Tiger Rag - July 14, 1945 - Bengal Air Depot - CBI Theater of World War II

Vol. II No. 31 BENGAL AIR DEPOT July 14, 1945

TWO COOKS SEEK AND FIND ADVENTURE

GI TATOOED FROM HEAD TO FOOT

Here are four Indian glimpses for your passing parade album. The one on the left demonstrates what huge weighty problems can be surmounted by using your head. Upper right is a feature act of a man making clay, not hay, while the sun shines. Lower center is a venerable happy citizen mentally singing in a bathtub which has no sides or elaborate enamel, but does boast air conditioning and space to squirm delightedly around in. And lower right is a diminutive little saleslady, slightly peeved at being a pin-up, who seems to be saying "Jao Joe! I don't like you, so there!

Bond Replaces Graf As Beehive Director

  The Beehive has lost its dynamic director, Mae Graf, who has been transferred to Calcutta to take up the duties of assistant regional supervisor of the American Red Cross, and Mrs. Barbara Bond has been appointed director in her place.
  Miss Graf has had a busy career in this theater and has turned down her opportunity to go home on rotation. Since arriving here in April, her efforts in behalf of the Beehive have resulted in an attractive club and many friends both for the club and herself. She will still be closely connected with the Beehive, for it falls in her area of supervision.
  "I hate to leave," Mae said. "I've enjoyed active club work and regret leaving the fine crowd of boys I've known at the Beehive. They certainly deserve a big hand for making their new club an immediate success. But I'll be back frequently, so I don't have to say goodbye."
  Mae left Tuesday for a short rest leave before tackling her new duties.
  Bobbie Bond has been in the theater nearly a year and a half as a staff assistant, program director and club director, serving at several clubs including the trainmobile in Assam. She has been at the Beehive two months.
  The new club director announces a full program for next week with at least three very special events.
  Herbert Martin, whose reputation as a versatile piano soloist is well known throughout the theater, will play at the Beehive Monday evening under the auspices of EPU. He will offer a varied program, including the swing of Fats Waller, the well known tunes of Gershwin, and the immortal music of de Falla and Bach.
  The club will present a magician on Tuesday evening and on Thursday a seven piece band will entertain on the Beehive's veranda. The club will also provide "added attractions" that evening.

TOLD INFAMOUS GANGSTERS
OFF WHEN HE TATOOED THEM

  Sgt. Thomas Stephen of a Depot repair unit is one GI who seems to be out of the pages of Ripley's "Believe It or Not."
  Tom is one of the few civilized persons in this world who is completely tatooed from head to foot, front and back.
  He probably is the only GI on the Depot who has already been to Japan. And he must be the only one who ordered the mighty gangsters John Dillinger and "Pretty Boy" Floyd about and lives to tell the tale. Then to top everything, Tom has led a varied and colorful life under the big top.

  Tom got himself completely tatooed about n ine years ago. His favorite is a monstrous eagle and snake in mortal combat which covers a large portion of his back. At the time, he was apprentice to Bert graham of St. Louis, whom Stephen calls the best tatooer in the business. With Graham, Tom made a tour of the Americas and the South Sea Islands to get new ideas on tatooing. Their quest led them to Yokohama, Japan. Tom has a good recollection of the place and hopes he'll be paying a return visit, preferably soon.
  It was while Tom was with Graham that at separate intervals both Dillinger and Floyd came to have tatooing. They wanted things their own way but they were quickly put in their places and were meek enough in complying with instructions. Floyed had a Red Cross nurse tatooed on, similar to the one Tom has on his left arm. When Floyed was sent up for a stretch, two of the prison guards, who admired the impression, came to have the same picture put on them.
  Dillinger had "Good Luck and Best Wishes" inscribed but that did not save him from a gory death sometime later.
  Tom has been in circus and carnival business most of his life, getting the taste from his folks who were old circus people. Notwithstanding his uniqueness, Tom refuses to make a spectacle of himself but prefers "barking" or the advertising end. "Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus has my job waiting for me when I get back."

DROPPED AERIAL
SUPPLIES TO ARMIES
AT MANDALAY

  Making their own breaks to see action in the Burma theater, two cooks of a Depot signal outfit, Cpl. Warren G. Yerkes and T/5 James P. Lucas, stepped out of their Army assigned roles to adventurous days of flying supplies to the British Army which recaptured Mandalay and Rangoon.
  They had been originally sent on DS to an advance Indian base in April 1945 as mess personnel. On arrival, they found the jobs filled, looked around for openings and successfully talked themselves into flying with a combat cargo group. Then thrilling and dangerous times followed as, protected by fighter planes, they helped supply a British Army intent on wiping out a disastrous defeat suffered nearly three years previously.
  Cpl. Yerkes explained. "Luke and I were lucky enough to be assigned to planes which brought supplies to the different bases in Burma. We helped load and unload the planes. Where we couldn't land, we would drop para-packs. Many times we could see troops below but we were too high up to make them out. We sure had wonderful pilots. They always brought us through without a scratch. Eventually we got to stop at Mandalay and Toungoo but never did land at Rangoon.

