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Washington, D.C., or vicinity. "Junior Marines, 1919." It's never too early for a little KP. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
That there is officer material.
Check out the fix for a loose sole on the shoe to the left of the bushel basket!
Wouldn't you just love some of today's little punks to be supervised by this old breed Marine? I'll bet that man could cuss.
The lad on the left seems to be taking it all in but has quietly avoided doing any work!
This photo was published in the Washington Post as part of a spread of 6 photos. Despite Aunt Anna's monetary bribe, I cannot find any letters about this camp published in her column.
Washington Post, Sep 21, 1919Washington Junior Marines and Naval Scouts in Training Camp
by Aunt Anna
The newest organization for the training of young Americans opened its first training camp Saturday, September 6, at what was formerly the camp of the National Services School, on the Little Falls and Conduit road about halfway between Georgetown an Glen Echo.
This camp is known as Camp Barnett in honor of Gen. Barnett the head of the United States marine corps. The organization is sponsored by Mrs. Barnett and the object of the heads is very much the same as the Boy Scouts, namely to teach the boys manliness and patriotism.
Sgt. Al Kriegerm instructs the boys and commands the tenth company. They were taught infantry at Quantico, Va., were detailed to drill, calisthenics, signaling, both radio and visual (wig-wag and semaphore), grenade throwing, trench warfare, personal and camp hygiene and the traditions of the marine corps.
About 50 boys attend the first camp which lasted for a week. Not all the boys were equipped with uniforms, but their interest was none the less.
Boys, hunt for your pictures among the several groups. A prize of $3 will be given for the best letter received within two weeks, telling of life in this camp, written by one of the Junior Marines or Naval Scouts.
PHOTO CAPTION: The kitchen police are certainly hard at it. Whether it's because the sergeant has an eye on them or because they don't want dinner to be late we don't know. Incidentally rank stops when it comes to helping the cooks, as the captain's bars on the young man in the center foreground will show.
Lewis Hine where are you, now that we need you?
The sergeant overseeing this group of spud-peeling junior devil dogs is wearing "13" beneath his EGA, quietly declaring his wartime service in France. The 13th Marine Regiment was activated in France in July 1918 as an infantry regiment and deactivated in France in September 1919. The regiment would be reactivated for service in WWII and Vietnam, both times as artillery.
Peeling a bushel of potatoes with what looks like butter knives.
Well, things are pretty good all around. Plenty of freckles, decent clothes, proper shoes, a job peeling potatoes... I'll say!
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