active duty
mar 26 - Jun 30, 1943
camp robinson, arkansas
Training Begins!
Carl started Active Service, March 26, 1943
His address at enlistment:
322 ½ South 4th, La Crosse WI
April – June 1943
Unit of Assignment: B Co, 102nd Medical Training BN
Commanding Officer: Lt Fine
Completed BIRTC and Medical Training
Jun 30, 1943
Branch Immaterial
Replacement Training Center
A Branch Immaterial Replacement Training Center (BIRTC) was located on Camp Robinson in early 1942. Its purpose was to train soldiers in basic infantry skills to prepare them for combat, regardless of their specialty. For administrative purposes, the BIRTC was organized as five regiments, each with three battalions of four companies. The BIRTC had a capacity of training 16,200 soldiers at a time.
Promoted from "Slick Sleeve" Private to to Private First Class
July 1, 1943
Notice the Tented Hutments arranged in rows
fdr visit
President Roosevelt visited Camp Robinson on Palm Sunday, April 18, 1943. His train arrived early that morning and the President drove a route on the post that was lined with soldiers who had not been told why they were formed up. Despite the drizzle, the President rode in an convertible with the top down and was loudly cheered by the troops when he came into view. He attended religious services in the field house and left that afternoon.
These prefabricated hutments replaced the tented hutments (right) of the pre-WWII era.
BIRTC students eat a meal in the field
BIRTC students negotiate the obstacle course
Weapons firing at BIRTC
Medical Replacement Training Center
Medical Replacement Training Center (MRTC) operated at Camp Robinson from 1942 to 1944. Its purpose was to train soldiers as medical personnel. The MRTC consisted of three regiments, one with two battalions and two with three battalions each. Each company had 270 personnel, giving the MRTC a capacity of 13,500 trainees. Like the BIRTC, the MRTC’s training cycle started out at eight weeks, but was later doubled.
MRTC students recieve training in field first aid.
Rosie The Riveter
by
Norman Rockwell.
Rosie appears on the cover of the 5/29/1943 Saturday Evening Post. Read an excellent article about this and other iconic representations of Rosie and the attitude of the day about women in the workforce while men were away fighting overseas.
MRTC students practice placing a patient on a litter
MRTC students practice removing a wounded soldier from a tank.