right of a four column platoon.  I was having a time converting Coast Artillery ROTC and Army Basic Training designations of squad, platoon, company to the Air Corp designations.

  

Sound Off                   Chemical protection                 gas mask test

            Quick Time  Everything was rush, rush, with minimal time to clean the room, wash, shave, eat, fall in, etc. The pace was deliberately set fast so each of us had to make effective use of every motion. This was a shocking experience to many and some never made the adjustment. If you got behind it was bad. Demerits would accumulate and hazing was increasingly directed at those individuals to test their ability to respond.  A demerit could be “walked off” during study time.

            Hazing  During this time we were "hazed" by upper classmen. We had to memorize the “7 Points of Attention”, the “Cadet Straight Line”, etc. We were caused to stand on a footlocker and shout the rules on demand by any of several upper classman. At first it seemed stupid then I realized it was a test of self control. composure and confidence under deliberately imposed stress and aggravation. The intent was to break us without further adieu if we were not committed and able to cope. At the time we were not aware the system had become very selective, they would wash out 1 of 4  before finishing this pre-technical cadet phase, hazing was only the start.  I prepared myself for rough treatment during the hazing sessions, but for some unknown reason they didn’t bear down on me – for which I  was thankful.

Drop Out    One man, older than the rest of us who had been a M/Sgt became the focus of hazer’s attention.  After about 2 weeks, during a sever hazing period before lights out, he became flustered and couldn't remember things he'd memorized. They bore in on him to see if he could gather his wits & composure.  While he was given the treatment the remainder of us remained at attention on top; of our foot lockers, the Sarg was about the sixth cadet to my left, and I felt for him when he became flustered,   Abruptly he simply stepped down off the footlocker and in a conversational voice told his tormentors I’m through, this is not for me.  Immediately the tone switched from harsh-hammering staccato demands, implying stupidity & incompetence, to one of respectful courtesy.  The lead upper classmen asked if he was sure he really wanted to give it up. It was a compassionate understanding dialog.  Previously flustered and at the end of his rope the Sgt became relaxed saying he wasn’t cut out to be an officer, that he’d be more comfortable as an enlisted man.  Aware he’d made up his mind, they said he was more fortunate than others, he could return to the rank of M/Sgt,  They shook hands all around and helped remove his belongings,  When he exited the barracks the tone changed and hazing began again. Each of us sucked in our gut and sharpened our wits for when they turned on us.  (my words have not done justice to the emotion of this event, words had broken a nice guy.)

            Follow Me   After three weeks of this we were to take part in a big parade where the Tac Officers competed via their squadrons to win the honors for being the best as judged by real Colonels. We were due to form up in about 15 minutes when the Cadet who was to lead our Flight (4 squadrons, a 16 wide body with a total of about 200) had an attack of appendicitis. Our Tac officer, Capt Miller, came to my end of the barracks, pointed his finger at me and said "follow me".

            Yell Check  Capt Miller was tall and long legged, my legs were much shorter. At a brisk pace we marched to a nearby drill area, I wanted to jog to keep up but didn't dare. I was completely puzzled as I didn't know about the appendicitis and he didn't tell me.  We came to the edge of a drill area and he abruptly halted. He said, "run to the other end of the drill area, turn about and yell commands at me. I said, "yes Sir", as I ran I muttered to myself, "yes sir, no sir, no excuse sir", the only authorized cadets response. All the time wondering what the hell's this all about?  I turned about came to a commanding posture and yelled at him as if drilling a squad of men, wondering if that's what he wanted me to do?  In a few moments he abruptly waved me back. During the brisk return walk he fired instructions at me. I was to be the Flight Commander for the parade. I listened intently as he gave me directions for the ritual to follow, he was not the kind of man to tell you twice and there was no time to waste.  (During tryouts he apparently logged me as one with a loud voice.)

            Flight Leader   When we got to the barracks I was equipped with the "bottle cap" insignia appropriate to the rank of Captain, applicable for Flight Leader, and told to fall the men out form up and proceed to the parade ground. They formed up in the street and I took my place out in front. Damn I didn't know how to get there! I broke formation and ran to where the Capt Miller was and ask, "Sir, where is the Parade Ground?" This infraction of the three cadet statements was ignored – it was pertinent that I knew how to get there, it was a large base.  Captain Miller quickly gave instructions, I ran back to the head of the formation and yelled "Attention - Forward - March"!

            Pass in Review   Thank goodness for training as drum major for high school marching band and assignment as Drill Instructor in Basic Training. I felt comfortable with the task and could think ahead of what needed to be done next. We moved along the streets in four wide units in tandem till we pulled up in parallel on the parade ground. When I turned about and looked at how many there were I thought my God, no wonder he wanted to know if I could be heard. Everyone had to be able to hear the commands shouted so the entire body of men simultaneously did the About Face, Left Face, etc. in unison. This flawless response was what the Judges were looking for. Thinking ahead, I wasn't sure how to maneuver a turn with this many. We moved out in the first right turn from the standing start all right and all went well till we made our first big left turn on the parade ground. I realized my timing of the command was a little off, it was like turning a semi truck for the first time. Other flights were between us and the Review Stand so the flawed turn was not seen. Knowing he was out of sight the Capt Miller ran up to me and yelled, "Don't ever make that mistake again"! "Yes sir" I said – now very aware Tac Officers took this parade business very seriously, how we performed influenced their promotions, this was not a game to them. Thankfully for him our performance received one of the highest ratings. If we had not done well, I'd have been removed immediately, though I had little to do with how well we did.

