Camp Barkeley News (Camp Barkeley, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, June 2, 1944 Page: 3 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Abilene Library Consortium and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the The Grace Museum.
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Friday, June 2, 1944
CAMP BARKELEY NEWS
PAGE THREE
When Pvt. Boyd Handles Rattlesnakes He Gets Thrill That Chills Spine
TOTE fondles live, squirming rattlesnakes. He
makes household pets of the cold, scaly crea-
tures and declares that nothing gives him a big-
ger kick than to clutch a wriggling five-foot rat-
tler by the neck, hold it up before him, and watch
it open wide its jaws and bare its half-inch fangs.
The strange pastime of Keith Boyd began 25
years ago when he was a kid of 8, living in Can-
ton, China, where his father, a medical mission-
ary, practiced. Today, he is recognized as one of
the nation’s leading herpetologists and photogra-
phers of reptile life. Boyd is now in basic training
in Co. B, 65th Med. Tng. Bn.
“The thrill that chills my spine when handling
reptiles must equal that felt by a deep sea diver,
a parachute jumper, or an automobile racer,”
Boyd says in discussing his unusual hobby. “The
greater its body thrashes about and lashes against
my own, the more the rattlers sound their death
knell. The harder it struggles to wrench its head
around and insert its poisoning fangs into my
flesh, the faster my heart beats and the better I
like it. To me it takes the place of a tonic.”
★ * *
When a youngster in China, Boyd organized
groups of young people—children of missionaries,
government officials and business men—who
scoured the countryside adjacent to Canton in
search of reptile life. They picked up wild life of
all species, shapes and sizes and put them into
cans, jars, cigar boxes and canvas bags.
“From that time on snakes always fascinated
me.” Boyd related, “and when 11, my family and
I boarded a steamer for the States and we had
barely gotten settled in Hollywood, Calif., before
I journeyed into the nearby hills in search of
snakes.”
It was after several seasons of tramping the
California mountainsides and after numerous rep-
tile-hunting expenditions before Boyd received
the thrill of capturing alive a real honest-to-
goodness American rattlesnake. He made his first
conquest by pressing the muzzle of his .22 rifle
on the creature’s head, holding the gun in his left
hand, and grabbing the snake’s neck just behind
its powerful jaws, with his right hand. The rattler
measured fully three and a half feet in length,
and according to Boyd, an ecstasy and thrill came
over him which he has never experienced in such
a degree since. He had caught his first rattler!
Since that clumsy beginning Boyd has progress-
ed a long way in the art of snake capturing. Each
spring he rigs himself up in boots and jeans, a
checkered shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat and
saunters forth in search of poisonous snakes. The
only weapon he uses .is a reptile noose which is
made from the last section of a bamboo pole and
several yards of piano wire. Sometimes he snares
rattlesnakes with it, but more often he brings
into play any conveniently found stick—and his
bare hands.
★ * *
Boyd frankly admits that snake handling is
dangerous. Once a rattler spouted venom and shot
it into Boyd’s eyes while droplets spattered over
his face. Upon another occasion a five-footer freed
itself from a cage in his apartment, wormed its
way across the carpet, and headed straight for
his wife a few feet away. Only the quick-thinking
ot Boyd, who cornered the creature, captured it
and put it into its container, saved his wife from
being bitten.
The young reptile enthusiast has been struck
at by rattlers and escaped their fangs by sheer
fractions of an inch. And in the 25 odd years that
he has been handling poisonous reptiles he has
never once been bitten!
“To be bitten by a snake is the result of pure
carelessness,” Boyd emphasizes. “And it is also
silly to believe that a snake can be trusted even
though you may have had him as a pet for a long
period of time.”
Rattlesnakes aren’t Boyd’s only passion. He al-
so delights in fooling around with Mexican liz-
ards and Gila monsters. In fact his wife is caring
for an 18 inch Gila monster in her Los Angeles
apartment while her husband is in the service.
Boyd relates that though certainly not a snake
charmer, his wife quickly adapted herself to his
strange hobby. The first winter that they were
married Boyd kept a five-foot rattler in his
apartment.
