January, 1943
THE ECHO
Page 5
Aviation Mechanic
Pyt. Edward Lee Brackett wrote
us on Dec. 29th that he has fin
ished Aviation Mechanics School
snd is now waiting to be transfer-
i^®d. He said that Mississippi is
still seeing lots of sunshine but
that he would like some snow for
® change. Edward was Fillerman
Helper at Ecusta.
BAND NOTES
To start the new year right our
new constitution, drawn up by Lita
steppe and Marie Sprinkle, was voted
and adopted by the band on Jan.
J^th. New officers will be elected
third week in February at which
we will also mark the FIRST
anniversary of the Ecusta Band.
It hardly seems possible that the
®^nd has been in operation for a
^hole year. Last February when the
^irst rehearsals took place, it was, to
Put it mildly, a discouraging and dis
heartening affair. But due to the
?ogged determination and unswerv-
efforts of Director John Evers-
and many of the original band
Members, the band has somehow
emerged from the swaddling clothes
stage.
Of course, we have had to cope
with the problem of replacing many
our members who are now in mil
itary service. Many who have indi-
^ated a desire to join the band are
eluctant to do so because they are
unable to play but perhaps those who
not know how to play an instru-
^ent are unaware of the fact that
Eversman conducts two addition-
“beginner” bands and gives indi-
^^uual lessons in the cafeteria on
*Uesday, Wednesday and Friday of
®aeh week. He may be contacted
.nere on these afternoons for further
^formation. Drop in for a chat with
ohn and he’ll be glad to help you in
^ny way he can.
Girls, you’re carrying on for the
men at “the front.” Here’s an oppor-
^nity for you to come to the fore and
^ke over for our boys. Besides, you
?®n’t know how much personal satis-
^ction it will give you to play an in-
trument and be able to take part in
^ active and growing musical or
ganization.
Stitching Gab
Mae 0. and Margaret P. have been
due to illness ... Jo C. is quite
^ little operator since Louise 0. went
the notching . . . William Nichol-
®on and John Smith are new mech-
in the Stitching . . . Helen and
^^rgaret Crawford are new Packers
^and are no relation either! . . . Syl-
M., according to Jimmie D., just
>?^es to act . . . We all wonder if
>.Gray still likes music and tennis,
h^t’s change the subject. Dot is
pushing . . . Evelyn, how is the sail-
in Puerto Rico? . . . Who doesn’t
to work with Myrtle? Something
^scinating around her machine . . .
W. and Sallie J. have a whis-
Pering conference every day. Could
^®u tell us about it girls? . . . Betsy
• is bashful but she is good at con-
(Continued On Page 6)
Can’t Publish All “Letters Home’’
So many letters have been received from the boys in service
expressing thanks for their Chlstmas gifts and their good wishes
for Ecusta and fellow workers that it is not possible to quote them
in their entirety in our limited Echo space.
We trust it will be understood by our service men that no
slight is intended and no less appreciation indicated in not publish
ing letters which are confined to thanks and good wishes. In order
that Echo readers may not miss news of the boys in service, in
some cases we are publishing parts of letters which are informa
tive or have special messages.
All of the letters received from our boys are greatly apprec
iated, not only for their warm expressions but for the mere fact
that the writers take time out from their very full military sche
dules to write to us. We wish we could quote all of them word
for word.
—THE EDITOR
LETTERS HOME:
November 8, 1942
Dear Mr. Wells:
I remember you told me to write and let you and the Echo know
where I was stationed. I am now in Aberdeen, Maryland.
I sure would be glad to hear from the plant and receive a copy of
the Echo.
With best regards,
Paul Perry (Private)
December 25, 1943
Dear Mr. Wells,
Through you, I would like to thank the Ecusta Paper Corporation for
this nice box of stationery. I received it about a week ago. I needed it
very much. Writing letters from here is rather difficult so I don’t write
very many.
How is everything at the mill? I used to get the Echo but since my
last transfer I have not received it any more. If it is possible I would like
to have it sent to me occasionally so as to keep up with my friends who
are still there.
Since leaving your employment I have traveled quite a lot and
achieved knowledge that will be of great benefit to me in the future. I am
connected with the Quartermaster Department. At the end of a three
months’ training period last spring I was transferred into this group. At the
present time I am a sergeant. I, like this work fine, but I will be glad when
this is all over and I can return to civilian life again. It is hard to say when
that will be.
I will close now and thanks again for remembering me at Christmas
time.
With my regards,
JAMES T. WILLIAMS
Jan. 2, 1943
Dear Mr. Wells,
At last I will get around to writing. I have been busy and have put
off writing. I like the army fine but all the same I would enjoy being back
at dear old Ecusta. I hope some day to be back with all my friends there.
