Specialist's Corner

Under a sun that pounded sweating backs with the force of a copper hammer, many members of this unit wished fervently last week that they'd trained reliable biceps along with educated brain cells. Their mental qualities already measured to the last small pyramid of gray matter, the boys were taken rapidly over a series of Muscle Shoals at Soldiers Field.

Energetically directed by Coach Norm Fradd, who seems to be a concentrated package of energy, the students went through push-ups, squat jumps, the Burpee test, and a variety of other sweat-producers. Their scores were recorded by their mates, and the hardy lads with the strong wind were temporarily sifted from the panting fellows believed to be in need of what Coach Fradd described as "heavy calisthenics."

Stiffest grinds for most of the men were the 100-yard dash, made with a barrackmate hanging on like an Old Man of the Sea, and the step test, which called for raising leaden feet in G. I. shoes a distance of 20 inches in a 1-2-3-4 rhythm for five minutes without rest.

But all the men seemed full of life when the column marched homeward to Leverett House through the late afternoon traffic. That rollicking song of the carefree soldier, "I've Got Sixpense," roared out of every throat with a wave of gusto, hitting the high notes especially on the line "Happy is the day when the Army gets its pay."

Cpl. Presly H. Wetherell, indefatigably pressing onward with plans for an ASTU Glee Club to fill the halls of Harvard with Harmony, beamed brightly at the improvement in the whole unit's singing. He reported later than the Glee Club, or chorus or whatever it might be called, now had a membership of 17 men including himself.

"We need ten more," he said. "In a week or so we hope to present a real program."

Those who have volunteered thus far to sing for the fun of it, on their own time, are Wotherell, W. Kulick, K. W. Pauli, E. Kandib, R. H. Follett, R. H. Glauber, S. Aronoff, J. A. Jasper, M. Theaman, V. L. Migliore, B. T. Wesley, E. L. McDonald, L. Wagner, L. J. Kelly, John Vincek, Charles Coflin, and Adam Dydack.

The 4th Platoon received the highest rating on spruce quarters from Capt. Bernard A. Merriam, company commander, with the 3d, 2d and 1st trailing in that order.

Pfc. Murray Edes, the mighty mathematician from Maine, holds the distinction of being the first man in the unit to become a father while in residence at Harvard. He reports an 7-pound son. Cigars are called for, Brother Edes. (Note: I haven't forgotten that 5-cent stogie you gave me, but I mean cigars.)