MANDALAY DAMAGE
  "We saw plenty of evidence of the bang-up job our bombers were doing. mandalay was practically wiped out and we could see from the air plenty of damage at Rangoon."
  After rangoon was taken, Yerkes and Lucas moved on with the combat cargo group to a forward base in Burma, from which supplies and Chinese troops were flown across the hump. "Here we were ground, continued Yerkes, "because they needed all the cooks they could lay their hands on. The camp was plenty big. But what a place. You could almost lean against the rain, so solid did it come down. And hot. The Depot is a resort compared to it. Last but not least, the mud - the sticky, gooey mud. Everywhere."
  Lucas now took up the conversation: "It was here that we were notified we had been awarded Bronze Stars on our theater ribbon for the battle of supply in Central Burma. That was the only bright spot for some time to come. There were few comforts, although Special Service did everything they could. They had two shows with different pictures each night. The more popular was eight miles. Food was good, a lot better than here. Roasts and steaks were the usual fare. The officers ate the same food and in the same mess hall with the men

SORRY TO LEAVE
  "Everyone treated us swell. When our job was done, the brass said: 'Thanks for a fine job. So long and the best of luck.' By then, we were sorry to have to leave. If we had our way, we'd be back there right now."
  The men returned to the Depot just in time for the playoffs of the Signal softball championship last week. Yerkes proved a potent factor in the close, bitterly contested series which was finally won by the Intercoms on which Yerkes played left field.

Three Win Leave, Band Plays At Drawing

  With monsoon weather driving the entire program indoors, the Depot War Bond Drawing went off on schedule last Monday night at Rajah's Rest and the Officers Club. Pfc. Edward J. Littrell and Pfc. Ernest M. Tveten, both of supply outfits, were the enlisted winners and 1st Lt. Ralsten C. Lewis, Medical Administrator, was the lucky officer. These three bond purchasers of the 7th War Loan Drive will be awarded a seven day vacation exclusive of travel time at the famous resort of Bangalore.
  Both Lt. Lewis and Pfc. Tveten were elated at their good fortune, not having been on furlough of rest leave for over a year but Pfc. Littrell doesn't know about it yet... he is on rest leave!
  A small crowd was present at the EM drawing which was held in conjunction with a band concert by an AAF band under the direction of W/O Emil Greenwald. A repetoire consisting of "Donkey Serenade," "Nigh and Day," "Tea for Two" and some Russian and Chinese melodies was very pleasing to the GI audience.

TDY 'Key Personnel' Has Broad Meaning

  If you are "key personnel," have two years overseas and can convince your CO you need a rest, you can see Shangri-La via TDY, according to a circular recently issued by Headquarters of IBT.
  The missive states that key personnel greatly in need of rest may be selected for return to the U.S. under the provisions of Section 3, Circular 8, War Department, dated 6 June 1945. Key personnel may be interpreted to be any officer or enlisted man who has completed 24 months continuous overseas service; whose absence will not adversely effect the mission of the responsible commander; who is in need of a rest; and whose return to this theater is considered by the commander concerned to be necessary to the efficient accomplishment of his mission.
  The joker was pointed out by Lt. Archie McGhee, Asst. Depot Stat Officer. "The circular greatly broadens the definition of what key personnel is. Apparently the only ones who do not measure to key personnel standards are duty soldiers (590) or basic soldiers (521)."

Time Saving Device At Mail Call

  1st Sgt. Paul B. Prevour of the ordnance supply outfit is mighty proud of the system which saves his men a lot of waiting time and disappointments on their mail. For which he gives all credit to T/Sgt. George C. Aaron.
  The time saving device is a three foot square plywood board on which each man of the outfit has his name lettered. A peg has been hammered underneath. A tag is hooked on whenever the EM has mail. Thus the GI has but to look at the board to see if anything has come in for him.
  Should no mail for the outfit arrive that day, an oilcloth covers the board. On it in bold letters is the simple statement: "She didn't write today."

General Hanley Inspects EM Area

An inspection of enlisted men's barracks, messhalls, the guardhouse and chapel was made by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Hanley, Jr., CG ASC IBT, Tuesday. Accompanying the Air Service Command's theater burra sahib were Brig. Gen. Frank D. hackett, CG BAD, Col. Tracy E. Dave, Chief Pers and Tng Div. ASC, and Lt. Col. Stuart R. Petersen, Exec. Off., BAD.
Gen. Hanley pronounced the inspected areas "satisfactory."

