Armored Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 9, 1955 Page: 2 of 16
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Page Two
A group of officers and enlisted
men of units of the First Armored
Division was assembled this week
for the purpose of furnishing train
ing administrative and logistical
support for the Reserve Officers'
Training Corps (ROTC) Summer
Camp to be conducted at Fort Hood
this summer.
Assignment of operational sup
port troops is being co-ordinated
by Combat Command "A" First
Armored Division commanded by
Col. Roy Lassetter Jr. The sup
port cadre is attached for adminis
tration to Company A 47th Arm
ored Medical Battalion Command
ed by 1st Lt. Beverly A. Ittmann
and the personnel are assigned to
the various sections and units of
The Fort Hood ROTC Camp. These
Fourth Armored Division artil
lery tank and medical units shar
ed honors in the Division Safety
Contest this month as they remain
ed accident and traffic violation
free for seven months.
Lt. Col. Sam F. Doering divi
sion provost marshal announced
that a total of 64 Fourth Armored
Fourth AD Gets
First Master Sgt.
In Ten Years
The Department of the Army
opened up promotions to Master
sergeant last month for the first
time in over a year.
First man to fill one of the five
vacancies allotted the Fourt Ar
mored Division was former SFC
John B. Starkey Company A
553rd Armored Infantry Batalion.
Since the Fourth Armored was re
activated just a year ago his was
on to a
sergeant in over ten years.
Sergeant Starkey a platoon ser
geant is a veteran of 13 years of
Army service. He has spent near
ly 8 years overseas in Europe and
Hawaii. He was a sergeant first
class for 3 and one half years be
fore his promotion to the highest
enlisted grade.
Lt. Col. Lawrence E. Zachow
commanding officer of the 553rd
AIB awarded the promotion in a
brief ceremony at battalion head
quarters.
Drive carefully.
Can you stop
like this?
Don't wait to find out
... stop now for
Brake Adjustment
It just doesn't pay to
take chances with
your life—not when
our scientific brake
adjustment costs so
little.
'2.00
Only
Fort Hood ROTC Camp re pares
For Summer Training Session
duties consist of administration
supply training operation of vari
ous messes police and mainten
ance details necessary for opera
tion and functioning of the camp.
Many Colleges
Over 1200 students from 27 dif
ferent universities and colleges
from the five states of the Fourth
Army area will report to The Fort
Hood ROTC Camp on 18 June for
six weeks of intensive training.
The following institutions will be
represented:
Arkansas: Arkansas Polytechnic
College Russellville Arkansas
State College State College Hen
derson State College Arkadephia
Ouachita College. Arkadelphia
University of Arkansas Fayette-
ville.
THE FIRST NEW master sergeant in the Fourth Armored Di
vision in ten years is M-Sgt. John B. Starkey left being congratu
lated By Lt. Col. Lawrence E. Zachow commander of the 553rd Ar
mored Infanrty Battalion. The reason for the long lapse is that
the Fourth Armored has been re-activated for only a year during
which time there have been no promotions to the highest enlisted
grade issued by the Department of the Army. Sergeant Starkey's
was one of five promotions allotted the division the first since 1945
when the Fourth Armored was de-activated. (U.S. Army Photo by
Boyle)
Fourth Armored Units Share
Honors In May Safety Contest
units had a perfect safety record
during the month of May.
Units with the seven months rec
ord are Service Battery of the 66th
Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Company C 37th Tank Battalion
and Medical Detachment Fourth
Armored Division.
Good Record
Seven units have a five month
accident and violation free record.
They are the Medical Detachments
of the 704th Tank Battalion 510th
Armored Infantry Battalion 37th
Tank Battalion 126th Armored
Ordnance Battalion and the 4th
Armored Quartermaster Battalion
Headquarters Company Combat
Command "C" and Service Bat
tery 195th Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Battalion.
Major General Thomas J. H.
Trapnell Fourth Armored Division
commander lauded the units and
wished them continued success in
their safety endeavors.
Safety does not cost anything
until you've neglected it.
.«
parts extra
TOMECEK
PONTIAC CO.
KILLEEN
PHONE 4823
LADIES' SHOE DEPARTMENT
Stokes Bros. & Co.
"HOME OF FAMOUS BRANDS"
202 Ave. KILLEEN Phone 491
Louisiana: Centenary College of
Louisiana. Shrovoport Louisiana
State University. Haton Rouge
Loyola University. New Orleans
MeNeese Slate College Lake
Charles Northeast Louisiana Slate
College. Monroe Northwestern
State College of Louisiana Natehi
toehes Southern University &
A&M College Baton Rouge Tulanc
University New Orleans.
New Mexico: New Mexico Col
lege of A&MA State College.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma A&M Col
lege Stillwater University of Ok
lahoma. Norman.
