COAST ARTILLERY, JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

PROFESSIONAL NOTES 569
town visited, I was waited upon by public committees to express gratitude
for the Army's helpfulness in community developments.
Despite the almost unbelievably bad housing conditions in many of the
posts visited, the morale of the Army personnel was splendid. The Army's
faith still appears to be in those whom they are striving to serve and it is
sure there are better days ahead for the men who are still carrying on in
uniform.
At the air fields inspected, there was a very apparent efficiency and businesslike
activity on all current projects. The Air Corps personnel, as well as
that of the Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery units visited, appeared to be all
imbued with the firm conviction that they were building the best army in
the world-with only the regre' that their limited facilities did not allow
a further extension of their service to the two other great elements of our
land defense-the National Guard and the Organized Reserves.
Representatives of the National Guard and Organized Reserves were
unanimous in expressing to me their high praise of the present War Department
activities in their behalf. They commended highly the services of
the officers and men of the regular establishment detailed for duty with
these two components, or close enough to be of material assistance.
I noted that at every place where regular officers or enlisted men were
on duty as instructors with the Guard, Reserves or in the schools, there were
always delegations on hand to request a continuance beyond the regular
assignment periods of these particular men. From this I drew the natural
conclusion that our forces in the field are not only proving good soldiers but
good citizens and assets to the communities in which they are stationed.
The Assistant Secretary, within the last year, has covered most of the posts
where the 80,000 soldiers who are serving within the United States are stationed
and his reactions to the situation are those from actual contact in the field, with
officers and men of all ranks and with the organized groups of veterans which
make up the 11,000 posts of the American Legion.
We have followed the policy of giving preference
to former service men through bnsiness
sense. We have found that men with army or
navy experience make by far the best employees.
A former soldier or sailor, who has been accustomed
to preparing for weekly inspection in
military service, need not be told of the value of
promptness and attention to duty. When it
comes to a cheerful and efficient manner in operating
our street ears we find that the former service
man stands high above all.-Francis M. Wilson.