Very auspicious circumstances surrounded the opening of the annual Harvard-Yale R.O.T.C. camp at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, on June 26th, for its fame had even penetrated to the golden shores of California, and the University of Santa Clara honored the camp with one of its sons.

The men at Harvard out-numbered those of Yale this year by the score of 36 to 31. Perhaps this is prophetic for November 19. Yale may well challenge the use of the R.O.T.C. as a preliminary hardening up season, for Harvard had Kenneth Booth, Donald Daughters, R. G. Jones, Howard Johnson, Charlie Snyder, W. S. Kerr, from its squad, at this camp.

Men Prepared for Rigors

The first two weeks of camp were spent at the Post of Fort Ethan Allen, in order to prepare the men for the rigors of the life on the range where the "rabbits and the mosquitos play." The high point of this period of acclimatization was the annual R.O.T.C. "hop" --dance to you. That the men of Yale and Harvard are well versed in the "arts and sciences" of the social graces was well demonstrated by the demand for more dances.

The camp paper, "The Guidon," which appeared soon after the opening of camp was directed by I. tucker Burr, III '39 as Editor-in-Chief. As assistants from Harvard he had Edwin R. Clarke '39; Arthur R. Borden, '39; Frank E. Southard '39 Law; and Walter Kaitz, '39. AS department editors, Cleveland Amory '39; Rud Hoye '39 and Mathew Taback '39; while sports were handled by Francis J. Donovan Jr., '39. With the excellent assistance of the Yale members of the board a fine paper was turned out. Every phase of camp life was aptly covered; in fact Walter Winchell probably could take a lesson on "how to get the facts" from this typical board.

Marksman Make Merry

But the more serious aspects of camp routine had their "small" share of the time of the students during this first two week period. When the clouds of dust had cleared away from the pistol range, it was actually discovered that some of the shots had richocheted thru the "bull's eyes" of the targets.

Top man of the camp was Allen E. Puckett '39, who scored 89.1% qualifying expert pistol shot. He was followed by four who qualified as Sharpshooters, Frank E. Southard '39 Law, score 84.7 % R. G. Jones '39 score 84.4%; Donald L. Daughters '39 score 83.7% and P. R. Wentworth '39, score 81.3%. Those who qualified as Marksmen, with scores ranging from 60% to 78% were Cleveland Amory '39; Fred S. Armstrong Jr. '39; I. Tucker Burr III '39; William L. Calfee '39; Francis J. Donovan '39; Frank r. Harnden '39; Nathaniel Heard '40; Robert J. Hoye '39; Howard Johnson '39; Bernard Kalman '39; Oscar Swartz '39; Frederick D. Wright '38.

Men Trek to Range

The trek to the Artillery range at the foot of Mount Mansfield is no problem in this day of motorization. By noon July 12th camp was re-organized and preparations made to follow out the ideal life of the Artilleryman: "March and shoot." Tactical problems (Roops), Artillery Firing of all types; even demonstration firing of the heavy calibre 155 mm. adjustment of Artillery Fire by Airplane, Camouflage and Field Fortification and an overnight tactical maneuver; all had their part in the schedule of activities.

The climax of the camp was the annual march to visit Fort Ticonderoga, an historical point of interest in this area. When the class of 1939, Harvard, gathers around its 25th re-union table, there will be men who will recall that memorable night in July when William Calfee '39 made a special study of the tactics of General Montcalm in the defense of the redoubts surrounding the Fort, and when Donald L. Daughters, '39, distinguished himself as official custodian of the few remaining mosquitos which insisted on spending a few early morning hours with him.

The return march was marked by no event of interest. All were really getting some rest on the way home. A large number were scheduled for "Kitchen police" duty over the week-end for too large a preponderance of "demerits."

The last week of camp was marked by the over-night maneuver in which the Unit was organized as a battalion of four firing batteries. The preliminary march was but an inkling of the rough work scheduled for the night. By midnight all batteries were in position "on the base line" ready for flring at dawn. The excellence of the night's work was shown by the flring next morning. The results were commendable and demonstrated a high state of training on the part of the battery details and the flring batteries.

Plenty of Government Money Fired Away

The Artillery firing was brought to a close by a demonstration of the latest model 75 mm gun, with which Battery B, 7th F.A., the parent battery of the R.O.T.C., was equipped. During the firing period all men had an opportunity to fire at least three problems. Allen E. Puckett '39 was awarded the Edward Holyoke Osgood Medal for that Harvard R.O.T.C. student who excelled in Conduct of Fire. He was closely pressed by Frank E. Southard, F. S. White, E. R. Clarke and I. Tucker Burr, III.