Question 53A: Free Response

Training - Complete Physical Checkup. (I don't mean just a Short Arm) Keep the old men home. The young guy thinks they are scraping the bottom of the barrel at home. Keep the men in their same field if the want it. I like the Army in many ways Of course I have my own beefs to make

S132A.Q53B.C: But after that deal mentioned in Q-#52 the army is making a mistake. What is my new CO going to think of a man coming into his outfit undergoing punishment? A goof! I have a 135 IQ also hold a commendation from a Colonel. If they treat me as a basic I'll stay one. S132A.Q53C.C: Swell. Did you ever stop to think that the lady in N.Y. harbor is a 300% morale builder? It is.

[cirle]1 Keep them in the states

[cirle]2 Give at least 50% of the men the branch of services they always wanted, not what they were given. That would help the morale of the boy overseas who will come back some time S132A.Q53C.C: I'm so happy that words can't express my feelings. The big shots overseas try to discourage rotation as much as possible which tends to make the morale there very low. I for example was told 6 months before they actually sent me which I believe was due to pressure somewhere.

To teach the men who hav'nt been over seas some of the jungle warfare and tactics that we seen in the New Guinea campains

S132A.Q53B.C: A lot of the men returning will want to be welcomed as he left the States. And they don't want to be treated as if they are strangers or so. S132A.Q53C.C: I think it the greatest day any man can ever have to see the Golden Gate again and I for one and the rest are very happy to be back to see some civilization after being in the jungles 2 1/2 years.

As specialist, camp compliment as some would be useful in war work

S132A.Q53C.C: It is not quite fair to say real good - But God has been our side and the Heroes never come back. Pals who remain molding in jungle or desert dust are the Heroes - We have just begun to fight -

It is all according to their physical condition. I have seen too many men returning from the hospital and being sent into combat again when their health did not permit this. Some army medics are dogs. Butchers can do a better job. Men returning from overseas (and in fairly good health) should be put on an assignment (permanently) here in the US. A soldier once having tasted combat (experienced infantry) should not be sent up on the line again from the States!!

S132A.Q53B.C: Can't comment. Have just returned from overseas myself. S132A.Q53C.C: It's the most wonderful feeling a person can ever have. You can never realize what a wonderful country this really is until you see other parts of this world. For my part. the hell with all those countries over there. They are not worth one american life. Europe will always have its war. I have also learned not to trust any one of them, not even our allies. They envy us. They'd soon cut your life away for our wealth.

Well what I think they should have it a little easier for they have gone through a lots of hardships.

S132A.Q53B.C: Well I think they should be handled like men should be for they have done a great part in this war S132A.Q53C.C: Well it feels like this is the best place in the world for when you go Overseas there isnt any thing to look forward to, not enouth [enough] to eat and it is bad on your health in the jungles all kinds of disease

is to put men who have proven themselves good leaders in combat in charge of recruiting. I mean full charge, not under some officer who is fresh from OCS Discharge men who have suffered from combat.

S132A.Q53B.C: If this means putting then on the list to come home I suggest and I mean it very much. Send men home according to time no other reason and I assure you the War Dept troubles will be half if not more than solved S132A.Q53C.C: After more than 4 1/2 yrs overseas. I can honestly say I was very happy when I reach the States. It make you want to just scream with joy, because then you know the country still think about you or they wouldn't let you come back. yes thank God I am very very happy indeed.

Replace trained men over here and let them leave home a while

S132A.Q53B.C: try to make life more pleasant instead of making it seem like a dogs life. S132A.Q53C.C: like you think you are going to die and find out you are going to live or somebody has just passed you a hot rumor that cant come true but did

I believe that a (L.A.) man returning to the states could do more as a civilian because he knows what this war is - He's seen it & felt it. By discharging such a man so that he could take up civil dutys I believe that the examble he would set in morale, work, (etc) would more than repay the govt. in every respects. Ask any combat man what he thinks of labor strikes - justified or not - it makes him hate the principals for which he fights.

S132A.Q53B.C: Give them the best of food and shelter - Let his dream become a reality. I don't mean to lax disipline but be down to earth & let him know that our people appreciate what he has been doing over there S132A.Q53C.C: It's a dream come true. A man can look around him and see the richness of this great country. - She's worth fighting for but I didn't realize it untill I saw places like Africa, Sicily, Italy. They don't live, they only excist.

Stay back in the U.S. until the duration.

S132A.Q53B.C: By speeding up, instead of laying around waiting to long. S132A.Q53C.C: It feels to good to be true, but my morale is low when I think of where I am going after my furlough. I know it will be overseas again and I don't like it. the last trip overseas has revived me, I can't think straight anymore.

Make cadre out of most of the men. Others to be put into jobs where they are best suited and the most benefit to the U.S. Army.

