Armored Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 30, 1953 Page: 1 of 16
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Vol. 1 No. 17
Camp Chief Appointed
Moonraker Plans
Reach Final Stage
With the appointment of Capt.
Raymond W. Brown command
ing officer of the 1st Training Bn.
at North Fort as head of the
coming Camp Moonraker final
plans for the youth camp neared
completion.
The camp sponsored by the
Fort Hood Dad's Club will open
its third season on May 31 when
the boys from Hood go out for a
two-week encampment.
The first girls' camp for those
from eight years of age to the
fourth graders will be held from
|une 17 through 20 and the camp
br the girls that are fifth graders
or older will be held from June
17 to 24.
Captain Brown has had wide
experience in youth work and
has been in charge of two youth
camps in past years. In 1950
he headed the first Camp Moon
raker established by Maj. Gen.
Bruce C. Clarke in Chiemsee
CAPT BROWN
Germany and in 1951 Captain
Brown was in charge of the
youth camp at Munich.
"We plan to give a full pro-
am of outdoor life to. the camp-
at this year's Camp Moon
raker" Captain Brown stated.
A
The camp will feature instruc
tions in arts and crafts outdoor
lore swimming hiking and woods
lore the officer said.
"Although Moonraker is not a
Gen. Clarke Starts
NCO Academy For
I Corps In Korea
(PIO) Maj. Gen. Bruce C.
Clarke former commander of
Fort Hood and the 1st AD is op
ening a Non-Commissioned Offi
cers Academy in Korea it was
learned here this week.
General Clarke established a
similar school for personnel of
the 1st AD soon after the unit
was reactivated here in 1951 and
he also directed the establishment
of the NCO Academy of the U.S.
Constabulary Forces in Germany
in 1949 (now the Seventh Army
NCO Academy).
Now commanding the United
States I Corps in Korea the school
he is opening for personnel of
that command will be patterned
after the one in operation here.
Courses offered include motor me
chanics clerical radio operation
and repair and the NCO course.
.One Month Of Fine Work
School and military officials cast
a pleased eye at the members of
the Fort Hood Safety Patrol as
the boys completed their first
month of supervising the conduct
and safety of children riding school
buses.
The school children mostly
seventh and eighth graders took
over the duties of riding the school
buses as safety supervisors from
the military police. Before they
took over their present duties the
members of the safety patrol were
trained by members of the 501st
Military Police Co.
"We have had very few re
ports of motorists violating
orders given by members of the
safety patrol since they took
over the job of riding school
buses and as far as the Provost
Marshal's Office is concerned
they are doing a fine job" Lt.
Col. Adrain Johanassen Post
provost marshal said.
He added that there have been
no reports of disorder on the buses
since the safety patrol took over
J:he job of supervising the conduct
the school children.
John E. Little assistant princi
pal of Fort Hood High is faculty
Boy Scout camp we plan to give
the boys who attend instruction
that will lead to their qualifica
tion for merit badges. This will
include swimming handicraft
hiking cooking pathfinding and
many other subjects" Captain
Brown added.
A staff of councilors will be
maintained at the camp to act
as instructors and live with the
campers. This staff will be head
ed by Lt. Richard Meade and
there will be one councilor for
every ten campers attending.
Plans also call for a head coun
cilor for the girls during their
periods at Camp Moonraker but
as yet she has not been named.
Camp Moonraker is located at
Mayberry Part at the southern
edge of the Fort Hood reserva
tion. Any boy or girl between the
age of eight and 16 whose parent
is assigned to Fort Hood or the
1st AD is overseas or is a civi
lian employed and living on the
Post is eligible to attend.
This camp will cost parents
about $11 per week and the
money will be paid at the time
the child arrives at the camp. Par
ents interested in Camp Moonrak
er are urged to complete the
Moonraker application blank and
return it to the G-3 of the 1st AD.
Clothing Drive
To Aid Koreans
Started A?
am
The Public Information Office is
continuing to accept used clothing
for shipment to dependents of
South Korean fighting men and
another shipment will be made
when sufficient garments have
been turned in.
In a drive which ended recently
more than 1425 pounds of clothing
and footwear was sent to a civil re
lief agency of the United States.