Friendly's Talk Well Received

A returned GI reporting to his IBT constituents on the last days of the war in Europe, M/Sgt. Fred Friendly gave a performance at the Depot last Thursday that held the men spellbound as he dashed from one experience to another to enliven a fine Information and Education presentation.
The bedraggled Friendly, who is now touring this theater, picturesquely portrayed his first-hand encounters that

COSMETIC SALE
CAUSES STAMPEDE
A minor sensation developed in the PX last week when women's cosmetics were put on sale. Within twenty minutes after the opening sale of a tube of Pond's cleansing cream and a bottle of nail polish to a 6 foot first sergeant, the cosmetic counter was swamped with feverish GIs and officers and a few Red Cross girls.

brought into sharp focus the nazi concentration camps, Herman Goering being grilled by war correspondents, the last days of the war, the ruins of Munich, and his two meetings with General "Blood and Guts" Patton.
  Friendly was unimpressed with Goering whom he considered short and pudgy and looked like a Yorkville (German section in NYC) delicatessen keeper.
  But Fred was all out for ol Blood and Guts who, "notwithstanding the fact that he was stern and tough, could have been your father, my father home from a tough day at the office. It was then that I realized why the Third Army cuss Patton out among themselves but beat the hell out of any other GI who says anything against him."
  The height of the evening came as Friendly boisterously described how the waters of the Rhine rose a fraction of an inch due to the influence of Patton and also the reception of the American and Russian staffs to celebrate the two armies link-up which Fred and a T/5 at their grimiest crashed to interview Gen. Patton.
  It was, however, a somewhat serious Friendly who concluded his striking recital with a reminder to the folks at home that the men who are winning this war expect our leaders to give us a perpetual peace.

Shelters Used to Repair Roads

  Bumps and holes must go, is the order of the day issued by Depot Utilities.
  As a result Utilities personnel have been busily leveling off bumpy portions of the paved roads and filling in the cavities encountered alongside the roads of the Depot.
  As filler-ins, crushed red brick and cement is used. The material originated in the bomb shelters recently torn down. According to M/Sgt. Robert Goodwin, this was a tough job in itself as the shelters were built to withstand terrific shock. Air hammers did the preparatory work, after which the shelters had to be torn apart by powerful cranes.
  Cpl. Edward Quinn transports the brick and cement to the crushing machine and once the crushed mixture is suitable, supervises the laying of the stubble.
  The brick is perfect for its purpose as it will not change to mud and quagmire which cinders tend to do.

THEY DID IT
  The men that knew said that it would be a "war of production." And America rolled up its sleeves. The men who knew said that America had to be the "Arsenal of Democracy." A lot more was said. Who's having the last say?
  Allied armies have roared on with increasing strength, our air armada have grown to amazing proportions and the merchant and combat naval fleets have become the most devastating marine powers ever know. Rather than sacrifice men the supreme commanders decided to smash the enemy with the weight of every weapon deemed necessary. Rather than fight a cautious, feinting war we have smashed, battered and overpowered by sheer numbers the Nazi armies that opposed France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg... and Germany. We won the war in the west as cheaply as we could. In monetary expenditures it was not a cheap war but it was cheap in that even optimistic commanders never believed that our casualties would be as light as they were for the grueling struggle that was fought.
  Allied strategy was based on that premise; that the slow build-up of strength to a degree that was more than necessary for the job... and then the brutal smah - would cost in materiel but wuld save lives and quicken the end of the war. Our commanders were not lacking in tactical "know-how" - they proved that they could feint and dodge and lure with the best - they outsmarted the most legendary of the Nazi leaders time and again. They beat the Wehrmacht at its own game - mechanized warfare. When the Germans attempted their tried and hitherto successful plan of encirclement - we broke their lines and encircled them . When they tried to outflank and squeeze - we dashed through openings and outflanked them. And the Allied soldiers proved themselves superior to the vaunted fighting men of the German armies by stopping those last violent counter-attacks when they were short on equipment and food. Individual Allied soldiers fought off enemy units superior in size and equipment. Gen. Eisenhower said that because of the bravery and efficiency of these small Allied groups that refused to be daunted, the German break-throughs became traps and eventually proved much too costly to the dwindling reserve of the German High Command.
  So we beat them down with more metal than they'd ever seen before in the air and on the ground; and we beat them with better soldiers.
  An intimation of how that was accomplished was furnished in a report by the chairman of the WPB in a report on U.S. production in 1944. Approximately 199,000 million dollars in goods and services were produced last year - in spite of manpower shortages, material pinches and other difficulties. That's how we beat the Germans and how we'll beat the Japs.
  The American people produced 61,130 million dollars worth of munitions, two-thirds of which were actual combat munitions. That is more than one and one-half times what the Axis was able to produce during the same period.
  Remember when the late President Roosevelt asked for 50,000 airplanes in 1940? A lot of people said it was a ridiculous request. That same number of planes was little more than half of the 1944 production.
  Despite changes in design and production problems more than twelve times as many Superfortresses were produced last year than in 1943. The production of Liberators, Mustangs, Corsairs and other fighter and transport types more than doubled and even tripled the 1943 record. What excuse is prime minister Suzuki going to give the Emperor next time the japanese look up into a sky raining death from bomb-laden planes?
  The Nazis, those of them still alive, know why they were beaten. It took the tired but onward plodding infantrymen, the supply echelons, the navy and the air force. But they were backed by an even more unbeatable combination - a combination that produced these awe-inspiring totals: over 96,000 planes, almost 31,000 ships, over 17,000 tanks, 595,000 army trucks, 3,200 heavy field guns and howitzers, 7,400 light field guns and howitzers, 152,000 rocket launchers, 215,000 bazookas and 1,416,000 tons of ground artillery ammunition.
  Who did it? The American people.

