With The Men In Service

221 Points In Five Years

Seventy percent of the single men of the Canadian troops who were stationed in Lewes Sussex in England returned this month married and are now waiting for their wives to be granted travel permits to come home. This figure, startling to some, and expected by others, includes Gunner Robert L. Campbell, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Campbell, 341 E. Liberty St. who married Violet B. Norris in England in 1942. Campbell's wife and two-year-old daughter, Charlene Ann, should arrive in Winnipeg by September.

England declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, 1939. Campbell enlisted and became a Canadian soldier two days after Christmas of the same year. By August of the following year he was serving In the 13th Regiment with coastal defenses on the southeastern coast of England. He fought there until D-Day, June 6,1944, then pushed across the Channel disembarking at Caen, France, where excitement was always high. From there on to Antwerp, the mechanized artillery moved too quickly to keep track of. It was while crossing the border of Holland and Germany that Campbell marked the great differentiation between the landscaping of the two countries. The one had homes and buildings, the other didn't. German towns were shambles. The destruction was appalling and unbelievable.

Nine months later, on March 6, 1945, Campbell became qualified to wear the gold stripe on his left arm which corresponds to the Purple Heart. Campbell was wounded in the back of his head. The gun he was firing was completely demolished. After being hospitalized a short time he was able to rejoin his regiment.

News of V-Day was received calmly by most of the men stationed with Campbell at Oldenburg, Germany. "We were glad to hear it was over but by that time we had accepted it as inevitable. There weren't any hilarious celebrations.”

Celebrations mean food, and in that connection Campbell says, "in England, dehydrated food was all there was. Fresh food of any kind was unheard of. Things were a little better in France, so for two months we were fed K rations, one week fresh food, and the next week it was dehydrated. This was the vicious circle.”

But it was all over for Campbell on July 5, when he landed in Halifax aboard the French liner, Pasteur, along with other combat veterans, weary of war and eager to be home. Only a few of these men would be going on to fight in the Pacific. For the majority of them, this trip was probably their last one for a long time.

When asked about points Campbell casually stated that he had 221 points, the highest possible number being 237. The Canadian soldier receives two for every month in Canada and three for every month overseas. Now that he is sure of his discharge Campbell won’t quibble about points. He will be leaving Ann Arbor to pick up his "walking papers” in London. Ontario, on Aug. 13.

‘U’ Staff Man Commended

Maj. Randolph Webster, formerly on the staff of the University as student adviser, instructor in the physical education department and supervisor of intramural sports, has been commended by Maj. Gen. Norman T. Kirk, the surgeon-general, for his work at Wakeman Convalescent hospital, Camp Atterbury, Ind.

Now on leave from West Virginia University, Maj. Webster is chief of the physical reconditioning program at the Indiana hospital, one of the largest convalescent hospitals in the world.

He and his staff have prepared a 91-page brochure, "Physical Reconditioning,” which was largely responsible for the fact that the commendation was made. Gen. Kirk’s letter reads in part:

“This brochure outlines one of the most comprehensive and carefully thought out physical reconditioning programs yet brought to the attention of this office. It is scientifically prepared to provide a graduated dosage of exercise which is within the capabilities and adapted to the needs of all different types of patients encountered in a convalescent hospital.”

Brothers Miss Each Other

Both in the naval air force, both on patrol duty, and both aviation radiomen second class—but when It comes to leaves at home it’s a different matter. To reverse the story, when James L. Amerman, 22, recently secured a week’s pass to visit his brother, Marshall E., 20, who was to be home after 10 months In the Atlantic, he found that Marshall had already returned to base at Memphis field, Tex. But they’re hoping for better coordination next time.

Marshall returned here after completing 75 missions or 108,000 patrol miles as a member of a patrol bombing squadron attached to the Atlantic fleet. He spent his time here with his father, L. J. Amerman, 628 S. Ashley St., and his mother, 507 Detroit St. He entered the service in June, 1943, and was sent overseas last August.

James recently returned to Norfolk, Va., where he is also on duty with the Navy Air Force. He entered the service five years ago and has seen duty in the Cuba area besides State side duty. His wife, the former Mary Lee Milburn of Wichita, Kas., has remained here for a few days following her husband's return to base but will return to Wichita soon.

To Be On Aircraft Carrier

Expecting overseas assignment aboard an aircraft carrier, Donald D. Geering, 27, graduated from the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Okla., last month, and is now at Seattle, Wash., with an aviation ordnance group. He is an aviation ordnance mate, first class.

Geering is a former student of Adrian College, Adrian, Mich., and was employed at the American Broach and Machine Co. here before enlisting in November, 1944. He took his boot training at Great Lakes. His wife, formerly Margaret Paul, is living with their four-year-old daughter, Suzanne, at 454 S. First St. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Geering, reside at Ashgrove. Kas.

Twins In Navy

The twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Leon A. Makielski, 750 Arlington Blvd.—Donald J. and Edward L., 18—are together in training for the time being. But they’re keeping their fingers crossed.

Graduated from Ann Arbor High school last month, the twins entered the service together on June 21, and were assigned to boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center where they are now stationed as apprentice seamen. They expect their first furlough in the latter part of August.

Donald formerly was employed by the University botany department and Edward worked at the Super A&P here. They are the only boys in a family of five children.

Gen. Campbell
Marshall
James
Don Geering
Donald J.
Edward L.