Future shipments will be made to
Maj. Gen. Bruce C. Clarke com
manding general of the United
States I Corps in Korea and for
mer commander of Fort Hood and
the 1st AD.
Contributions may be left at the
Public Information Office Build
ing 2225 between the hours of 0700
and 1600 daily Monday thru Fri
day.
A letter received by Brig. Gen.
L. L. Doan Fort Hood and 1st AD
commander from General Clarke
told of a news story in the Far
East edition of "The Stars and
Stripes" regarding the previous
shipment. General Clarke remark
ed that the clothing contribution
was a "fine gesture" and stated
in his letter that it was much ap
preciated by the recipients. He re
quested that future shipments be
sent direct to his headquarters for
further distribution.
Sgt. Hospitalized
After Auto Wreck
(PIO)—Sgt. Reynold Escola 22
of Hq. Co. 1st AD was in "good"
condition at the Post Hospital
where he was taken following a
traffic accident last Thursday
morning.
School Safety Patrol Draws
Praise From Hood Officers
supervisor of the safety patrol and
the patrol is composed of a cap
tain two lieutenants and 16 patrol
men.
Billy Cochran a seventh grader
was chosen as captain of the safety
patrol and heads the operation. He
was elected by the other members
of the patrol after the first week
of operation.
"The boys are doing fine as
patrolmen and they are all to
be commended for the job they
are doing" Mr. Little said.
No further explained that the
boys ride the busses each morning
as the children are being brought
to school and each afternoon after
school is out.
"We have had good cooperation
from the motorists on Fort Hood.
Only a few camplaints have been
turned in to me by the boys and
most of these were the result of
misunderstanding not intentional
violations" Mr. Little added.
Mr. Little echoed the provost
marshal by saying that there
have been no complaints of dis
order among the students riding
the school buses.
A Long Bus Ride
Although the Army's investi
gation is not complete first re
ports indicate that a man known
as "Doug Preston" attempted
to sell tickets at North Fort
Hood for a chartered plane. He
had not received authorization
from the post transport office
and was ejected from the post.
"Preston" then made arrange
ments with a trainee of the
company to complete the ar
rangements for chartering the
plane.
Mr. Bernard Schwarz South
Central manager of Air Coach
Transport Association Austin and
Mr. R. T. Driver Air Coach's
military representative at Fort
Hood pointed out that the airline
"Preston" purported to represent
was not one one of the 40 mem
ber-airlines of the Association. Be-
Ist AD Promotions
Announced By CG
The promotion of Maj. Charles
Grimshaw of the Res. Comd.
Weapons Committee to lieutenant
colonel was announced recently by
Brig. Gen. L. L. Doan command
ing general of the 1st AD and Fort
Hood along with the promotion of
three 1st AD officers to major and
one to captain.
Those upped to the grade of
major were Captains Robert M.
Ballard Jr. CC "B" personnel of
ficer George C. Critchlow enroute
to EUCOM formerly of the 13th
MTB and Herbert L. Lieber 1st
AD G-2.
Lt. Wendell W. Long motor of
ficer of the 73rd AFA Bn was pro
moted to captain.
"This is wonderful training for
our students. It teachers them to
rely upon themselves and also
trains them in the importance of
safety" he added.
The safety patrol will be a per
manent feature at Fort Hood
schools. Many of this year's pa
trolmen are seventh graders and
will return to form abase for next
year's unit.
The patrolmen have been equip
ped with white Sam Browne belts
badges and red flags.
The unit is under the faculty
supervision of Fort Hood High
school but Fort Hood military
police also check the unit from
time to time.
"Although the military police are
no longer riding the school buses
we still check the routes of the
buses regularly to insure that per
sons driving on the Post follow the
orders of the members of the safe
ty patrol" Lt. Col Adrian Johanas-
son provost marshal said.
Military police are still riding the
kindergarten buses to insure that
the small children are carried to
and from school safely.
.• i'.rtrv'.
FORT HOOD TEXAS THURSDAY APRIL 30 1953
FLOODED COWHOUSE CREEK rages through Fort Hood after a flash flood had forced the
water out of the banks. This picture was made last Friday morning at Curry's Crossing a few
hours after Lt. James Baggett drowned at the crossing.
