Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)
1943-08-26 / 35. szám
J*r,ge 4 News from India Verhovayak Lapja August 26, 1943 Verhovay Branch 372 Editor’s Note: The following is the second installment of an interesting letter written by Staff Sergeant Arpad S. Chontos to Stephen Huzianyi, member of Chicago Branch 503. Sergeant Chontos is serving Uncle Sam with the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, somewhere in India. Somewhere in India (As though where made any difference) June 26, 1943. INSTALLMENT II. However, there is reason enough for their unconcealed aversion for this neck of the woods. We could no farther be removed from the amenities of civilization if we were stationed on an archipelago in tlie Bering Straits. Take for instance such a common thing as ice cream — we hadn’t seen any for over six months, and when a consignment of it was flown up here by airplane recently, the excitement created in camp could not have been greater had the Armistice been signed. And as for women — sigh — they are about as scarce in these parts as bank presidents in Russia. When we see the gorgeous dolls on the screen at our Sunday movies, we smile indulgentiy and tell each other with conviction that of course there are no such things. We look at the Petti and Varga pictures on our barrack walls, if indeed we look at all, with the same impersonal curiosity with which we would study a display of, say, Inca pottery-work at the Carnegie Museum. I used to shun these USO dances back home as I would the plague. Gruesome affairs, they were too, with 500 G. I.’s and 20 girls — but they would be welcome enough now. As I wrote some time ago: “Of all the words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: No Women.” You may be gathering from all this an impression that we are a rather ineffectual lot, not getting anything accomplished, but I would like to dispel any such illusions right here, for nothing could be farther from the truth, In view of the adverse conditions under which we are laboring, we are practically winning the war singlehanded. We were a hand picked bunch to begin with — so they told us — entrusted with a vital mission, even enjoying a Presidential blessing. And so we set forth with high hope in our hearts, firmly resolved to justify that faith. We have been giving our all ever since. We are an organization of technicians. What a shame that I cannot elaborate further here, but believe you me, our day to day work would provide the basis of a real movie thriller. However, I can describe this country and its people as I have found it, and I believe you are interested in that more than anything else anyway. In the first place, the truism that distance lends enchantment holds true in our case, for now that we have betn here for some time we take most things as a matter of course, and we must stop for a moment to consider just what habits and customs are peculiar to this country. For instance, we long ago Lecame accustomed to seeing the men folk wearing skirts. Odd at first, too, was the sight of men letting their hair grow long, just like gills. A large portion of the men I have seen here are small and thin, with high piping voices. This I think is due to the hard life they lead and their lifelong scanty diet. The latter I gather fiom the fact that the standard daily wage hereabouts is about 12 Annas, or about 24c. This is ridiculously small, but the natives manage to exist on it because their life is the simplest imaginable and their necessities consequently few. Their huts are built of bamboo, which is relatively cheap. They go barefooted, and their garment usually consists of one large piece of cotton ingeniously wrapped all about the body. (Continued in next issue). STABILITY PROGRESS Careful, conservative and sound Investments assure the STABILITY of Verhovay’s funds and securities, thereby giving full confidence to members and prospective members. Verhovay’s encouragement and promotion of social movements within and among its branches is in keeping with the spirit of true FRATERNALISM. With its assets making sizable gains yeai after year and its membership increasing by leaps and bounds. Verhovay sees before Itself a definite future which spells PROGRESS. SOCIABILITY rather than frowned upon Is regarded as essential to the well-being of Ver hovay life and activities. SOCIABILITY FRATERNALISM VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 345 FOURTH AVt PITTSBURGH, PA. Fatsed by U. S. Censor. Somewhere in North Africa. June 1, 1943. Yours truly is back in the Journal, just as I had threatened — oops! excuse me! I meant, premised; and to take off from where I left off with my previous article. Now, let’s see — where did I close my article? Oh, yes! now I remember — it was about where I and a hundred other raw recruits were on our troop train, pounding along westward. ’That was on Saturday, April 4th, 1942. As I said before, we were all wondering where our destination would be, what branch oi the service we would be trained for. The boys began to speculate among themselves, as we were seated in the train. We finally came to the conclusion that we would end up as foot-sloggers (infantry to you readers), or the cavalry. Some said the Motorized or Armored Division, others said the Coastal Artillery, while a few mentioned the Air Corps. But I secretly nurtured a faint hope that I would end up at Camp Hale, Colorado, the army’s famous school for Ski- Troops. I thought that since 1 am so fond of skiing I might as well put my hobby to more grim and serious use. As the train speeded along the right-of-way, and day dragged on until about 11:00 A. M., and we had already changed locomotives twice, we heard rumors that we were going toward St. Louis, Mo. We wondered if we would all end there, or if we would stop at St. Louis for a few hours only, then to go on further west, or where? At 12:00 noon, thinking of our destination and viewing the beautiful scenery along Ohio and Indiana that flashed by, we ate the sandwiches that had been prepared for us at Camp Perry, the day before we left. Our train had about 400 miles more to go before reaching St. Louis, and we were beginning to grow very tired from traveling so long. We rookies had only brief stops at cities and towns along our route, and the kind ladies of the USO were at the station to pass out cigarettes, cookies and candies to us “sojers”, which we accepted with much