HISTORY OF COMPANY “C” 3rd REGIMENT
O. GLEN ISLEY AND BEN M. MAYERS
Eleven Blues, ten Whites and forty-seven Reds. In all sixty-eight men—that was Co. “C”. Small but mighty. The army is much like any other game. It isn’t quantity that counts—it is quality. Company
“C” had that quality on the drill field. In musketry they were first in every event. They also had the best squad on the firing line. Everywhere Co. “C” was always in the front.
Our good appearance was due largely to the efforts of our excellent officers. Captain Hurless was always on the job, correcting where corrections were needed and driving us to the utmost of his capacity. His
word was law and very few attempted to try his ability to inflict punishment. If the boys went in with the impression that they had a hard-boiled captain it wasn’t very long before they found out that he was
one of the best-trained and efficient officers in the army. When a man was worthy of promotion he got it with the highest congratulation from Captain Hurless. We missed the Captain when he had to leave the
company and go back to his regular duties in the Army.
Second Lieut. Nielson greatly assisted Captain Hurless in boosting Co. “C” into the lead. Lieut. Nielson is highly versed in the knowledge of practical army teaching and army life. He was always
imparting to us the little things as well as the big things in life that as Americans we should know, learn and respect. He was not like the typical shave-tail but was more of a companion to his men, a sort of
elder brother. He was neat and tried to train us to be so; he was a good soldier and tried to make us better citizens with a better outlook in life than we have had. His ideals, I am sure, will be found in many
hearts; many wish they had but even a small part of his training in military work and in citizenship. Lieut. Nielson is himself a man of the great outdoors and a good athlete.
First Lieut. Akins had practically the hardest job of all the officers. He was supply officer, athletic officer and coach of the winning football team. Therefore, he was not seen much with the company.
Second Lieut. Sears, a CMTC graduate, was only detailed with our company for two weeks and we did not get a chance to get well acquainted.
Captain John, who was chosen to take the place of Captain Hurless, is an officer of the Howitzer Platoon and is an expert at the 37MM Gun and also of the 8” Trench Mortar. Captain John took over the
company from Captain Hurless and ought to be on the verge of physical collapse from getting the Company ready to go home. Of course, he doesn’t do any work himself, and he hates like everything to see us
work. But some one must do it so why not us? Our tents were taken down and the ground all cleaned up in record time, under Captain John’s direction. In the few days we have known him his face seems
hard-boiled; but his voice is as soft as an angel’s. No one tried to be bad, so none felt his anger.
We are proud of our organization, proud of our accomplishments and proud of our officers to whom we owe and accord our sincere appreciation for the strenuous days they have spent with consistent patience,
careful vigilance and unalloyed friendliness to teach us these absorbingly interesting things concerning the land forces of our country.
Co. “C” had the best squad in the battalion. It was the fourth squad in the first platoon. It captured first on the drill field, first in musketry and first on die range. On the range the capture was
probably the best earned of all. Cadet Corp. Ben M. Mayors instructed all his squad to shoot as if in mortal combat, to take a steady aim and to fire only when instructed. Captain Starlings, who was in charge
of the firing, allowed five minutes of the time for the seven men shooting and ten rounds of ball ammunition a man. In one minute forty seconds the opposite target was shot down with only one casualty on the
winning squad. All men in the squad are sharpshooters or marksmen with the exception of the corporal who is a first class cheerleader.
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