Home for a ten day leave during his transfer from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Fort Knox, Ky., Lieut. Alan Rorick, U.S.A., said yesterday that the tremendous task of expanding the Army and modernizing its units is being accomplished in an efficient and orderly fashion. Lieut. Rorick is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Rorick of Adrian.
The young officer, who was graduated in June from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has just completed a three months basic training period for officers at Fort Sill located about 100 miles southwest of Oklahoma City and near the Texas line. The intensive course has not been given since the World War, Lieut. Rorick said, and covered nearly everything that officers are likely to encounter such as the care of horses, overhauling motors, all kinds of weapon firing, making surveys and mapping, regulations on the care of soldiers and managing the Army mess. The most enjoyable feature of the course, as far as Lieut. Rorick was concerned, was the two hours on horseback daily.
May Come to Battle Creek
Although Lieut. Rorick is being transferred to one of the batteries in the 19th Field Artillery at Fort Knox, he expects to be moved again before the first of December to the motorized 5th Division stationed at Fort Custer, near Battle Creek. Some time in the not too distant future he hopes to be stationed in Hawaii for a time because the Army has nearly a third of its forces stationed there and it is a fine experience.
The officer also told of steps taken to strengthen the nation’s military machine. A great deal has been learned concerning armaments during the current war in Europe, he said. Army observers have noted that the German army has been more fully armed than any other force in history and the arming of this nation is proceeding accordingly.
Anti-Tank Guns Needed
Anti-tank guns are particularly needed and they are being obtained as rapidly as possible. The division at Fort Custer with which Lieut. Rorick expects to be affiliated is armed at the present time with 75 mm. pieces but as soon as possible will be equipped with 105 mm. guns.
Particularly commendable was the spirit of the 14,000 national guardsmen who were stationed at Fort Sill for a year of training, Lieut. Rorick said. They are members of the Oklahoma units. They are taking the year’s training in fine fashion, he said, and seem to have no regrets about taking the time out of their civil lives.
Lieut. Rorick said that while the life of an officer at the Fort Sill training camp was far from easy, it was thoroughly beneficial. Long hours are spent, day and night, in firing, marching and making surveys. The training period started at 8 o’clock in the morning and lasted until 5 o’clock at night unless there was a call for night operations.
Lieut. Rorick said he didn’t know just when he would be home again because at the present time Army leaves are one of the hardest things in the world to get.
Source: Adrian Daily Telegram, November 7, 1940.
Carol Ann Hilton 