You can easily imagine this lonesome place as a German Prisoner of War Camp. The tarpaper shacks are of the cheapest construction possible, but quite suitable for American hapless GIs. The shower consisted of concrete walls with no ceiling. Each shack had 2 or three coal potbellied stoves fueled by coal. Because I was fireman I was up all night keeping the fires going and making sure nothing burnt down. I also started the coal stoves in the mess hall so they were hot before the cooks arrived. This gave me keys to the mess hall.

I would spend much time in the mess hall fixing myself delicious food in between trips to the various barrack stoves. I also had to start the fires on the hot water heaters for the shower units. This job also gave me the day off to sleep and travel. It was a welcome relief from Basic Training regime.    Hi-Res Pic (106K)