Texas: A&M College of Texas
College Station Hardin-Simmons
University Abilene Midwestern
University. Wichita Falls Prairie
View A&M College Prairie Vew
Sam Houston State Teachers Col
lege Huntsville Texas Christian
University Fort Worth Texas
Technological College Lubbock
Trinity University San Antonio
University of Houston Houston
University of Texas Austin West
Texas State College Canyon.
Train Students
ROTC Summer Camps are estab
lished for the purpose of training
ROTC students of the various col
leges and universities. The object
ive of the camp training is to sup
plement the military instruction
received by the student at the in
stitution in order to qualify him for
appointment as a second lieutenant
in the Army Reserve or the Regu
lar Army and for service in the
Active Army.
Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Harrold
Commanding General III Corps
and Fort Hood will be the Camp
Commander. He will be assisted
by Col. Alsten Grimes Who will be
Deputy. Camp Commander. Colonel
Grimes is Professor of Military
Science and Tactics Oklahoma
A&M College Stillwater Okla. Lt.
Col. Loren F Stone who formerly
commanded the 73d Armored Field
Artillery Battalion of the First
Armored Division and who has been
in charge of the Planning Staff for
the ROTC Camp will be Assistant
Deputy Camp Commander.
The Programof Instruction for
General Military Science stressing
Infantry type training will be given
at The Fort Hood ROTC Camp. It
will include practical training in
mine warfare drills and ceremo
nies rifle marksmanship individu
al weapons interior guard crew
served weapons such as mortars
rocket launchers machine guns re-
coiless weapons individual and
small unit tactics and map and
aerial photograph reading. Select
ed units of the First Armored Di
vision will be called upon to give
demonstrations of various kinds to
enhance the training of the ROTC
Students.
The majority of instruction will
be conducted by officers and non
commissioned officers of the active
Army on duty at ROTC institutions
detailed to Fort Hood for duration
of the summer camp. This group
of officers and enlisted men will
commence arriving at Fort Hood
about June 8 and will also be at
tached for administration to Com
pany A 47th Armored Medical Bat
talion.
A comprehensive off-duty ath
letic and recreation program is also
planned for the ROTC Students at
tending The Fort Hood ROTC
Camp.
v/^
\y
I
tinnaunjeinq
Bidding will be opened on a New
I/Iain Post Exchange and Cafeteria
for Fort Hood on June 17 it was
announced last week by Col. Har
ry O. Fisher Fort Worth District
Engineer.
ui
The total cost of the project
which will be supervised by the
District Engineer will be in the
neighborhood of $720000. And 300
days will be allowed for construc
tion.
The new Post Exchange and
a a a
Hood's new shopping center which
will surround Theater Number 1.
The new exchange building will
be more than twice the size of
re E an a
complete office facilities will be in
cluded in the new building.
The new modern Cafeteria will
seat 352 people—twice as many as
the present facilities.
Both buildings which will be ful
ly air-conditioned will be done in
brick to blend-in with nearby Mc-
Nair Village.
A connecting walkway cononade
is planned to link the two build
ings.
Jown & Country Shoes
will be sold exclusively
By
Stokes Bros. & Co.
in
11
:.4
THE ARMORED SENTINEL FORT HOOD TEXAS
THREE MEMBERS of the 67th Radio Controlled Aerial Target or
RCAT Detachment prepare to launch a target for practice firing by
the First Armored Division's 2d Anti-Aircraft Battalion. Waiting
for the take-off run are PFC Erling C. Burns Sergeant Minn
Chief motor mechanic adjusting the engine Cpl. Monroe I. Black
burn Oklahoma City Okla. chief radio mechanic making last
minute checks on radio control and PFC Marion T. Dial Iredell
Tex. motor mechanic waiting to release plane for take-off. (U.S.
Army Photo)
68th AFA Bn. Leaves
For Crockett Training
The 68th Armored Field Artillery
Battalion which saw action at
Kasserine Pass and Anzio in World
War II will be the third First
Armored Divisiion unit to be sent
to the
in
Corps Summer Training
Site Fort Crockett.
They left by truck convoy
Wednesday and are expect to ar
rive at Galveston early evening
the same day. They will remain
at the former coast artillery post
for one week and return to Fort
Hodd June 15.
An intensive training schedule
which is highlighted by a tactical
road march through civilian pop
ulated areas has been arranged
for the battalion which is under
the command of Lieutenant Col
onel Samuel R. Ross.
A physical training test will be
Hood Plans
New Exchange
And Cafeteria
given to the unit's personnel and
instruction will be offered in salt
water swimming hazards adverse
effect of sunlight poisonous rep
tiles distribution of captured doc
uments and psychological war
fare.
The battalion which was orig
inally constituted in 1933 became
a part of "Old Ironsides" in July
1940. In January 1943 it actively
participated in North African com
bat operations. Later in Italy the
battalion saw action at Naples-
Foggia Rome-Arno North Apen
nines Po Valley as well as Anzio.
Selected members of other First
Armored units will join the 68th
at Fort Crockett. Recreational fa
cilities will be available at the post
during off-duty hours throughout
the training period.
