CMTC Part 3

Citizens' Military Training Camp

The 22nd Infantry at Camp Mc Clellan 1924

Part 3 - The Trainees

The CMTC students lived in tents in this section of Camp McClellan.

Inside the CMTC "tent city".

CMTC Student Company M
Note the flag on the far left, with the 22nd Infantry motto "Deeds Not Words"

The following was taken from the history of Company M, written by Harold P. Wheeler,
who in 1924 was a 3rd year student with Company M.
Though M Company was a machine gun company, and smaller than a rifle company,
this is a good illustration of what life in the CMTC Companies was like.

"Company M was under the command of Captain J.L. Connolly, of the 22nd Infantry, assisted by Lieutenant Wilson of the ORC. Both officers are splendid men and won the respect and admiration of the entire command.

Company M was the first to win the flag 'Deeds Not Words', for the highest weekly average in cleanliness, and kept it until all machine gun companies were barred from winning the flag. At all parades and reviews Company M led the Battalion. We did not feel hurt in any way over losing our flag; for we only felt all the more that we had proved that no Company could take it away from us. We feel that we gave it up to give others a chance.

Company M was divided into two platoons of four squads each, with Herbert A. Greene of the 22nd Infantry as First Sgt., Oscar Jarrett as Supply Sgt., Sgt. Storm as Mess Sgt., and Sgts. Pardee, Fulghum and Gregory, all of them Regular Army, as instructors. We feel that we were very fortunate in securing such able men for these duties.
The first week of our stay was spent in drill, physical exercise, and field and detail stripping of the machine gun,
at the same time learning each part by name and the part it played in the firing of the gun. Some of the men
were very eager to learn, and before the week was over, many could strip the gun and name all of the
parts blindfolded.

During the second week, while the Red Course men heard lectures, the White and Blue Course men went through
elementary and advanced machine gun drill, also learning the first five phases of functioning of the gun.

A part of the third week was spent on the range, and our company produced 2 experts and 55 sharpshooters and marksmen. McGowan made the highest score, with a record of 306. Although we are a machine gun company, we had two men, Thomas Cox and Arthur Scott, both of Knoxville, Tennessee, who made the Camp Perry Rifle Team. We all feel that this is a good record and one that Company M can well be proud of.

The last week, before we all made the trip back to our respective homes, we attended the field and track meets and the boxing and wrestling bouts. On Monday of the last week the whole battalion hiked out to the aviation field, pitched pup tents and spent the night. On the following morning we participated in a sham battle, our battalion taking possession of Camp McClellan. In a day or two we concluded our month's training, and became civilians again."

PT !
The CMTC regiment in formation undergoing physical training.

CMTC trainees on the rifle range.

Some of the student trainees.

The CMTC baseball team 1924

Trainees from Lafayette, Louisiana 1924

CMTC student Company O
A member of this Company was Vernon Barnes, from Boyce, Louisiana
His certificate of training appears below.

Certificate of completion of the Basic Course at the CMTC for
Vernon Barnes.
Personally signed by COL D.W. Ryther, Commander of the 22nd Infantry

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