Bradley Beam

YOU REPORTER
By The Shady Tree

GRIPES
This country's coming into war
Brought problems we never had before.
Separation from families and our wives-
Taught to fight with guns and knives.
To some these adjustments come with ease
Many have let it drop them to their knees.
Some men just gripe and moan all day
Others smile and work the easy way.
The saying, "A good soldier always gripes," is true-
Make sure you're a good soldier before you do.

JWB-USO Happenings: Orchids to that lovely platinum blonde, the senior hostess, for her marvelous work and fine singing. We heard you...
Both heard and seen was our mutual friend T/Sgt. Green with his thundering voice and fancy dance. Whoops my dear, let's play drop the handkerchief!
...When out of the night came three of the gruesome foursome, the four wolves, Anderson, Generella and Hammond; their other charter member, Lovi, got there early. He goes for corned beef sandwiches, or is it women?...
Way Cpl. Lawson almost stood up the same soldier whom she pulled that trick on last week while eyeing another G.I...

TUESDAY NITE AT THE USO: A grand gathering in attendance in spite of the Connecticut dew. The band rendered those smooth and sweet tunes which are really appreciated by one and all...Cpl. Musky keeping one eye on the boys o' the stand as he shifted a tootsie or two...Why didn't you dance with the Wac, John?...Sgt. Al Miseray doing a very good job of dance bumping; you better get insurance, son!...Miss Frances M. frequently plying the floor with her favorite G.I....T/Sgt. Fredericks just out of a hospital bed taking it easy on the side line. What a coach!...Pfc. Eimers keeping the reputation of the band in good standing by cutting the rug with the lovelies. We understand that it isn't necessary, Freddie...Did you notice that Sergeant's face go red when he discovered that he had two partners for the same dance set? Watch your signals next time Sergeant "T"...S/Sgt. Perrin looked like a wallflower. What's the matter Chas?...Pfc. Borrelli down for moral support only. Could he be the Guy?...T/Sgt. "Wolf" Ochmanski is a rare visitor but manages to operate in a smooth and successful manner...Cpl. McGuigan does all right in his own little way with the opposite sex...Nice going, Mac!...Added color to our little dance; T/Sgt. St. Morro and T/Sgt. Ochmanski, the two B.T.O.s (Big time operators) trying to pass themselves off for twins when Cpl. Lawson and Cpl. Ginny Smith came out with, "we know you"...Fashion notes: Spring is here. You can tell it by the gay colors in the dresses the girls wore and the lovely, gay smiles of our own Wacs ...May Battaso being called school marm because of her prim style of dress and up-sweep hair-do; very pretty, indeed, and can she rhumba!

WED WRECK HALL & G.I. DANCE NOTES: Just enough of a crowd to make things comfy and cozy. The groovy sextet playing those danceable numbers (Editor's Note: When not taking those lo-o-o-ng intermission) and the floor had that waxy finish. (Congrats to Pfc. Harold "Lover" Black)...M.P. Nick Colasessano doing the jive steps in his own West Virginia style...Pfc. Ken Andolf keeping Wac Virginia Henricksen in a laughing mood while making with the feet. What a system!...Wac Marge Qualls trimming the floor boards to a smooth finish with a G.I. male variety ...Sheriff Pete E. from Section I checking on the customers in general... Cpl. Limey caught begging the band boys for a Basie Jump tune...This boy Sgt. Marcopoto and Wac Cpl. Harvey make the most convenient arrangements at times, do they pan out is what we'd like to know?...Cpl. Tony Russo starts operating immediately after the last note is played and he sure gets around (in more ways than one, take heed, Johnny)...S/Sgt. Kirby shaved his moustache off. Now he goes to all the dances. The girls all get seasick just looking at the waves in his hair...The most popular man at any party, Cpl. Tom Brown, can outshout the band any time (your popularity didn't last at the Villa; what happened?)...The band could not start till after 2100 because of the noise coming from the WAC area. Seems as though Wac Bishop was practicing playing Tarzan. Poor Dede had no chance.

STUFF and NONSENSE: Catch Section B at 0630 as they go through their ballet routine under the able tutelage of the N.C.O. in charge...Wac Mary Brown does not believe in painting the town as her heart belongs to the Mess boys of Section B...Have you seen Miss Villa Annie in her attire of blue? Reminds me of the noble Wacs who work in the hospital wards...Sgts. Lutz and Hill from the Weather Unit having themselves a time at the N.C.O. club. Reminder to all members: Don't forget the shindig next Thursday which promises to be on the all right side. (This is strictly inside info)...Miss Terry Bottasso and Miss Katie Molinari entertaining a few of the local gobs. Rather morale building we gather...Sgt. Maurice and Miss Marcella Anderson having a bite at the Villa...Wac Delia Pantanella giving away folding money to a G.I. Oh, what eyes you have my dear!...Wac Toni Roma and a pal all prettied up waiting for the bus to town. Did you have a good time in W.L. gals?...Pfc. Goff, a marvelous job of recruiting, but why all the autographs and "please MA'AM"...It is rumored that the Philadelphia Quartermaster, in reading the specifications for a pair of trousers for S/Sgt. George Wolf, popular legal NCOIC, sent the following notice to Lt. A. A. Perlman..."Is this for a man or an infantry platoon? Cannot supply anything larger than a shelter half...Please advise...That's all, brother. Wonder what HIS raincoat looks like?...Fair warning--Pin-up boys--WATCH OUT IN NEXT WEEK'S COLUMN.