Camp Ellis Training
transcribed by Gaile Thomas

Men Trained to Wield The Torch in Salvage Collecting Companies
Camp Ellis News, Thursday, December 23, 1943
an extract from the article...

     The effort at mass destruction by both sides in this war is matched in a way by systematic effort to save what can be saved from battle, to salvage what can be salvaged and used again. For this purpose the Army trains Salvage Collecting Companies, the majority of whose personnel are trained specialists in cutting, welding and classifying metals.
     There are three such companies at Camp Ellis, each with a complement of 205 men and four officers, each taking the four weeks of basic training with combat troops and the nine weeks of technical training in their specialties to prepare for the job ahead.
     Every man in a company must learn how to handle the oxy-acetylene torch. In addition, each unit has twelve skilled welders, and all must know metals and their classification. Salvage is classified according to the arm of service to which it belongs, and as to serviceability.

Cutting A Piece Of Half-Track -Official U. S. Army Signal Corp Photo
T/5 King Thompson of the 239th burning a piece of half track with oxy-acetylene torch.
In the background is a four-ton Diamond 6 by 6 wrecker.

Close To The Front.

     In the fighting zones, salvage collecting companies work as close to the front as possible, trying withal to keep out of artillery fire range and do their work. Split into squads and platoons, they are very often attached to divisions 500 miles away from their home base.
     Every man must qualify in basic infantry requirements---ability to read maps, the use of all small arms, the identification and neutralizing of booby traps, counter-demolition work, plus the acquired knack of supervising labor pools in salvage operations.

For 75,000 Troops.

     A company of 205 men can handle salvage operations for 75,000 troops. Their equipment consists of three 4-ton wreckers, and six 2 1/2-ton wreckers. Winches on the heavy duty machines can pull a tow-load of 15,000 pounds, the four-ton trucks carrying two hosts [hoists] and three winches, while the smaller wreckers are equipped with pulley type hoists.
     Tank parts, battle-scarred reconnaisance cars, and other equipment salvaged from the African front are used in training here. Capt. William H. Lambert commands the 234th Salvage Collecting Company, Capt. John A. McDonald the 237th, and Capt. Richard S. Saperstein the 239th.
 

Building Crating Platforms -Official U. S. Army Signal Corp Photo
While in technical training at the Granite City Engineer Depot near St. Louis,
men of the 234th among other things constructed crating platforms on which
tractors and other heavy gear equipment are shipped. Left to right in this picture are
Pvts. Alvin Ogle, Ray Rausendorf, Angelo Picardi, Roy L. Clark, Marvin Abraham, & Melvin Peasley.

 

Reassembles Machine Gun Blindfolded
Camp Ellis News, Friday, December 31, 1943

Does Field Strip, Detail Strip And
Fires In 8 Minutes

     After one week of instruction, two privates of Company B, 1317th Engineers, set out to make a record and they did. Pvt. Leon Shears field stripped, then detail stripped, re-assembled and fired the 50 calibre heavy barrel machine gun----while blindfolded --- in the fast time of seven minutes and 45 seconds.
     Pvt. Leon Roberts did the same trick, blindfolded, in eight minutes. Aside from the one week of instruction, the two men had had no prior experience with the weapon.
     The course of instruction devotes four days of intensive training in the operation, adjustment, assembly, and dis-assembly of the gun, followed by a day on a range. A typical class includes 21 enlisted men and three officers. In charge of the instruction Capt. H. H. Adams, Coast Artillery Corps.

Can You Tie Their Record? ----Official U. S. Army Photo, Engineer Group
Pvt. Leon Shears (left) and Pvt. Leon Roberts (kneeling), both of Co. B, 1317th Eng.,
man the 50 cal. machine gun which they can field strip, detail strip,
reassemble and fire within eight minutes, blindfolded to boot.

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