OUR HISTORY
The 298th Engineer Battalion, recently activated at Camp Rucker, Alabama, is commanded by Major Ray R. Liedike, Corps of Engineers. Major Liedike came to the 298th Engineer Battalion from the Second Engineer Battalion which is a component part of the Second Infantry Division; he was Executive Officer of that organization. Major Liedike has field experience in almost every phase of Combat Engineer training, being a member of the Second Engineer Battalion on two Third Army Maneuvers, during air-borne training conducted by that organization, and during winter training conducted in Wisconsin. He served with the Division Engineers of the Second Infantry Division in various capacities and has thus gained a considerable amount of valuable training with which to endow the newly activated 298th Engineer Combat Battalion.

In addition to the vast amount of both technical and tactical training experience furnished by Major Liedike, he is assisted by Captain George W.B. Eliason formerly of the 336th Engineer Regiment, also of Camp Rucker, who is serving with the 298th Engineers as Executive Officer. The 336th Engineer Regiment also furnished the 298th Engineers with an excellent enlisted cadre. They are a group of non-commissioned officers full of life, ambition, and

GREETINGS GENTLEMEN:
On this the eve of activation of our fine organization I wish to remind you of our two fold job. First to become superior soldiers, and then superior combat engineers. The road ahead is long and hard but to us it means success. Each of us must instill in ourselves a sense of pride and responsibility; for that gentlemen is our Key, the key to becoming a superior solider and a superior combat engineer. Remember, wars are won by the best disciplined, finest trained soldiers and by your constant effort and cooperation we shall produce not only for our army commander, General Lear, but for the entire United States Army the finest combat organization of its kind. Major Liedike

pride and responsibility for creating a Battalion of Combat Engineers trained for active theater of operations duty.

The men of the organization came generally form the north middle-west sector of the United States and are young and full of ambition to become hardened soldiers. The average age of the men is the Battalion is very low, while the Intelligence tests given them at the time of their induction shows that the average score is well above the 110 mark. (cont. page 2)

EDITORIAL STAFF

Co-editors
Pvt. R. Binder – Pvt. A. Foreman
Staff Reporters
*H &S Company
Pvt. C. Haskill
Pvt. F. Dysory
*Co. A
Pvt. Maise
Pvt. G. Kodas
Pvt. P. Martis
*Co. B
Pvt. H. Marks – Typist, Designist [sic]
Pvt. B. Jacobs
Pvt. Hellewig
*Co. C
Pvt. R. Heintz – Cartoonist
Pvt. Hailaron
Pvt. Luniowski

Fort Belvoir GIs Cut Grass With Bayonets
The manpower shortage that officials feared last January has finally caught up with Fort Belvoir.
Nine Belvoir GIs visiting Capitol Hill yesterday described how whole battalions are turned out in “off-duty” hours at the Virginia post about once a week to cut the grass —with bayonets removed from rifles.
The GIs explained that the mowing machines have been out of repair all summer. Why weren’t they fixed?
They tell us, “the GIs said, “that it’s the manpower shortage.” “We’re not saying a word.”

Bayonet Grass Mowing Cut Short at Belvoir
The grass around fort Belvoir’s mess hall went unsheared yesterday, following disclosure in The Washington Post that enlisted men were being assigned to gut it with bayonets.
An order had been posted for a detail to work on the grass yesterday, but the order was taken down after Fort Belvoir’s officers had read the morning paper.
Meanwhile, officers launched an inquiry into the conditions of the mowing machines at the post. Enlisted men said they had been told the machines had not been repaired because of the “manpower shortage.” Whole battalions, on their hands and knees, had been doing the mowing.