ENTER PHOTO
CONTEST NOW
  The Special Service Office urges all photo-enthusiasts to enter the Photography Contest now being held. Photos may be in three classes: Army activities, scenic shots and portraits.
  All photos should be submitted to the SSO no later than August 15th. They should be accompanied by pertinent information about the entrant, such as name, rank, ASN, unit and APO and technical info such as type of camera, size, exposure, etc.
  Photos must be no smaller than 5 x 7 inches. Winning pictures will be means of the entrant winning a prize and will be sent to Hq ASC for judging in the theater-wide contest. The best three in each division will be prize winners on the Depot; all others will be returned.

On The Avoidance of Wearing A Barrel For A Suit

TIGER RAG STAFF ARTICLE

It floats thru the air with the greatest of ease,
It chews up your drawers, those strips on your sleeves,
It's a chow-hound on cans and the beer in 'em too,
This introduces mildew, which is strictly snafu.

  All of which warns you that this is a wee dissertation on fungus or mildew, and unless you'd rather stumble around the Depot resembling Tarzan, sans even his loin-cloth, this just might prove educational. The word was might, for if you're a graybeard around this swamp you've probably invented a few iotas of your own on this subject.
  Anyway, mildew is a low down form of plant life that floats around in water or air waiting for a place to land. And it will land anywhere, at any time, without invitation or an airstrip to skid down on.
  Give it a spot that's moist and warm and dark, and buddy you've got company. On your clothing, your equipment, and even inside envelopes reading your mail and censoring it highly by leaving smudges or discoloring patches. This smudge spreads like ink on a blooter and is a signal that the microscopic parasites are adding to their waistline at your expense. Later, these smudges become denser, fuzzier and more in need of a barbaer, and covered with powder. The powder grains are millions of seeds who haven't heard of a worker's union but spread more mildew around the clock and long past Christmas.
  That good old sunburn material, sunlight, is your greatest ally in keeping equipment dry. However, this doesn't mean that your are to chop a hole in the roof to let the beams angle in. Just air your clothes and et cetera frequently, squander several ounces of elbow grease in brushing, and try to keep them dry and away from darkness. The idea being to let in warm, dry air which will circulate around and through the articles.
  Dubbin on your shoes is a definite "Sunday-punch" against fungus. Perhaps your feet will sweat more, but what of it? After all the rest of your torso is undoubtedly dripping so why be unfair and exclude your feet? For shame, for shame!
  So there it is. If you go to put on your socks some morning and wind up wearing a pair of khaki spats that barely covers the hair on your shin bone... well, the blame can't be placed on the Chaplain. No siree, for fair warning has been made and the die is cast: "mobilize for mildew or mildew will immobilize you."

The Bengal Air Depot - A Year Ago

  A Tiger Rag streamer announced the contest to select the Sweetheart of APO 492 from among the Stateside sweethearts, girlfriends and wives of Depot personnel. The new type (good for six months throughout the theater) PX ration cards were explained and VI Russell left the ARC staff at Rajah's Rest after a short tour of duty there.
  The Fourth of July celebration, held at Argapara, was heralded as a magnificient success... parties responsible were the Bengal Tigers band, the ARC girls who acted as hostesses, the buffet supper and light drinks, Calcutta girls who work on the Depot, and the enthusiasm of the dancing and singing GIs themselves (not neccessarily in that order).
  Sporting activities were practically non-existent due to the ever-present rains, which even threatened to kick the feet from under the ARC's July 4th Celebration plans.
  And the popular songs of the day, according to a listing in the Bright Lights column, were in this order, "I'll Be Seeing You," "Long Ago, Far Away," "I'll Get By," "San Fernando Valley" and "Don't Sweetheart Me."

