Description

The Cat’s Meow

Vol. II / No. 11 / 323rd Infantry, Camp Rucker, Alabama / March 25, 1943

4 pages scanned

Names

Benefield, James T. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Bost, Frederick L. (Pfc., Co. F — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Burbank, Luther V. (Cpl., Co. F — promoted to Sergeant, temporary)
Clark, Henry P. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Clifton, O. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Dimont, Max (Corporal — columnist; author of ‘Column Right’ humor and essay feature)
Emery, Cleo C. (Cpl., Co. F — promoted to Sergeant, temporary)
Foster, Martin L. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Glassbrook, Robert C. (2nd Lt. — newly assigned officer, Company F)
Graybill, Wilbur T/5 (Co. M — promoted to Technician Grade 4, temporary)
Hakkarainen, Edward A. (Cpl., Co. M — promoted to Sergeant, temporary)
Ham, Win W. (Pfc., Hq. Co. — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Hildebrand (Private — one of six applicants for Red Cross advanced courses, Hq. Co.)
Inns, Francis E. (Co. I — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Jackson, Stonewall (General — historical figure; referenced in article about applying Civil War battlefield lessons)
Kodowanec (Private — one of six applicants for Red Cross advanced courses, Hq. Co.)
McNair, Lesley J. (Lt. General, commander of Army Ground Forces — issued memorandum on lessons from Tunisia campaign)
Meighan, Joseph J. (2nd Lt. — newly assigned officer, Company E)
Ostrowski, John M. (2nd Lt. — newly assigned officer, Company B)
Parrish, James B. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Technician Grade 5, temporary)
Paszczolkowski (Private — one of six applicants for Red Cross advanced courses, Hq. Co.)
Pearson, Frank J. (Colonel — former Regimental Commander, 323rd Infantry; wrote appreciation letter to Colonel Watson)
Rommel, Erwin (General — referenced in Tunisia campaign lessons article as opponent repelled by Allied comeback)
Smelser, Sergeant — one of top ten scorers on Army Specialized Training Preliminary Test, Hq. Co. 3rd Bn.)
Smith, Howard N. (Pfc., Co. A — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Stancil, Arbney L. (Cpl., Co. M — promoted to Sergeant, temporary)
Stettinius, Edward R. Jr. (Lend-Lease Administrator — demonstrated compressed foods to Congressional Committee and Quartermaster)
Stuth, Elmer J. (Pfc., Co. I — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Thomas, Jack E. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Technician Grade 5, temporary)
Turcot, Newton C. (Pfc., Medical Detachment — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Twait, Olaf M. (Pfc., Co. M — promoted to Technician Grade 5, temporary)
Waldman, Corporal — one of top ten scorers on Army Specialized Training Preliminary Test, Hq. Co. 3rd Bn.)
Watson, Arthur P. (Colonel, G.S.C. — Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Second Army; recipient of Pearson’s letter)
Webb, William L. (Pvt., A-T Co. — promoted to Corporal, temporary)
Williams, John C. (First Sergeant, Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. — featured as ‘Outstanding Man of the Regiment’; expert with pistol, bayonet, saber)
Wuest, Albert O. (Pfc., Co. I — promoted to Corporal, temporary)

Locations

Africa, North / Tunisia (Tunisia — lessons from American combat errors in North Africa applied to U.S. training; McNair memorandum subject)
Alexandria, Egypt (mentioned as Mediterranean battle front reference point; supply route context)
Astrakan, Russia (Astrakhan — southern Russia distribution point; Volga route to Stalingrad mentioned)
Baku, Azerbaijan (oil port on Caspian Sea; Allied supply distribution hub for southern route to Russia)
Bandar Shahpur / Bandar Shah, Iran (Bandar Shahpur — terminus of Trans-Iranian Railroad on Persian Gulf; Allied supply route)
Cairo, Egypt (mentioned as Mediterranean front reference)
Caspian Sea (key segment of Allied southern supply route to Russia; Bandar Shahpur to Baku)
Caucasus, Russia (Caucasus region — German drive halted by lend-lease supplied Russian army)
Egypt (mentioned as threat addressed by Allied supply effort to Russia)
Finland (referenced in ‘Column Right’ humor piece about Finnish language and sauna culture)
Haifa, Palestine (mentioned as Mediterranean front reference point in supply context)
Helsinki, Finland (referenced in humor piece ‘Conversation at Helsinki’ about Finnish language)
India (referenced — more than 300,000 soldiers from India now serving overseas)
Indian Ocean (hazard zone on Allied southern supply route; German and Japanese submarines active)
Iran / Persia (key country on southern Allied supply route; shah deposed by Britain and Russia 1941; Trans-Iranian Railroad)
Iraq (mentioned in maneuver area strategic map context)
Mohammerah / Bandar Imam Khomeini, Iran (terminus/transshipment point at Gulf of Persia on supply route)
Murmansk, Russia (northern Arctic supply route to Russia; alternative to southern route)
New York, USA (starting point of Allied southern supply route to Russia)
Persia — see Iran (Persian Gulf route; Trans-Iranian Railroad terminal)
Russia / Soviet Union (subject of major supply route article; Stalingrad and Caucasus defense featured)
South America (Allied ships refueled at South American ports en route to Persian Gulf)
Stalingrad, Russia (key battle reference; Volga supply route to Stalingrad defense mentioned)
Suez, Egypt (mentioned as Mediterranean front reference in supply context)
Tennessee (Tennessee maneuver area — 2nd Army maneuvers; rules for conduct published)
Ukraine, Russia (German occupation; southern railroad terminal referenced)
Volga River, Russia (supply distribution route from Baku northward to Stalingrad)

Units

109th Cavalry, Tennessee (National Guard unit — First Sergeant Williams served here before Army induction)
323rd Infantry Regiment (home unit of the paper; Camp Rucker, Alabama; Red Cross contributions and personnel promotions featured throughout)
Army Ground Forces (AGF — Lt. General McNair’s command; issued Tunisia lessons memorandum)
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL team — First Sergeant Williams attended games as civilian; referenced in profile)
Hearst Trophy Rifle Team (civilian rifle competition team — First Sergeant Williams won second place in annual competition)
Marine Corps, U.S. (referenced in ‘Ask Me Another’ Q&A regarding women’s reserve enlistment rules)
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad (railroad — First Sergeant Williams worked as office boy and clerk)
National Guard (First Sergeant Williams served 1933–1936 in Chicago-area National Guard units)
Northwestern University (civilian institution — First Sergeant Williams attended night school for transportation studies)
Red Cross (received $1,179.09 from 323rd Infantry soldiers; top contributing companies listed)
Second Army, U.S. (issuing authority for maneuver area conduct circular; Tennessee maneuvers scheduled)
Sikorsky Company (manufacturer of new Army helicopter; production order referenced)
United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI — endorsed testing program for academic credit for servicemen)
Vought-Sikorsky Company — see Sikorsky Company (helicopter production source)