            Cadet L/Col    About half way through our training at Seymour Johnson Field I was assigned the Cadet rank of Lt Colonel and no longer attend classes as a cadet. About 7 of us became “assistant Tac Officers”. It was a relief to no longer be subject to being washed out, provided I didn’t screwed up, at the same time I wasn’t being trained as the others were. Getting off the train with Kendall, who became top cadet, and able to yell loud placed me among the privileged few.

            Daily Inspections  Our belongings, the way we wore our clothes, shined our shoes. polished our brass, etc., were repeatedly spot checked. Demerits were issued for the slightest infraction. Daily polishing of shoes in a humid climate left wet polish that was difficult to shine.

            Square Meals   Under classmen were required to be silent at meals. They were also required to eat square meals, while sitting at attention, by lifting the fork straight up to mouth height then horizontal to the mouth and back by reversing the procedure.

            3 months of OCS   Our training at Seymour Johnson consisted of 3 months of Army Officer Training fashioned after OCS (Officer Candidate School). OCS graduates were commissioned as 2/Lts, whereas we Pre-Technical Cadets and had another month of pre-technical training before going on to Yale for an additional 4 1/2 months before being eligible for 2/Lt commissions.  Some training was similar to college ROTC. Most of what we used after being commissioned was what we learned at Yale which pertained to technical attributes of aircraft.  OCS was about business administration the Army Way. We were Army Air Corps, there was no Air Force yet, and used the terms Squadron, Flight, Wing, Group.   We'd been selected for technical work and would only fill in for those with OCS training if required. It was of worth to know how to manage non aircraft base functions, but these were not our primary concern. The Army had a Quartermaster Corps, Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, etc. specialists in their own right and part of every Air Base, it helped to know how to interface with them.  We learned how to fill other assignments ranging from Mess Officer to Supply Officer should the need arise.

            Gig Slips   We wore fatigues for classes and regular duties then changed to Suntans for parades and evening meals. We wore name tags above our left shirt pocket. This made it simple for a Tac Officer or Cadet Officer to issue a Gig Slip.  The infraction and cadets name were logged on a piece of paper called a Gig Slip with 1/2 given to the cadet and on the other half retained and turned in at the end of the day. One of the duties I most disliked when I became a cadet officer was giving out Gig Slips.  It was proper to be demanding in a training sense, as the job required, but I could not bring myself to penalize a man for a circumstantial plight. Most of the fellows were very capable, already culled from many, often not negligent when caught by circumstance in an infraction. A few Bottle Caps seemed to enjoy the feeling of power.  I'd obtain their extra Gig Slips to fill my quota. A favorite spot for such eager beavers was checking belt buckle brass as cadets came out of the mess hall. Later as my cadet rank gave me almost the freedom and authority of a Tac Officer I'd go to the front of the mess hall and pull an inspection, except I'd give them warning the infraction had better be corrected before leaving. To me there was a significant difference between trying to catch someone at an off moment compared to giving demerits for truly inadequate or sub standard performance.

  

Name tag for Cadet Identification, Bottle Cap (Cadet Officer) “silver” Wings, enlisted (copper) and commissioned (stainless) “dog tags” and 2nd Lt Gold Bar – the “carrot” at the end of cadets;  Decoration for Cadet Hat  Decoration for Commissioned Officers Hat.

            Ready Now   The early training included aircraft recognition. The Instructor would show us various views of different aircraft. Then these would be flashed on a screen at increasing speed till we were proficient at recognition. The instructor would call out "Ready Now" and the projector would flash on and off. If you blinked you'd miss the image, if you didn’t blink, the image would dwell a moment in the minds eye, long enough to make the recognition, if you'd memorized the contours of various friend/foe aircraft.  One day the instructor was irritated by an unintelligible remark and poorly subdued laughter by cadets on the back row. He turned from the projector screen, lowered his pointer and faced the cadets and authoritatively demanded, "who said that?" All cadets turned in their chairs looking toward the back of the room.  As if on cue a cadet on the back row rose to attention, placed his right hand over has name tag above his left shirt pocket and with straight face and clear voice said "Ready Now" upon which he briefly removed has hand from his name tag for the instructor to see and then covered it again. The silence was fractured by spontaneous roaring laughter with the instructor one of the most afflicted. No demerit was issued.