Passive Air Defense Relaxed

The AAF has the Jap air fleets so well throttled that the blackout has been definitely done away with throughout the provinces of Bengal nd Assam, once India's first line of defense.
According to a Headquarters release this week, all passive air defense is ended.

Vehicle and lighting restrictions have been lifted. Baffle walls and static water supplies can be disposed of. Arrangements for the sounding of the air raid warning sirens will be relaxed. And priority of work is being given to fill in slit trenches so as to complete the work before the height of the monsoon season.
The families of GIs stationed in this area can now assume that their men are in no greater danger from any enemy action than if stationed in the continental limits of the U.S.

Boyhood Chums Reunited Here

  Two old friends met on the Depot this week after a separation of eleven years. They were Sgt. Steve Koppy and Cpl. George Weinhandl who last saw each other in North Dakota in 1934.
  At the time the families of both fellows were living in Dakota as next door neighbors and Steve and George climbed trees and made eyes at the girls together. The Koppy's though, moved to Indiana and Steve and George heard of each other only in the correspondence maintained by their families.
  About six months ago the Koppys returned to North Dakota on a visit to the Weinhandls and in the course of conversation it was discovered that both of the boys were in India at APO 492. Letters of course were immediately dispatched to Steve and George who had a happy reunion here on the Depot.

USAFI Open For Officers

  Announcement was made that effective July 6th, army officers were eligible for the full benefits of the USAFI program. Enrollment instructions and other procedures presently in effect for enlisted personnel of the army are now also applicable to commissioned personnel.
  Thus, upon payment of the two dollar enrollment fee, an officer is permitted to take any correspondence or self-teaching course that USAFI offers.
  Army officers enrolled on the fee basis in effect prior to July 6, 1945 for USAFI or University Extension courses will be considered to have paid the initial enrollment fee for continued USAFI services. No refund of officer enrollment fees accepted by USAFI prior to the July 6th date will be made.

Upper picture: Pvt. Philip D. Adair (left) and Cpl. Willis S. Wagner (right) taking a moment's break to have their photo snapped in the finishing department where the Indians are sanding desks and stools.
Lower picture: Some of the Indian carpenters building boxes. Note the broad grins coming out at having their picture taken. The noise here shakes dandruff from your hair.