Fort Hood Officals Investigate
$4895 'Charter Plane' Incident
(PIO)—Army officials said today that the "airlines ticket agent" who chartered a plane for 43
North Fort Hood trainees from Dallas to Fort Lewis Wash. for an estimated $4895 was ejected from
the post when he attempted unauthorized solicitations earlier this month.
Brig. Gen. L. L. Dean commanding general of Fort Hood and the 1st Armored Division said that
on at least three occasions unauthorized transportation ticket agents attempting to do business with
Fort Hood personnel have been escorted from the post. He said that all airlines ticket agents as
well as train and bus ticket
agents must be authorized by the
post transportation officer prior to
conducting business on the post.
cause of this they have disclaim
ed any legal liability for "Pres
ton's actions." However they are
taking steps through their Wash
ington office to assist in obtaining
reimbursement for the 43 trainees.
The Fort Hood provost marshal
is working with the Dallas police
and federal law enforcement
agencies to apprehend "Preston"
said General Dean.
Fort Hood's commanding gen
eral lauded the Dallas recruiting
office operating under the direc
tion of Captain Clair Arrants and
Colonel McBride senior instruc
tor of the 49th Armored Division
Dallas for coming to the aid of
the stranded trainees.
Regional Awards
Fort Hood Schools Win
Three Honors In Meet
Top honors in three phases of
the regional Iriterscholastic League
meet were won by Fort Hood High
School in the competition held in
San Marcos last Friday and Satur
day.
The Fort Hood group walked off
with the one-act play honors Lee
Guibault won first place in extem
poraneous speaking and Odell
Grant took the top prize in the
discus throw.
Fort Hood presented the one-act
play "Andante" to win over Lytle
and Seguin High Schools in the
competition.
Two members of the Hood cast
were selected as the best actor
and actress of the meet. Lee
Guibault who already had a
first in extemporaneous speak
ing was selected as best actor
and Barbara Doan won honors
as the best actress.
Three of the five players in
"Andante" Lee Guibault Barbara
Doan and Jim Bob McQueen won
places on the all-star cast and the
other two Hood thespians Ross
Alyce Brooks and Loyd Davis
were given honorable mention.
By winning the one-act play
competition the Fort Hood play
They aided in arranging for a
chartered bus and offered ad
vance pay to the trainees. While
the trainees took the bus they
refused advance pay feeling
they had enough money until
arrival at Fort Lewis. Although
they will not arrive at Fort
Lewis at the time originally
scheduled they will not be
AWOL said General Doan.
The training company in which
the 43 trainees completed their
basic training has been deacti
vated but Army officials esti
mated they would complete their
investigation by late today or
earlv tomorrow.
ers gained entry to the state meet
which will be held May 7 through
9. Guibault and Grant will also
compete in the state meet.
Others besides Lee Guibaul
who won honors in the literary
events were Jim Bob McQueen
who placed second in senior boy's
declamation and Mack Angel
who won a third in the junior
boys declamation. Dickie Chil-
dree entered the ready writing
(Continued on Page 15)
Troop III Neids
Scoutmasters
Men interested in scouting ac
tivities are urgently needed to act
as assistant scoutmasters of Fort
Hood's Troop 111 Col. R. W. Cole
Jr. Chairman of Fort Hood Boy
Scouts said yesterday.
Anyone with a basic knowledge
in scouting and who is interested
in helping the boys in their scout
ing activities is eligible. It is hop
ed that the Troop can obtain at
least one assistant scoutmaster for
every ten scouts.
For information contact PFC
Monte Shanks at the Scout Hous
located off Battalion Ave. on 43rl
St. phone Post 3122.
ANOTHER DAY of riding school busses is in store for members of the Fort Hood[
The boys replaced MPs a month ago and are responsible for looking after the safety and conduct
of children riding busses.
Flash Floods
Personnel of Fort Hood were
urged this week to be exception
ally watchful in areas of streams
re be an he
ground.
"The season of sudden heavy
rains and flash floods is here"
said Brigadier General L. L. Doan
commanding general of Fort Hood
and the 1st Armored Division.
