"This the first time my husband and I have been able to more dances brought girls in after established curfew go out together for 18 months," reported one young hours. Parents who were responsible for a lateness were mother. "I never have to worry when we leave the chil- put on the black list for one month. There were no repetidren with a Spar," was a frequent telephone greeting. tions of lateness after this penalty had been given. "Please send me Dorothy Frye,"' said one harassed house- Due to demobilization of the Women's Reserve of the wife," she thinks my children are good." Spars, it was necessary to close the Cradle Watch March 3, The Coast Guard authorities found that the program 1946 after it had been functioning for ten months. Apad a wholesome morale-building effect upon the girls proximately 4,000 appointments had been filled by the who took part. Barracks life had deprived the girls of nor- service and over 300 Spars had participated. Upon receivmal home relationships. The Cradle Watch took them into ing notice of the termination, one mother remarked, "I'd homes and gave them a little of the home touch which rather they'd take away my sugar coupons." And as they had sacrificed when they entered the service. Spars took inventory of the Cradle Watch's value, one Spars, in sympathy with a prominent educator, found Spar who had been on fifty-five baby-sitting jobs said: "A that there are no problem children, only problem parents. year ago I had never cared for a young child, now I could The tendency to play one extra rubber or stay for a few write a correspondence course in child care."
A Woman Chaplain" Aboard Ship
By LIEUTENANT RUTH SMITH, WAC
bottomed trousers flapping amongst the guns and ropes
Among the unusual stories to come out of the war is and the WACs jitterbugged in equally lively fashion on the following account of how a WAC officer con- their own decks. ducted Divine Service aboard a ship at sea. The coming of Sunday brought a great problem-where
__to turn for spiritual guidance. A young lieutenant said that he could conduct the services, a quartette was availIN April 1944 the rear echelon, Headquarters, United able but none volunteered to deliver the sermon. So the IStates Armed Forces in the Far East sailed for Manila committee in charge of the church services sought out Lt. in two small ships which were a part of a large and well Colonel Mary-Agnes Brown, senior WAC officer aboard protected convoy. The women assigned to the Head- inviting her to assume the robes for the following Sunquarters, Red Cross personnel, Army Nurses and members day morning. Colonel Brown, despite the fact that she had of the Women's Army Corps travelled on a converted never mounted the steps of a pulpit on the business end of fruiter, the Cefalu, an adequate boat but by no means a a sermon, agreed to do her best in the emergency. fancy one. When the time came, the usual GI congregation gathLt. Colonel Wayne Hunter, the chaplain aboard the ered-GIs in shorts, GIs in fatigues. An odd person here Cefalu, was active throughout the first days of the voyage and there was dressed in class "A" uniform. Some were
conducted all required religious services, but on the seated on the decks and rails, others leaning against the day Iof President Roosevelt's death he became ill. The bulkheads. The services proceeded as usual. When, howship's surgeon felt that an operation would be necessary. ever, Colonel Brown stepped forward and the GIs realized Signals were sent into the blue and after a few hours a that the sermon was to be delivered by a woman there was warship came up beside the Cefalu. A breeches buoy was a great stir and a great stretching of necks. Buddy nudged shot across and a Navy surgeon came swinging over the buddy and those on the edges of the upper decks and on waves to the fruiter. A consultation resulted in a decision the lower decks who apparently were not at church at all to move the Chaplain to a ship having adequate surgical gathered about. They lingered first from curiosity and facilities. A stretcher was fastened to the breeches buoy, then from interest. the Chaplain was lashed into the stretcher and swung Colonel Brown spoke of the American GI as a product over the sea to the warship. Everyone on the decks of of American history. She talked of American colonization both ships stood by cheering and Chaplain Hunter, despite and of the Christian philosophy basic to all early charters his dilemma, waved gaily. The Navy surgeon was returned set up for colonial governments. She compared the Mayto his ship immediately following the chaplain. Then the flower Compact and the Four Freedoms. She quoted Paul band aboard the Cefalu in appreciation of the Navy's aid at great length reading a selection timely even now in played "Anchors Aweigh." When the warship's sailors which Paul gives advice to his soldiers. Chaplain Hunter, heard the music, a plea went forth for boogie woogie and upon recovery complimented Colonel Brown suggesting the captains of the two ships decided to oblige. So, in the that she had proven herself well qualified for the ministry. midst of war in a combat zone, a troop ship and a warship / Colonel Brown, a lawyer in civilian life, is now on Genstayed side by side long enough for American boys and eral Bradley's staff at the Veterans Administration, Washgirls to play. The sailors jitterbugged on their decks, bell ington, D. C., as advisor on women's affairs. April-May, 1946 15