At the present time Uncle Sam needs me though. I will do my part to help
preserve the freedom that we enjoy.
Sincerely yours,
WARREN R. ALEXANDER
Jan. 3, 1943
Dear Mr. Wells,
Just a few lines. I am now stationed at the Great Lakes Training
station. I left home on Christmas day. I like the navy life fine but I do
miss working at the plant. It’s a swell place to work, I think.
I would appreciate getting the Echo if you are interested in send
ing it.
A friend,
HERSHEL GALLOWAY
Jan. 2, 1943
Dear Mr. Wells,
I got my copy of the Echo yesterday. It was just like getting a bag
full of letters from home,
I am still doing fine and liking the army better as I go along.
I am just waiting for the next Echo.
As ever,
JOHN B. REID
Jan. 2, 1943
Dear Mr. Straus,
Thelma and I were very disappointed when we were unable to say
hello over the holidays, but both of us sincerely hope that your holidays
were as enjoyable as ours. Everybody was exceedingly nice to Thelma and
me and we shall never forget it.
I want to thank you and Ecusta Paper Corporation for the very nice
package received just before leaving for home. Here’s hoping that each
and every present reached its destination.
Good luck to you and Ecusta,
Yours truly,
JACK ALEXANDER
Jan. 2, 1943
Gentlemen:
It is with pleasure that I begin the new year by completing some of
my unfinished 1942 business—that is, answering letters and at the same time
thanking you for remembering me with the carton of cigarettes at Christ
mas. In sending Camels you sent my favorite brand, in fact the only kind
that I have smoked since 1933.
The Echo is still follow'ing me around, from Ft. Belvoir to Wilson, N.
C., and then back to Ft. Belvoir. It now finds me at Camp Claiborne, La.
It is always interesting to read about those whom I formally worked with
and to learn that things are going along so well at the plant. I only hope
that the new year will continue to bring the same success to all of you.
I will have to close now, and with best wishes I remain,
Sincerely yours,
VICTOR R. COOKE, JR.
Taking Course
Charles J. Siniard, A. S. is tak
ing an 18 months’ course in 5
months. He is going to school 8
hours each day for six days each
week and says what he learned in
Ecusta Machine Shop and in Dr.
Harrison’s Math class really helps.
Clyde McCoy is station there and
entertains them with “Sugar
Blues.”
In The Physical Testing
Lab
We of the Physical Testing Lab
wish to express our appreciation to
our president for the nice Christmas
present which we received. We not
only appreciate the gift but the
thought which prompted the giving.
The fact that Mr. Straus worked so
persistently to give us the additional
bonus at New Year’s shows his
thoughtfulness toward his employees
and makes us resolve that in this new
year we shall prove our faithfulness
and cooperation to him and to the
job we are to do. Thank you, Mr.
Straus . . . Had a number of cards
froms our Lab boys in the service at
Christmas, ’Twas good to hear from
them ... Ed Hill writes that he is
to be a pilot when he has finished his
basic training. At least that’s his
classification at Fort Bragg. Of
course, we are betting on his being
the best pilot in his group . . . Nice
little write-up about Rupert Cliff in
the class book from the Chicago
School of Aircraft Instruments. An
other Lab boy seems to be doing all
right for Uncle Sam. Capt. Tom
Ramsey is back at Edgewood Arsen
al now we hear. Maybe we’ll be call
ing him General or something—O, K,
Gen. Tom, sounds fine doesn’t it?
Troy Bryan writes us from Florida,
An all right sailor too . . . And on
the home front “among the skirts”
—What young lady tried to bribe the
policeman at the gate? When he asks
for her pass card she holds out a
dime. Did it work, Ruby? , . . Has
anyone seen a pair of wings around
town? Betcha they belong to some
one on “” shift—did I hear you say
something, Thelma? . . . Calling all
bowlers! Our team needs all the help
you can give. Watch for the an
nouncement and if you bowl, be
there! If you can’t bowl how about
a cheering section? We aren’t doing
so badly and we can all help . . . Just
a few pants left in the lab. Boy, it’s
almost a woman’s world, and we hear
we’ll lose another soon. Right, Ran
dall? Good luck, we’re betting on
you . , , and speaking of changes,
there are plenty in' the lab now with
Bob at the Chem. Lab too and Jake
(Continued On Page 6)
CURIOSITY
And now we hear about the street
car motorman who, after clanging his
bell irately behind an obstinate coal
truck for two blocks, finally manag
ed to get up alongside the driver,
leaned out his window, and just look
ed. The truck driver brazenly asked,
“Well?” Whereupon the motorman
said, “I know what you are, I just
want to see what you look like,”