Let us gift wrap
and prepare your
Father's Day purchases
for mailing. No
additional charge
fc^
"It's just like shooting at the real
thing" shouted the men of the
First Armored Division's Second
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.
They were firing at Radio Con
trolled Aerial Targets or RCATs
as they are commonly called.
The RCATs are miniature air
planes controlled from the ground
by radio and used by the anti
aircraft artillery for practice fir
ing.
Bringing down one of these tar
gets is no easy task. They have a
speed of 220 miles per hour and
are only 12 feet 6 inches in length
with a wing span of 11 feet 6
inches.
Good Shots
Despite their speed and size
First Armored Division gunners
have become such good shots that
the targets had to be modified.
The RCAT plane was originally
intended to be the actual target.
Since the Fort Hood gunners
were blasting all their targets out
of the sky it was necessary to
add a plastic sleeve to the planes.
With the sleeve the targets have
been lasting much longer giving
the troops an opportunity to be
come more accurate shots. The
sleeve is 12 feet long and three
feet wide and is towed at a dis
tance of 300 feet behind the plane.
Each AAA battalnn is authorized
29 per year.
Firing at the RCATs is con
ducted on ranges of varying dis
tances. Short es give the ef
fect of shooting at fast fighters.
Distant ranges give the appear
ance of much larger and slower
planes such as bombers.
Many of the guns used by the
First Armored Division in anti-air
craft defense are equipped with
tracking devices. They assist in
following the course of the plane
and provide greater accuracy and
length of time to fire on the target.
"The tracking device is especial
aim ^aoLataAte
tidUol dumm&i
.-• .•• 4 •.•-•. -'V •..•:-'K'.-:-^v-'. •-:. .-.v.-' •:'. •.-.«- i£
Radio Controlled Targets Test
Firing Skills Of Fort Hood Men
ly useful when the planes are
flown close in for practice firing
simulating a fast jet" says 1st Lt.
Robert S. Sizer assistant S-3 (op
erations) officer of the Second
AAA Battalion.
Since they have no wheels
RCATs are launched from a three-
wheeled dolly at a speed of 85 to
90 miles an hour on a circular
runway 300 feet in diameter.
If the plane checks out all right
at this speed it is released from
the dolly electrically by Sergeant
Dillard P. Robinson launcher
chief. The release mechanism is
the same as that used for bombs.
If the plane does not check out
satisfactorily on its take-off run
the launcher simply kills the en
gine which halts the plane.
The minute the plane becomes
airborne it is controlled from the
ground by a control stick similar
to those on regular planes.
M-Sgt. Wallace E. Irving con
Lightweights for Father's Day
Every Thursday Night 'til 9
Stokes Bros. & Co.
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202 Ave. KILLEEN Phone 491
to keep him cool and
comfortable all summer long!
Arrow Lightweight Shirts in smart collar
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t* f1
Army's New Specialist-NCO
Program Takes Effect July 1
The Department of the Army an
nounced this week that the Army's
new non-commissioned officer-spe
cialist program will go into effect
on July 1.
The program provides that non
commissioned officer identification
and status be given only to enlist
ed personnel holding leadership po
sitions. A separate category of en
listed personnel called specialists
include those who have technical
and administrative skills.
Keynote of this program is to
identify as an NCO the true leader
whether in combat arm technical
or administrative service. The spe
cialist will be given special recog
nition by title and a separate in
a to in re as
o^the COOLER
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Arrow Handkerchiefs in cool summer
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Thursday
day June 9 1955
4
trol chief demonstrated that by
manipulating the stick the plane
could be turned dived or made
to climb. "With this stick I can do
practically anything that a pilot
with a real fighter can."
If the plane is not shot down
during the firing it can be drop
ped to the ground safely by par
achute. When the controller push
es a button on the control box it
cuts off the engine and releases
the parachute.
The RCATs are flown and main
tained at Fort Hood by the 67th
RCAT Detachment. The detach
ment has one officer and 13 en
listed men. First Lieutenant Alfred
D. Barlow is detachment com
mander.
Damaged planes are salvaged by
the detachment often making two
good ones from three that have
been shot down. "Maintenance is
our biggest problem" says Ser
geant Irving.
prestige of the non-commissioned
officer by restoring him to his tra
ditional position as the backbone
of the Army the program will also
preserve the respect properly due
the specialist.
Under the new plan technical
and administrative services are
authorized NCO positions commen
surate with their needs in th same
manner as the combat arms. Non
commissioned officers will be ad
dressed as "sergeant" or "corpo
ral" as appropriate. Specialists
will be addressed by that name.
NCO's will continue to wear the
insignia now in use.
The NCO will rank above all oth
er enlisted personnel regardless of
pay grade.
yp
$1.50 UP
50c
SPECIAL FOR ...
FATHER'S DAY
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Armored Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 9, 1955, newspaper, June 9, 1955; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth254433/m1/2/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.