Firing Range  We were given instruction on Army small arms weapons and how to shoot them on the firing ranger. We were given extra instruction in the 45 caliber pistol. Instructors varied on how to accurately fire this weapon. Most of us were of the opinion that if we needed a weapon in combat we'd select some thing other than this WW I pistol, we much preferred the carbine and even had doubts about it's fire power as compared to the Garand infantry rifle.

 

Firing Range

            Sperm Donor    One of the fellows had been a sperm donor, I don't recall how the subject came up. He come to Cadets direct from college his Jr year in engineering. He’d been a donor for perhaps two years. Some were ready to volunteer until they found it was done by artificial insemination.  He said he’d been asked to participate. I wondered how and why he’d been picked?  He didn’t seem the kind a livestock breeder would pick, but perhaps his attributes fit those of a spouse who couldn’t.  He was in a different barracks and I lost track of him – he was not in our class at Yale.

            Appleblatt   I became aware that Appleblatt, who had the top bunk and I the low bunk, had been looking after me by making sure my extra shoes were always shined and properly in place under my bed. My attention was focused on “Bottle Cap” duties with little time to tidy up where I bunked, which was subject to spot inspections like any where else. I thanked Appleblatt for looking after my bunk. He then told me he didn't think he'd make it. I tried to offer him words of encouragement.   He said, I can handle the soldiering part fine, but I don't know the technical part like you do. I started to respond and he said, thanks but don't try to say nice things, I know my time is limited, one more bad grade and it will be over. That's why I've been trying to look after you, your a natural for this, you've been to college and through airplane mechanics school, your the kind that should be here, they need people like you. My knowing you makes this meaningful to me.   I was very touched and felt speechless not knowing what to say.   He said I really should not have come here, I was an assistant to the PT instructor and he managed to get me on the list.  We fell silent, he didn't want me to say anything, just understand. He was open with his feelings, trying to hide the inner hurt that he would be washed out. He was doing a terrific job of making the best of it, his image and that conversation lingers. He was an intelligent good looking fellow and I'm sure he did very well in life. I wish there was a way I could give him a salute, where ever he is. He was one of many damn good men it was my privilege to know. Men are not to show emotion, just respect, camouflaged in a good sense of humor, and this didn’t call for humor.

            Applebatt wash out about a week later, with only moments for me to say good bye,  Sometimes it seemed the task was to see who should be washed out rather than how to train those that remained.

            I was off base once to go to Goldsboro one brief afternoon. Cadets Peirrot was from there. I never had a feeling of knowing where we were. There were scattered tall trees about the perimeter, the land was flat, the soil sandy and the summer air humid.  The only time I had to sense where we were was early morning going to the John and to shave.

Left 1 of 4   Wing 1

2  of 4      Flights of four squadrons      Wing 2

3 of  4    Wing commander front center   Wing 3

4 of 4     Wing 4

            The above photos were cropped from one long roll I purchased in Goldsboro for sale to the public.  This is a typical parade image, I don't know when the photo was taken.  This photo shows over 2000 cadets in the formations. They were still of that size while we were there. It was our first parade when I was suddenly placed at the head of our Flight.  By the next parade Kendall had been placed at the head of our Wing.  Later Kendall & I were both Wing Commanders with the cadet rank of Lt Colonel.  Later at Yale Kendall become the Top Cadet and I became the Adjutant facing formations such as this from across the field.  The Top Cadet quietly told the Adjutant what to yell with his loud mouth.

K Squadron Roster  1 of  4  did not make it to Yale

1  Appleblatt, B

20  George, H V

39  Mills, C W

 2  Berlin, H S

21  Glanville, C E

40  Mills, W R

 3  Binstock, E L

22  Goldstein, M

41  Morian T F

 4  Boardman, R R Jr

23  Goodwin, J J

42  Neudorfer, K E

 5  Bochairio, J

24  Grombka, W

43  Nichols, H E

 6  Bragin, B

25  Guthrie, E C

44  Olney, R

 7  Brown, R H

26  Higgs, K R

45  Pascale, G T

 8  Bocitti, A A

27  Hostetter, D S

46  Paterniti, A R

 9  Calderone, F

28  Hunter, W T

47  Patterson, G C Jr

10  Clark, S D

29  Kardon, L

48  Pedley, P L

11  Cole, C J

30  Kempner, S K

49  Phillips, W C

12  Cromley, R J

31  Kendall, E Jr

50  Pietroskowski, P

13  DeRemer, J E

32  Kessel, M J

51  Probst, M C

14  Doecker, P T

33  Landau, D W

52  Pugsley, E Jr

15  Drake, R K

34  Lacman. L F

53  Putt, N F

16  Duff, R T

35  Lyons, J

54  Rabinowitz, T

17  Estes, D H

36  McKeever, J F

55  Randolph, P H

18  Falk, R D

37  Martin, D A

56  Ransford, J P

19  Gallagher, G A

38  Miller, E L

57  Reed, W R

As our train pulled out en-route to TX, I thought it would be nice to go back and see where we were and meet people from the area.  They were closing the Cadet operation at Seymour Johnson Field and we would finish at San Antonio Texas.