“My wife didn’t exactly appreciate my little
playmate,” Boyd laughingly recalled, “for every
time she opened the closet door the rattler, from
his glass cage, would look her in the eye and
rattle.”
“What’s the purpose of my hobby? There isn’t
any. Neither is there any purpose in going on a
rollercoaster at Coney Island. It just gives the
passenger a thrill; makes his heart beat fast;
causes his spine to chill with horror. So does
handling a deadly rattlesnake.”
WAC's Play Vital
Part In Training In
Armored Command
Women soldiers don’t ride Ameri-
can tanks into battle, but members
of the Women’s Army Corps play
a vital part in the training of the
men who fight in the Armored
Command.
In the Armored School at Fort
Knox. Ky., tank soldiers receive
preliminary training on a model
battle terrain, using miniature tanks
designed, constructed and painted
by WAC’s. Members of the WAC
also helped build the model bat-
tleground, with its realistic hills,
forest, roads and buildings.
The tankmen learn to identify
various types of Allied and enemy
tanks by means of the models and
also work out military problems on
the miniature combat course.
WAC’s fill a variety of Army
Ground Force jobs at the Armored
School, serving as mechanics, elec-
tricians, stock clerks, typists, in-
spectors and cartographers. They
also drive staff cars and light
trucks in the motor pool, operate
mimeograph machines and work in
the message center.
Recruits in the Women’s Army
Corps now may request assignment
to the branch of service they pre-
fer—the Army Air Forces, Army
Service Forces or Army Ground
Forces—and may choose the par-
ticular Army job they prefer if
they have qualifications fitting
them for such work. There are 239
types of Army duties filled by
WAC’s at more than 200 different
Army installations.
Women who wish to serve in the
area in which they live may choose
any Army station within the geo-
graphic limits of the service com-
mand in which they enlist.
Doughboys Wear
Infantry Badges
More than 200 doug. ooys of the
Hellcat division now are wearing
the Expert Infantryman Badge.
Presentation of e first awards in
the 12th Armd Div. were made by
Major Gen. Carlos Brewer. Com-
manding General, at a formal mili-
tary ceremony last S .turday.
In making the presentation Gen-
eral Bre .■ told the men that the
test they had successfully complet-
ed was described by corps officers
as the ' est laid out in the corps.
Although they have yet to dem-
onstrate their right to wear it
against the enemy he expressed
confidence that the Hellcats would
pro their right to wear it when
the time came. After congratulating
them on their high distinction as
soldiers, General Brewer personally
congratulated each man.
"12th Armd. Nite"
The Sweetwater 'JSO club has
designated Saturday night, June 10,
as “12th Armd Div. nite.”
Plans are being made for an
elaborate dance and party and an
invitation is extended to all men
of Camp to attend, according to
Judith Harowitz, secretary of the
club.
Want To Try It?
The Fifth Street USO club will
present checker champ Sgt. Mar-
vin Rex, 661st Clearing Co., in an
exhibition Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
Sergeant Rex will play as many as
40 boards at one and the same
time. Anyone who manages to de-
feat him will receive a prize.
At the conclusion of this part
of the program, Rex will play an
exhibition game blindfolded.
WAC RECRUITING COUPON
Please mail to WAC Recruiting Officer, Headquarters, Camp Bark-
eley, Texas.
I believe the following person Is qualified to join the WAC:
NAME ................................ ADDRESS.....................
CITY AND STATE ..................................... AGE.........
MARITAL STATUS .............................. RACE..............
SOLDIER’S NAME, RANK AND ORGANIZATION
RELATION TO SOLDIER SUBMITTING COUPON
DO YOU WANT YOUR NAME USED IN CONTACTING THE ABOVE
PARTY?.............................-
Soldiers from Station Complement and attached ASF units will
be given a three-day pass for each prospective WAC whose enlistment
is accomplished.
The Army Needs WAC’s! LET’S DO OUR PART!
YANKWIZ
By
BOB HAWK
Quizmaster
"THANKS
TO THE YANKS"
Saturdays, C ft S
1. How many of these acts are
illegal in New York State: to fight
a duel; to ' keep a barber shop
open on Sundays; to kiss your wife
in Grand Central Station?