thanks and gratitude. After these briefs moments ot relaxation we would go on our way. Finally, at 4:30 P. M. we entered the flat plains ol Missouri and we knew that across the big muddy Mississippi River was St. Louis, the metropolis of the mid-west. At 5:45 P. M. we crossed the bridge that spans the Great River and it was really an interesting sight to see; after we had crossed over and the train went on its journey, skirting along the river bank, I spied some wonderful runabouts and trim cabin cruisers moored along the banks. I heaved a big sigh of regret, knowing that it would be a long time before I would be able to pursue my hobby of motorboating on the choppy waves oi the lake at home. But it was really a treat to feast my eyes on those boats, for I am a boatlover. We continued on our way, and finally reached the outskiits of St. Louis. At 5:00 P.M. we pulled in the big terminal in St. Louis, and our cars were parked on one of the numerous tracks inside the station. We were all wondering again whether or not we would get off there or if we would stop for a few hours and then be off again. But we grew more confused and puzzled when the news came down the line that our locomotive had been cut oft from our train. The boys began to while away the time by ogleling and whistling at the fair sex who were either embarking or disembarking from the trains on both sides of us. Some of us were hungry and bored, I was among this group. We bought candy from the hawkers and magazines to read. I bought the current issue of the Life magazine and a feature with pictures dealing with the Air Corps, which seemed like a coincidence to me, for at 7:00 P. M., our train was still waiting on the tracks, we knew not why. Rumors began to drift again, this time that we would get off at Jefferson Barracks on the other side of St. Louis, which is a huge Replacement Training Center for t'nc Air Corps. I began to grow disappointed as I still liked the idea of becoming a ski-trooper. There we boys were, sitting in the cars, wondering what kuid of place Jefferson Barracks was, when would we arrive there, as it was already 8:30 P. M., and dark. Still no engine came to couple with our train. At 8:45 F. M. a locomotive backed up to our train, hitched on to it, coupled, and we began our journey; this • time slowly across the city, toward the west side of St. Louis. At 9:00 P. M., the train-pulled up at the entrance of Jefferson Barracks, Mo. As we were preparing to leave the train, high up on a hill-top, we heard the bugler sound taps, and we all thought that Jefferson Barracks would be a nice place after all. We formed in columns and toting our barrack bags on our shoulder, we gaped at the fine old 4-storied high, redbrick barracks and other buildings. We were marched up the hill along the street and entered into a big barn building, where we noticed that there were bleachers on either side of the building, enough to seat a thousand men. We were instructed to be seated, which we thankfully did, as we were getting tired by the hour, also, sleepy and hungry. After we were seated we were given instructions by a Tech. Sgt. who spoke from a high platform, over an audiphone system. We sat there until 9:45 P. M. Before being dismissed the Sgt. asked us rookies if we had eaten anything for the evening meal. A loud, shout of No! greeted his ears. He grinned and asked if we would like to eat chow. Immediately a loud chorus of “Yes!” came from the mob. He instructed us to form into our columns and march across about 30 yards to the Big General Mess Hall to be served our chow. But yours truly had lost interest in chow. Ali I Whnted was to get in between the blankets and sheet and go sleep, as it was 10:00 j P. M. already. But as I was; only one of two hundred, I had to go along. All I took for myj supper chow, late as it was, was a half-pint of milk. After w« j finished chow it was 10:30 P. M.| We went outside the Mess Hall,! picked up our barracks bags, \ formed into columns again and j marched down streets, turning at various corners and growing more tired as we continued on our way. Finally, at 11:00 P. M. we reached what we thought would: be our barracks; and I thought we would now be assigned our barracks and bunk down for the i night. But, oh, no! the Army,, has other ideas than what you j may have. We were marched down a way to a small building and were told to stow our barracks’ bags in there for the night. After that was done, some of the boys who had small! suitcases and satchels in which i they carried toilet articles, were allowed to keep those bags with’ themselves; we were marched to the Squadron Supply Shed where we were issued two sheets, one pillow case, two blankets and one comforter, and a foot-locker to each of us. Then we were formed into formations, and after we were lightened of some of our burdens, were given some more stuff to carry, which j was a little bit heavier, The j time was well past 11:00 P. M., and we began our weary march down the street past the barracks. As we went along 1 noticed that we were heading for the rows of pyramidal tents laid out evenly on streets, which we learned later that the tents were J known as Tent City in all army, camps where they usually have tents to house troops in besides barracks. As we neared one of the streets of Tent City, the non-com who was in charge of us, halted our column, and stood there for a few seconds, as if he were undecided about something in his mind; probably had his orders from his superiors confused as to whether or not he was to conduct us to Tent City. or to the barracks. He gave the order to about face. Again we headed up the street toward the barracks, carrying our bedding, foot-lockers and personal belongings. It was getting later than ever and we became more fatigued by the- minute. We finally reached the barracks. The non-com left us for a while, hurrying to the Orderly Room to get his instructions straight. After a few minutes he emerged from the Orderly Room and called us to attention. We wearily picked up our equipment and began our weary march down Í the street toward the tents. It j was about 11:45 P. M. when we reached the tent streets, and marching up one of them we were halted and stood in formation there. A corporal came out of the Orderly Tent and with | the aid of a flashlight, called! off our names from the Shipping Order he held in his hands. (Continued In the next issue) >~ BUY WAR BONDS {