He pointed that three soldiers
lost their lives in a flash flood
during "Exercise LONGHORN"
as a in ad it on to a
week's drowning tragedy which
claimed the life of a 1st AD of
ficer.
General Doan said that while
Post regulations forbid crossing
re he at is a
danger mark on ford gauges it
is up to the individual to comply
with the regulations for his own
"Ounce of Prevention"
Seemingly they choose vehi
cles completely at random. How
ever during the course of a
week an attempt is made to
scrutinize at least one vehicle
from each of the outfits in the
Division.
Picking a spot on post noted
for heavy travel the spot check
crew sets about its accident-pre
ventive task of flagging down a
vehicle for inspection.
Rapidly they go to work exam
ining virtually all accessible parts
and concentrating on the follow
ing driver's compartment en
gine compartment running gear
suspension system and accesso
ries.
One copy of the form is given
to the vehicle's driver which
he turns in to his motor pool.
Another copy is sent to the cor
responding commanding officer
and the third is kept by Division
Ordnance for the compilation of
comparative battalion records at
1}ie end of each week.
The spot checks are intended as
supplemental aids and not as
punitive agents. The purpose of
tiie spot checks is to prevent ac
cidents due to mechanical failure
1
Hood Officer Dies In
Flooded Creek Friday
Cowhouse Creek went on a rampage early Friday morning and claimed the life of a Fort Hood
officer before it returned to its banks.
Lt. James Baggett Reserve Command drowned after being washed into the swift flood waters of
the creek as he attempted to leave an automobile which had stalled on a concrete ford at Curry's Cross
ing on East Range Road. The tragedy occurred at approximately 6:45 a. m. Friday.
Friday's fatality marked the second time in two years Fort Hood soldiers have lost their lives
attempting to cross flooded streams on the reservation. Three 1st Armored Division soldiers wer«
killed during "Exercise Longhorn" in 1952 attempting to cross a flooded stream.
Care At Stream
Crossings Urged
safety. While military police con
an pa he ad
can't be everywhere at once to
warn travelers in the danger
areas he stated.
"Dry" streams can be turned
into raging torrlents capable of
sweeping automobiles and other
heavy objects before them in a
at of in ad
Hood military police. They said
that for this reason it is often
impossible to erect safety barriers
on the roads before an area be
comes dangerous.
General Doan called on all of
ficers and non-commissioned of
ficers to aid military police in
enforcing regulations regarding
the crossing of flooded fords and
to prevent unsuspecting personnel
is in
lives.
Vehicle Checks
Reduce Mishaps
Vehicle accidents and stoppages
are being reduced at Fort Hood
merely by heeding that old adage
concerning the "ounce of preven
tion."
Every day from the start of
duty hours until the end inspec
tion teams are being sent out by
1st Armored Ordnance for the
purpose of spot-checking various
military vehicles at selected sites
somewhere on the post.
The qualified inspectors choose
vehicles ranging from jeeps to
two and a half ton trucks for the
brief but thorough examinations.
and to promote the proper main-
tainence of the vehicles.
The five to 10 minute check
is completed when results of
the inspection are transcribed
on a form which is filled out in
triplicate.
13 Employees
Earn Awards
On Suggestions
Suggestions estimated to save
the Army and the American tax
payer over $10200 yearly earned
cash awards totaling $417 for
thirteen Fort Hood civilian em
ployees recently.
Col. R. L. Neal Deputy Post
commander of Fort Hood present
ed suggestion awards at Post
Headquarters and told the em
ployees that it was men and wom
en like them who were always
thinking about new and better ways
of doing their jobs that benefited
the country.
These latest awards brought
the total of adopted suggestions
to 27 for the first quarter of
1953 with a first year esti
mated savings of $17710.
The award winners are: Mr. Al
bert Richter $10 Mr. Cecil F.
Underwood $10 Mr. Birt F. Wil-
kerson $25 Mr. James E. Wymer
$10 Mr. James A. Brown $70
Mr. Norman A. Smith $50 Mr.
Jerome F. Schwertner $10 Mr.