2. Name the only three four-let-
ter states in the United States.
3. We eat protein substances. Do
we wear them?
4. Which takes more energy, cov-
ering five miles in an hour by run-
ning, or covering the same five
miles in an hour by walking very
fast?
5. Do people’s finger prints
change as they grow older?
6. What makes some soap float?
7. Are there more remarriages
among middle aged men or middle
aged women?
8. Name at least five articles be-
ginning with the letter “S” that
are worn on the feet.
9. S-o-l-d-i-e-r is pronounced
sol-jer. If you left out the “i” how
would it be pronounced?
10. Do more states in the U. S.
border on the Pacific Ocean or on
the Gulf of Mexico?
(Answers on page 8.)
family' allowances’
- ' - ' AND ■
ALLOTMlMTi-OF-PAY
ioldier/ dependents j
Q. Who is eligible to receive
family allowances?
A. (a) Class A dependents—The
lawful wife of soldier, his children
and a former wife divorced who has
not remarried and to whom ali-
mony is still payable. Also, a wife
living separate and apart from sol-
dier under court order or agreement
providing for maintenance or sup-
port. These, considered his primary
responsibility, need prove only re-
lationship.
(b) Class B-l dependents—Par-
ents, also minor brothers and sis-
ters, who are dependent upon sol-
dier for their chief support.
(,c) Class B dependents—Parents,
brothers and sisters who are de-
pendent upon the soldier for a sub-
stantial portion of their support.
Class B dependents may receive a
family allowance .only if there are
NO class B-l dependents named in
the application.
(NOTE—Class B-l and class B
dependents may receive family al-
lowance only with soldier’s consent.
Payments will be discontinued at
his request at any time.)
Flight surgeon: “Now boys, every
morning you ought to take a cold
bath, and that will make you feel
rosy all over.
“Are there any questions?”
GI in back of room: “Yeah, Doc.
Tell us some more about Rosie!”
Jiving With Gals Galore Tuesday!
A big dance, fellows! And fine music by the 12th Armd
Div. Orchestra. The place—Service Club No. 2. The time—
Tuesday night from 8:30 till 11. We’re not kiddin’, men! It
promises to be a gala affair what with gals coming from
Eastland, Baird, Anson, Sweetwater and Abilene. How could
it help but be? As they say in Texas—“Y’all be sure to
come.”
Tonight at 8:15 a musical special-
ties program featuring Pvt. Millard
Sie£M of Co. B, 58th Med. Tng. Bn.,
singer of original songs, will be pre-
sented.
Movies
on Satu
8:15.
Sunday’s headliner will be the
opening of the Art Exhibition fea-
turing paintings by artists of the
Army Service Forces Training Cen-
ter. The exhibit, consisting largely
of water color work, will be part
of the ' same exhibition being ar-
ranged by Lt. Robert W. Brown
which goes on tom- in many of the
large cities of the southwest later
in June.
On Monday the fourth in a series
of successful Quiz Bang programs
which are being directed by Pvt,
A. J. Auerbach will again be pre-
sented at 8:15. A team consisting of
~orcT
of five G. I.’s for top honors. Sgt,
Ray St. Cyr will provide extra add-
ed entertainment at the piano.
Don’t forget the dance on Tues-
day night.
On Wednesday a program of mu-
sic arranged and directed by Pvt,
Joe Wood of Co. A, 51st Med. Tng,
Bn. will be presented at 8:15.
Thursday’s card highlights a big
Bingo Party with assorted prizes
for all whom Lady Luck smiles up-
on. Tire scheduled post time is 8:15.
What's Cookin'?
Rae Pearl and Yoyo, comedy song and dance team, will apear at
Camp next Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday in the USO-Camp Show,
“What’s Cookin’?" The show is a hi-de-ho variety revue and fre#
to all military personnel.
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Camp Barkeley News (Camp Barkeley, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, June 2, 1944, newspaper, June 2, 1944; Camp Barkeley, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth598397/m1/3/?q=12th%20Armored%20Memorial%20Museum: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Grace Museum.