Esfcrmo Can’t “Mush” Army Fashion
P i: By Cpl Allen Merritt
(Army Correspondent!
Headquarters, Alaskan De
partment—Soldiers of the Four
th Infantry’s third battalion
learned during their three years
in Alaska, among other things,
that although many Eskimoes
are mechanical wizards, it is
next to impossible to teach some
of them close order drill.
The best method for teaching
them close order drill, Fourth
■U.'.I.'.L'.L'Ja1AL!X
Log Waffle Shop
Myrtle Kempton, Prop.
SHORT ORDERS
QUICK SERVICE
Fresh Eggs Only
Are Used in Our Orders
Infantrymen said, is to get all
the native recruits in a small
room where they can not but
hear what the drill sergeant has
to say about the intricacies of
this GI institution. Outside, the
Eskimoes become extremely in
terested in each other and pay
little attention when the ser
geant is explaining the proper
way to do an about face.
After days of patient expla
nation and innumerable dem
GENERAL
REMODELING
and
CONTRACT
CONSTRUCTION
of
RESIDENCES
A STORES
“Free Estimates”
J. N. Steffgen
Contractor
elder Building
The Cub
H R WINANS, OwDet
CONCY ISLAND HOT DOGS
Cooked in Specially Designed Coney Islands Eleetric Cookers
TRY ONE!
FRESH ROASTED PEANUTS and POPCORN
Candies • Bars of All Kinds • Soft Drinks
**??'*"ww m m * w m~m * m * J +_ *
Tht (MIEN PIE HlllSK
Hours:
11 a. m.
to
11 p. m.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
"Individual”
Chicken Pies
PIES PACKAGED TO TAKE OUT
KODIAK
RECREATION PARLOR
John Raft, Owner
POOL
CARDS
CANDIE%
TOBACCOS
MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS
onstrations, they finally learn to
march in a straight line in sim
ple formation. A “Column left”
causes considerable confusion
and “By the right flank” results
in pandemonium.
The drill sergeant, by this
time, is on the verge of suffering
a cerebral hemorrhage and is
muttering incoherently.
On the other hand, they show
a remarkable mechanical apti
tude. Some of them can watch a
complex machine gun disman
tled and then put together just
once, and can take over and do
a repeat peifoi mauce
One officer said he had heard
of cases where an Eskimo, with
some machine part broken and
no replacement available, would
take a piece of iron and a file
and patiently file out a new
part. They have infinite pa
tience, he said.
On the whole, they are in
telligent and serve many useful
purposes in the Alaskan theater.
As for Army chow, the Es
kimoes missed their native dish
es of seal oil and fish, but most
of them were already well ac
quainted with most foods serv
ed Pork chop - are their favor
ite.
They are extremely suscepti
ble to common sicknesses of the
white man, having no immunity,
are gravely ill with simple ail
ments like measles Large num.
bers were hospitalized.
Medical stocKs of castor oil,
salad oil and butter disappear
ed from refrigerators while trays
of carefully-prepared hospital
food were left untouched.
When the Fourth Infantry
arrived in Alaska, the two com
panies which had been stationed
at Chilkoot Barracks for many
years before the war when that
was the largest army garrison in
Alaska, became a part of its
third battalion.
Some members of the famed
Alaska Combat Scout Intelli
gence platoon, which includes
many Alaska oldtimers, came
from these two companies.
Only a few of the soldiers
that were at Chilkoot Barracks
for so long still remain in the
companies. There are few, if any
soldiers who have been on duty
outside the United States for so
continued on page S
When you
think of
Ice Cream
think of the
KODIAK
FOUNTAIN
"oHext to the Largest
Store in Town”
I •
! BOXED CANDY
ICE CREAM
POPCORN
MAGAZINES
NOVELTIES
m TDUli] DLU3
cAt Tierce's fountain - Use side door
OPEN
2 pm to 2 am
CLOSED
TUESDAYS
For
members
ONLY
DANOI NG
seen - sandwiches - winb
MIXED DRINKS
SUNDAY DANCE 4,0 7 PmV
Army Dance Orchestra
BUNN'S HALL
HALL AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE DANCES
Inquire Blinn’s Pool Room
BUNN’S POOL HALL
POOL. BILLIARDS
Cigars - Cigarettes - Tobacco - Candies - Soft Drinks
Cheechako
Club & Grill
POOL
CARDS
CANDY
CIGARETTES
TOBACCO
BREAKFAST
SHORT ORDERS
SANDWICHES
SALADS
CHILLI
Tony’s
Tavern
"THE LONGEST BAN
IN ALASKA"
Where they Serve the Best Drinks in Town
The Place with the Friendly Atmosphere