SUPPLY CARPENTER SHOP NOISY
BUT MAKES BOXES FOR SHIPPING

  You step through one of the several entrances leading into the Depot Supply Carpenter Shop and hesitate. In self-defense you almost have to. For even before your shoes contemplate invading the inside your ears are curled, bristling in rebellion against the crescendo of noises tearing around outside with almost a physical force. Inside, it is a physical force with the 'almost' completely dropped down a crack.
  Hundreds of hammers are pounding, clacking, and making singing nails bite deep, building things from lumber; anything and everything. Saws scream and wail sobbingly like banshees. Workers yell to each other trying to weave verbal understanding against the din. Lumber being dropped rawly awaiting construction and finished items being loaded, all contribute to the bustling clamor.
  This is the Depot Supply Carpenter and Cabinet Shop at work with one officer and four enlisted men guiding the carpentry labor of over 1,000 civilian Indian workers.
  Capt. Gammon M. Friend of Greensboro, N.C., is the officer in charge of this busy organization with Sgt. Clarence R. Bradway of Oklahoma City, the NCO kingpin. Capt. Friend, due to a myriad of additional duties, divides his time between the Carpenter Shop and elsewhere, but Sgt. Bradway who figuratively grew up teething on timber roots controls all problems that arise when Capt. Friend is tied up with another knot somewhere.
  At present, Capt. Friend is taking a rest at Darjeeling and reminiscing no doubt, of those more pleasant days Stateside when he was Sales Manager for the Fuller Brush Company and could enjoy the company of his wife, Mary, and their small daughter.
  Sgt. Bradway began his experiences in the timber woods of Michigan and swung down through the logging camps to stop in Oklahoma. Here, he worked for a times as a construction superintendent, built houses and owned his own cabinet shop for five years where he specialized in rebuilding antiques as well as modern furnishings.
  The normal capacities of the Supply Carpenter Shop on all pieces of work like stools, office desks, cabinets, all size boxes consumes around 35,000 square feet of lumber daily. That, speaking woodenly, is quite a few toothpicks. And speaking economically, the beauty of this consumption is that much of the wood for these numerous articles comes from incoming packing boxes which are torn down or from salvage, and are then rebuilt into whatever article is demanded from some section of the Depot.
  Nine saws, operated mainly by trained Indians, hew all the lumber to the required dimensions. One of the saws in use is a captured Italian machine. In addition there are four cutoff saws, two ripsaws, and one large and one small bandsaw. These, to coin a noisy phrase, make the "sawdust flow like wine" with the said sawdust being utilized in the paint and dope department for packing and crating.
  All intricate woodworking such as decoratively designed table legs, desks, handles, and other furniture accessories needed for Depot Supply is supervised by Cpl. Willis S. Wagner of Boonville, Arkansas, who is the shop foreman and a savant in rolling out artistic creations on the lathe. Wagner like Bradway, also had his own cabinet shop in civilian life and reproduced antique furniture.
  There are two reasons why to him Boonville is the "best doggoned town ever nailed together!" Wagner's wife, Naomi, was raised there and that's where his nine year old son Jerry, whom Wagner "wouldn't take anything for" is growing up. Many of the Indians employed in the carpenter shop have learned a higher degree of lathe turning under Cpl. Wagner's guidance.
  A rush order which the shop was just finishing was a request for 1,000 sturdy box pallets. These are platforms on which crated merchandise is stored and may be speedily transported elsewhere or loaded compactly into trucks by finger lifts.
  All types of sign work in addition to painting and protecting finished raw articles is controlled by Pvt. Philip D. Adair of Punta Gorda, Fla., who is the paint and dope wallah. Adair stated that as long as he had been with his department a contunual deluge of sign requests prohibited the crew and himself from ever catching up. One look at the signs scattered around, and those in the phase of completion, is ample proof of his veracity.
  On your first impression a note of lush aristocratic grandeur lingers in the paint room. For you notice a coolie sleepily pulling a rope which gently activates a broad fan whispering and swinging overhead. Pvt. Adair squelched the personal thoughtful angle however by explaining that the fan was primarliy installed to keep the paints cool. Adair, when the "shootin's over" intends to establish his own paint emporium and settle down with his wife, Louise, to a "colorful" future.
  The Shop, besides the 500 odd carpenters employed directly inside the building, have another 500 workers who help both inside and out with loading finished products, carrying lumber, pulling nails from scrap, and doing miscellaneous chores. Indian carpenters hired are usually required to furnish their own tools, but since these consist mainly of a hammer, chisel, and saw, this is a minor problem for prospective employees.
  Each Indian if they are working on box assembly,

The Wolf by Sansone

makes a single part and the procedure used is something like an automobile assembly line. One thing they do, and very fluently, is wield a hammer; with gusto, with delight, and with much zealous savagery that you think the heavens are falling.
  Sgt. Clyde R. McConnell of New Wilmington, Pa., operates the Mill for the shop. It is located over by the stacked wooden acres of the lumber yard. In civilian life he operated a blower machine which insulated homes with rock wool. Like his enlisted coadjutant he has taught some of his Indian helpers the tricky manipulations of a ripsaw.
  Accidents, considering the perils involved in this type of work, are noticeably small. Occasionally one of the Indian workers inadvertently steps on a nail or bruises a finger. They receive prompt attention. But ever since the saws have been whining no one has lost a finger or met with a serious accident.
  Despite the intense noise that daily erupts from the Supply Carpenter Shop, a rancousness that pratically pits the walls, the men working there are doing their part to secure, although it sounds incongruous, peace! Shipping equipment, supplies, and parts, requires strong containers so that merchandise going to the front will srrive there intact. This means boxes, thousands of them of all shapes and sizes, which is one of this department's functions.
  Should the War Department want sacks say, to ship out a gross of petunia bulbs or explosive bullets, the Supply Carpenter Shop would make them... but out of lumber! For that's their job come racket, uproar and headaches, and with hammers, saws, chisels, and lathes they're doing a loud job perfectly quietly without gaudy heroics and flag waving.

Stateside Shoes Available Through PX

  GIs will be able to obtain the best Stateside shoes through the PX if they keep their eyes open for the posted periodical announcements which will notify them when they can make the purchases.
  According to S/Sgt. John Lengefeld, the PX is informed by the Calcutta exchange when Shangri-La shoes are available. These usually will be the best known American brands. The PX will then post a sign. Orders with the cash paid then and there will be taken at the curio counter.
  A consolidated requisition is then sent to Calcutta. As soon as the merchandise arrives a notice is posted so that the men can claim their shoes.
  This past week, smiling GIs throughout the Depot were showing off to their envious buddies the Florsheim oxfords which their alertness had gained.

Job Rights of Veterans

  New demands for the clarification of job rights of veterans were voiced recently by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in an effort to expedite the placement of an estimated 600,000 discharged soldiers in the next 12 months.
  "It is high time that official notice be taken of the confusion that is occurring as the result of the diverse and contradictory interpretation of the Selective Service Act relating to the reinstatement of veterans to employment," the Chamber said.
  "As the situation now stands, we are off to a bad start to smooth the path of the servicemen from war to peace. Are they going to get back their jobs or are they not? The soldiers want to know and the exployers insist that their responsibilities must be clarified."