S132A.Q53B.C: Give them more information concerning the Rotation Policy. Much faster job should be made for the men leaving their overseas post after the quota has been abated. S132A.Q53C.C: There is no way for my being able to express my happiness in returning to the U.S. It gives a very high rise to the morale of the man. Its something to fight for.

This depends on That man. I hope to be used as a Clerk since this was my work before going in the Army. The Army will probably train us for something and put us in some thing else. I was a Clerk, trained as an Infantry radio operator, I went overseas and was made machine gunner. I had never seen one of the guns.

S132A.Q53B.C: Don't call them for formation hours before they are needed. Don't tell them you know they have been overseas but you have been doing your job here. Don't tell them that its "tough shit". Do pay the men. Do have them fill out these forms. Do have candy and soft drinks at the docks. Do get them home as soon as possible with money and new clothes. S132A.Q53C.C: It's the best break I've had in the Army. Try going overseas in a replacement Depot for a couple of months without telling your work and let a Non-Combat Colonel kick you around like Col. Tenny at the 7th Rpl. Depot. We know all can't get the best up front but how about a break back of the lines?

Use them as permanent party personnel for permanent camps, posts or stations also as instructors in technical subjects if qualified. I believe there are a great many who qualify for the latter myself included.

S132A.Q53B.C: In general, the handling thus for at this part has been excellent. We have been promised that we will be on our way home within 24 hours, no "GI" expects any more efficient handling than that. S132A.Q53C.C: It is a feeling which is hard to express. My first impression of the city of San Francisco from the rail of the troopship was like the "Lost Horizon", a long lost civilization suddenly rediscovered. To sum it up it is the grandest feeling one can experience after a continuous stretch of 2 yrs in the jungles of New Guinea.

To put them in a permenate camp as close as posable to there home and give them a job that they are qualafied for as most men that have been in combat gone fore any length of time are more or less nervouse and worry a lot about there home problems

S132A.Q53C.C: It really makes you feel like a different man. But you can't help but think of your buddies that you left overseas.

as cadre

S132A.Q53B.C: By giving the a long enough furlough to enable them, to get acquainted with children such as nephews, nieces, sisters born, while he was away and to get reacostomed to the things he loved so that he can always keep in mind the things he has been fighting for. Send him home in a good fitting, smart uniform. S132A.Q53C.C: It feels like all that one has been through over there was just a nightmare, it feels like as if one has just left the States for a short period. It make a soldier feel so good that it does not seem possible that he is really back in his beloved country.

Not knowing the setup over here I couldn't deffinatly [definitely] say of course some would make pretty good instructors

S132A.Q53B.C: Id get on the tail of some of the brass hats down at millim Bay they don't seem to know their ? from a hole in the Ground and eliminate some of the red tape the setup here at McDowel seems to be right on the ball as far as Ive seen of it. S132A.Q53C.C: It feels pretty good Im thankful our government has given me that chance which I do not hesitate to say was a doubt in my mind Dec 7, 1941 Ill ever be grateful to our country which was kind enough to give me such a happy moment

Put all the overseas veterans together in some kind of work. as long as you have non-overseas boys mixed in, you will have trouble. Put an officer in charge of them who has seen combat because he will be able to understand the men. Any officer who has not seen combat would have a

S132A.Q53B.C: hard time controlling combat vets. In other words, the vets won't take any shit from a non-combatant officer. If the men are L.A. put them in a defense shop and I guarantee production would go up 50%. And why, because they realize what it's like over there and also that their buddies life may depend on their work S132A.Q53C.C: America is a great country. I'm glad I had the opportunity to do my little bit for it. After being overseas, I'm really going to appreciate everything that it offers me. Its great to be back and I'm not kidding

As instructors & Cadres. I think G-2 should interview each man returning to the states, this alone would help the war effort more than one would realize these men have good ideas and good slants about what is going on in their theatre

S132A.Q53B.C: The Replacement Centers are lousy, the officers are fuck ups. The 4th Rept. Depot treated Rotation men with contempt, more like Dogs. The tents there were worse than fox dens, no Organization at all I have seen in the Rotation Plan. S132A.Q53C.C: I can't describe it. It is not fair for Rated men to be sent from the States to fill these Ratings. The men in the outfits should absorb the Ratings so a lot of men are not getting sent back when their time comes.

To replace ones who have for the last three years protecting our country shore & land.

S132A.Q53B.C: To be appreciated as a good soldiers by civilians or army personnel. Give us a break for we have broken the ice. S132A.Q53C.C: I feel mighty proud of my country. My heart was filled with joy after been overseas for almost 3 years and then seeing the Golden Gate. Then again I feel better for the fact of possibly going overseas.

Give a man his chose of service of non combat outfits or combat if they wish

S132A.Q53B.C: issue a pair of fatigues while comming over and having a little cleaner ships. The chow should be improved a great deal. S132A.Q53C.C: It feels great to be back which a few months ago I thought would never happen. Most fellows have a feeling they will never see the US again.