Saturday, July 31, 1999

Pre-Computers


I worked in a secretarial pool for the Government construction people when they were building Camp Wallace which was to be an induction center for troops.


I had worked in the "pool" two days, I think, when the officers in charge of the group learned that I was a good worker and could take shorthand rapidly. They promoted me to secretary for the Major in charge of the site.

Every morning, he met with the builders and they discussed their progress and their plans. My job was to write down every word that was said, and who said it. Wasn't easy!

I recorded meetings that were held in that office at all times. Sometimes I would have to work late and miss my car pool back home. The Major sent me home with a soldier-driven government car on those nights.

Guess I was the computer that helped build Camp Wallace.

When the Camp Hospital was built and the construction people were beginning to leave, I transferred to work in the Hospital records department. I worked with some great men at that time, and they became good friends.

One of John Dan’s friends, Jeff Manske, had a grandfather who was one of the doctors at that hospital.

There were no wounded soldiers at the Camp Wallace Hospital—just inductees. Brave, scared, frightened boys training for they knew not what. They slogged in the mud and got blisters on their feet, but kept going.

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