ENLARGE IMAGE

ROVING REPORTER

We have heard many GIs tell of their experiences and the things they have seen. The Inquiring Reporter thought you might be interested so he asked the fellows, "What particular sight and/or incident has impressed you most since leaving the states?"

BARR

CPL. JAMES BARR, STOCK CONTROL - I don't know whether one would call it interesting or shocking but I shall never forget Bizerte. Our ship stopped there on the way to North Africa; this was shortly after the Allies ran Rommel out. I doubt if ever again I will see such total destruction. Everything was destroyed, buildinggs, streets and docks and not a civilian was to be seen. It was really the first time I realized the havoc war brings.

BARBEE

PFC. THOMAS BARBEE, STOCK RECORDS - When I first arrived here I had the opportunity of seeing the Taj Mahal. It is truly a wondrous sight, particularly on a bright moonlight night. I will never forget it. The most impressive incident that has occurred to me though, I know I will forget. It was that donation Congress gave me a couple of months back... a Pfc. stripe.

McKINLEY

SGT. JOE McKINLEY, STOCK RECORDS - I had the opportunity of flying here from the states. We stopped at many intersting places including South America, African Gold Coast and Ascension Island. I mention the latter because it was one of the thrills of my life to land on that little pinpoint in the ocean. After arriving in India the most interesting spectacle I have seen is the famous Taj Mahal. Any soldier that hasn't seen this masterpiece has missed a lot.

CHARLES

SGT. RICHARD CHARLES, STOCK RECORDS - I haven't been in India a great length of time and expect to get around a little more in the future. The most impressive sight I have seen occured on the trip across the Pacific when after many days at sea we entered the picturesque harbor of Hobart, Tasmania. Those who have seen this place will agree that it rivals any harbor in the world for beauty. We were allowed of the ship at this spot and the people turned the town over to the GIs for an entire day and night. They closed the town restaurants and bars to themselves and let the GIs go.

CONKLIN

CPL. ROBERT CONKLIN, STOCK RECORDS - The entering of the harbor of Calcutta after 38 days was quite an incident. There is something about the East that seems to crawl into you after a few hours of witnessing it even from a boat deck. It was at this vantage point that I received the shock of my life; the unforeseen spectacle of thousands of people milling about the docks and boats performing tasks. It was like seeing ants at work. Also I will remember that first inhale I took in the harbor... Wow... and it wasn't Shalimar either.

GROSS

CPL. BERNARD GROSS, STOCK RECORDS - I was born and raised in Czechoslovakia and had the opportunity of traveling throughout Europe where I saw many interesting things. I was attending the University of Prague when Hitler started rampaging across the continent. It was then that I left for the United States where I became an American citizen. When America entered the war I joined the Army and this led to the most impressive incident of my life, the opportunity to go overseas as an American soldier.

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE

"Save her, save her," shrieked the Indian in broken English. M/Sgt. Howard T. Hardie and T/Sgt. Edward H. gessner spun around to face the deliverer of this urgent plea as he hurried toward them. He was a brown, sinewy little Indian whose bulging eyes sparkled desperately in the moonlight.
"What's wrong?" inquired Hardie as the man clutched at his pant leg.

  "Sahibs, sahibs," he cried, gesticulating toward the river, "guy fall in panee, butcha too."
  "Quick Tom," said Gessner comprehending "a guy and a baby have fallen into the river!"
  Sgt. Gessner hung on the piling above the river. Half his body was immersed in the water and with his legs wrapped around the post he was holding the struggling head above the water. "She's too heavy and the current is too strong," he gasped, "run for a rope."
  hardie dashed for the nearby jute mill, Gessner, straining every muscle, was weakening rapidly. Alternately, the little Indian prayed sanctimoniously in a quiet wail and then in frenzied Hindustani intermingled with English, implored the puffing Gessner to hold on...
  "Alright, Ed, you can relax now, I've got the rope around her," said Hardie, who with the help of a Scotch jute walla, was hauling the half-drowned carcass from the river.
  "We didn't mind effecting the rescue, but why did he lie to us in the beginning?" Hardie asked of the Scotchman, pointing a menacing fist at the little brown man.
  "Yeh," shouted Gessner between breaths, "what's the idea of him dashing up to us on the road and telling us a guy and a baby were drowning? That's what he said, a guy and a butcha and I know 'butcha' means baby."
  The Scotchman's eyes twinkled and glancing toward the rescued beast replied, "Aye, that's true enough boys, but there is one Indian word you overlooked, 'guy' means cow in Hindi."
  "What about the baby?" countered both GIs together.
  "That's just what you rescued, a pregnant cow!"
  The soldiers looked quickly to the little Indian's innocent face. American style, he winked...

