COMPANY E TO LEAVE CAMP IN NEXT FEW DAYS

Corporal Petrow Tells of Reaction to Japanese Attacks.

Company E, national guard unit from Webster City and stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., for the past year, will be leaving the southern quarters within the next few days.

This information was learned in a long distance telephone conversation with Corp. Jack Petrow, of Company E, and The Daily Freeman-Journal Monday morning.

Corporal Petrow said that already the first and third battalions had left the camp, being ordered to New Orleans. Where the troops will go from there was not revealed by the military authorities, Corporal Petrow said.

Company E is in the second battalion of the 133rd regiment.

Corporal Petrow, who is the correspondent for The Daily Freeman-Journal, excitedly declared that when the news came Sunday of the attack on United States’ possessions in the far east, the soldiers at Camp Claiborne were eager for action.

Orders for the first and third battalions to leave for New Orleans came close on the heels of the announcement of the attack upon the United States by the Japanese.

No time is being lost, Corporal Petrow said, by the second battalion in dismantling everything possible prior to actual orders to leave for some unannounced destination.

“It was only a matter of a few hours before Company E and other units of the second battalion were in readiness to move on a second’s notice,” Corporal Petrow said.

“Just as soon as the news of the Japanese attacks was learned here, everyone of the thousands of soldiers was fervently hoping for a chance to get into action against the ‘Yellow Peril,’” Petrow said.

Bashford Now a Corporal; Kephart Ping-Pong Champ

(Corp. John Petrow of Company E, is The Daily-Freeman-Journal’s correspondent while the company is stationed at Camp Claiborne, La.)

Monday, Dec. 1—Back to the field again this morning. At 1 o’clock they called up all the non-commissioned officers who were on the last maneuver and were given a critique by an army colonel. He seemed pretty well satisfied as a whole. Had to attend a regimental newspaper meeting this afternoon. The regiment is going to put out a newspaper. I was picked to handle the theatrical part of it. It should be a pretty nice paper. After supper we played ping pong. It seems as if Pfc. Kephart is the unofficial champ. Pvt. Eugene Bashford was made a corporal today. That was a good move, he deserved it. Also Pvt. Harville Conkling was made a 4th class specialist in the kitchen.

Tuesday, Dec. 2—We had to go up to the infirmary this morning to get our third lockjaw shot. This one wasn’t so bad they told me after I came to. Some of the boys went up to see if they could transfer to foreign service, but nothing came of it. This afternoon we went to non-com school. We had an interesting talk on the 50 caliber machine gun. It’s quite a gun. Not much going on today. Company E had division guard tonight and 50 privates had to go, so it’s pretty quiet around here. It’s a beautiful night too. Man—that moon.

Wednesday, Dec. 3—More work on scouting and patrolling this morning. I guess they’re going to have another maneuver sometime this week, I’m afraid. This afternoon the 133rd regiment played the 135th infantry. What a game—Counting the referee the 135th had 12 men on the field, but we still beat them 14-0. Sergeant Greenly played a honey of a game. He’s the only E company man to see action. The 133rd has now played three games and is unbeaten, untied and unscored upon. Not bad. We play the 168th Saturday. That really should be a battle.

Thursday, Dec. 4—That day is here again—The eagle screams. He must have had a bad cold, cause I just barely heard him. They say money talks, but I can hardly speak above a whisper. When it comes pay day I guess I’m just the middle man.

This afternoon we went out on the field and had a lecture on the (?) mm anti-tank guns. Boy are they honeys. Had another lecture at 4 o’clock on the 30 caliber heavy machine guns. Went to a show at the recreation hall tonight. “Ice Follies,” synthetic ice and everything.

Friday, Dec. 5—Well it’s the day after payday. Some of the boys don’t feel so good either. I wonder why? They went to the field under protest. Kind of hot. A nice day to sleep. Our regimental newspaper came out today. It’s not bad either. Tonight we went over to the regimental drill field and watched the 1st battalion parade. They looked pretty good, too. Cleaned up our equipment for tomorrow’s inspection and hit the bunk.

Saturday, Dec. 6—Man are these mornings cold—Yike! Went to a non-com school this morning from 7:30 till 9:30. It was on scouting and patrolling. Very interesting. Inspection of ordnance and appearance at 9:30. Some of the boys had to go to choir practice. They were Sergeants Cornett and Waggoner, Corporal Meyer, and Pvts. Hughes and Lemke. Later on they’re going to form a quartet to sing with the regimental band. This afternoon we played the 168th. We beat them 14-6. A swell game. In fact it was the game of the year and we wanted to win bad. I guess the colonel was pretty happy about it. Sergeant Greenley played a swell game.

Sunday, Dec. 7—Went to church this morning and listened to “Donnie” Meyer give his all for good old 133rd. They really sounded swell though. The chapel is very nice, too. They have a swell chaplain. He’s a regular fellow. They also have a honey of an electric organ. All in all its one of the best I’ve seen. Oh, oh, caught guard for this afternoon. Went on at 5 o’clock. I got the second relief, 7 to 3, and 1 to 3, the death watch. Well I better get back to my post.

Corporal Petrow