Homer L. Farris $81 Miss Mar
tha A. Haskins $20 Mr. Phillip
A. Covington $84 Mrs. Dell A.
Smithwick $10 Mr. Tommy Goth-
(Continued on Page 15)
Fifth Traffic Fatality
Dead is Private Amuel R. Coats
a member of the 13th Training
Company Reserve Command 1st
Armored Division who was e-
turning from a pass at the time
of the accident.
He became Fort Hood's fifth
traffic fatality of 1953.
Investigating officials said the
accident occurred at about 5 a.
m. when Pvt. Coats apparently
fell asleep while driving the auto.
The car went up an embank
ment according to reports and
Pvt. Coats then evidently awoke
—16 Pages
Lt. Baggett 307 Waskow Ave.
Walker Village was proceeding
to North Fort Friday morning
in a private automobile with
three other officers assigned to
the 1st Armored Reserve Com
mand. At the time of the ac*
cident the four were attempting
to ford Cowhouse Creek and
their car stalled.
One of the officers dismounted
and set off on foot towards South
Fort to secure aid while the other
three remained in the car.
A few minutes later M-Sgt. Earl
K. Spaulding North Fort range
sergeant approached the crossing
from the direction of North Fort
in a small truck. He noticed that
the car was beginning to move
sideways and he shouted to the
occupants to get back on land.
While one of the officers man
aged to reach the rear of the
car the other two had just
alighted when the auto lurched
against them and knocked them
off the concrete ford into the
raging waters.
Spaulding said he saw both of
ficers attempting to swim. He told
military police that Lt. Baggett
swam badly and went down twice
and the last time he came up he
was "fighting the water" said
Spaulding.
The other officer the driver of
the car reached safety approxi
mately one-quarter mile down
stream. The body of Lieutenant
Baggett was recovered by search
ers at 7:30 a. m. Saturday over
a mile and one-half downstream
from Curry's Crossing.
Lieutenant Baggett entered the
military service in 1943 and was
commissioned in June 1949. He re
turned from a tour of duty in the
Far East last June and was as
signed in July 1952 as a member
of Reserve Command's Tactics
Committee.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Ben Baggett formerly of Brown-
field Tex. now residing at Bak-
ersfield Calif. who were visiting
at the officer's home in Walker
Village at the time of the tragedy.
Also surviving him are his wife
Tess and two children—Sharron
9 and Allan 4 of Walker Village.
Colonels White
Lawrence Take
Staff Positions
(PIO)—The assignment of Col.
Paul H. Lawrence as Post comp
troller of Fort Hood and Lt. Col.
Jack C. White of 1st AD G-l were
announced recently by Brig. Gen.
L. L. Doan commanding general
of Fort Hood and the 1st AD.
A veteran of 32 years service
Colonel Lawrence succeeds Col.
John W. Maulds who will retire
soon. The colonel is a native of
Friendship N. Y. and served as
post comptroller at Camp Ed
wards Mass. before being trans
ferred here.
Lt. Col. White replaces Col.
Joseph F. Conroy who is awaiting
reassignment.
A veteran of 12 years military
service Colonel White arrived here
in January after a tour of duty
with the Eighth Army in Korea.
He served a tour of duty with the
Eighth Army in Korea. He serv
ed as executive officer Res.
Comd. at North Fort before assum
ing his present duties.
21-Year-01d Hood Private
Loses Life In Car Accident
(PIO) —A 21-year-old North Fort
Hood trainee was killed early
Monday morning when the car
he was driving went out of con
an a
wood Tex.
and tried to steer the vehicle
back onto the road.
It swerved and bounced end
over end landing vertically nose-
down against a tree.
Pvt. Coats was thrown from the
car and taken to the Brown-
wood Memorial Hospital where
he was pronounced dead about
two hours later.
The body has been transferred
to the Elliott Funeral Home in
Abilene N. Mex.
His wife Elma P. Coats lives
in Silver City N. Mex. There are
no children.
His mother Mrs. Tula Coats
iv in a an is
father Amuel Coats lives in Abi
lene. Pvt. Coats entered the Army
in January 1953.
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Armored Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 30, 1953, newspaper, April 30, 1953; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth254329/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.