PX HAS ABOUT EVERYTHING NOW

  Even PX personnel express wonder at the many new items to be found on the PX shelves these days.
  "We've got pretty near everything we ever had in the State's," was the awed comment of Cpl. "Frenchie" Talbot at the curio counter, now one of the busiest there. "Look at these lipsticks (honey, military red and blackberry), the rouge, powder, cold and vanishing cream, nail polish, shampoo, cotton pads and what not. The fellows are going to be awfully popular from now on."
  "Yes," chimed in Cpl. Al Alun, usually to be found at the candy section. "you ought to have seen the crowd waiting for the doors to open Sunday morning when we put on sale our shave lotions, hair tonics, blades, razors and shampoos. Houdinin himself couldn't have made things disappear faster once the men got in."
  "That was nothing to the jam here Tuesday," Talbot continued, "when our film went on sale. There was sufficient for one to every GI. We plan to have more of these depending on what can be arranged."
  "And we heard," Talbot concluded, "that over 400 of the embroidered evening bags, selling so cheap now, made their way Stateside this past week. We still have a goodly amount on hand but they won't last long at the rate they are going."

THE WORM IS TURNING

  This article is fraught with interest. The fraught is this case pertaining to all wolves, future husbands and gentlemen even Junior Grade.
  The Census Bureau has just uncorked a soul-shaking and delightfully staggering announcement. The announcement, and don't let this unravel the clocks in your socks, is that the postwar population in Uncle Sugar land will be increasingly more female than male.
  Yippee... oh boy... hot ziggety... and wham bang!

Speaking mildly amid silent drools.
  Reasons quoted for this predominance of pulchritude are higher peacetime death rates among males of all ages, as well as this war's toll of manhood. Until last year, although it doesn't seem possible, males always outnumbered the lovely lassies. But now statistics reveal the girls are in the lead.
  Hurray. That's all, brother, just hurray.
  The growing deficit of men indicates a larger proportion of spinsters in the future. Now this is sad; but bring on the future! For confidentially, an over distribution of women is undoubtedly the best happening since the bustle departed and the arrival of a good five cent cigar.
  However, there need be no alarming goosebumps among would-be brides of the next few decades. After all, why should there be? Any girl who can pull a plow and support hubby beyond the means he's accustomed to is entirely eligible, and some man will probably condescend to haul her in.
  One important thing overseas GIs have learned is that beauty is truly only skin deep. And half the time they grandly overlook even the skin, and seriously contemplate anything that moves under its own power.
  Yes sir, the population is changing and, it's about time. Informed circles who have studied the matter feel that the reason males have a higher death rate is because they're completely weakened by doing all the wooing and chasing.
  Let us now in unison kink the prayer-bones and give praise, and more, await the revolution of the chase. The majority of the males will probably be breathlessly hiding... out on the front porch step illuminated with neon. Afraid? Are you kidding?

Cases of Cola For GI Parties

  Coca-Cola is now available by the case for legitimate unit parties and dayroom affairs due to a feat of legerdemain of the new PX officer who has been able to increase the Depot's quota to 300 cases per day.
  The committee head or appointees can see either Capt. Charles Hemenway or M/Sgt. Dale L. Willis, exchange manager, to obtain the cases. The cases and empty bottles must be returned within 124 hours. if not, the outfit responsible will be placed on the PX blacklist and will not be able to take advantage of this or other deals contemplated by the PX.
  Such stringent measures are necessary, according to Sgt. Willis, because the PX's further quota is based on the bottles they return. "We can only get refills for whatever we turn in. Last time we had an original stock of 250 cases alloted to us. In no time we were only drawing 170 cases because so many bottles had disappeared. If the fellows want Coca-Cola, they've got to be sure to return the bottles to us.
  "If the deal works out properly and the men cooperate, there is no reason why we cannot start selling the barracks cases at a time."

THE TIGER RAG is a weekly publication edited and written by and for the Enlisted Personnel and Officers of APO 492, and is under the direction of the Commanding Officer, COLONEL FRANK D. HACKETT and Public Relations Officer, MAJOR STUART R. PETERSEN. STAFF: EDITOR... Pfc. Hollis H. Estill; ASSISTANT EDITOR... Pfc. Art Goldberg; ART... T/5 Layton H. Wicksten; PHOTOGRAPHY... Sgt. Les Gurwitz. Statements or policies reflected through the columns of this publication under no circumstances are to be considered those of the United States Army. Articles submitted by Officers and Enlisted Men represent personal opinions only. Internet adaptation by Carl W. Weidenburner.