Evening Tribune 0* Moinei, |ow«
Getting Around
ilk, rrz) ashby
S COnAMNDING officer of first * * WAC [trining center. Fori Dto Moines, Co|. Frank Unsworth (don't get excited—it's a family name) McCoskrie decides what the girls shall wear, how they shall wear it, how they may fix (h<rir hair. But when he enters the reception hall at Quarters 5, he Is just a guy named Frank, and he better not heave his wrlght around that place.
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TRUTH of tit* matter is. he doesn't have, any desire to brandish his rank around Quarters 5. For there his (me wife, Gladys. Is In command of the domestic arm of the McCosXrle forces. True, her official orders are gentle, and they are obeyed with respect and grace. A summary, courf-martial appeared imm*<""f recently vhen the Colo-net's thavtng Pmah leas found, soaked with lather, on the uasA eoicl. But a reprieve was granted when the colonel testified that he had to meet an early train and. in bis haste, neglected the (insorlBl Implement.
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¦v-pHERES SOMETHING ABOUT A SOL-_[ DIER" Is a song title too conservative to describe the emotions of Gladys McCosKrle the first Urn- alie laid eyes on her husband. She Hked everything about him as ho knocked off the i
Inli— 1 itepa during the
Cheney normal school dance about 10 miles from Spokane. Wash., nnlle a fe« year* ago. She had met him only a few moments before. He was one of a cluster of guys inducted to furnish manpower for the school shindig.
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FRANK AND GLADYS danced together a tot that night. And later when Gladys went back to her home in Spokane, ahe tossrd large boulders at tlie blades around that burg. FRANK WAR THE GENT AMD SUE WOULDN'T EVEN ACCEPT A REASONABLY EXACT FACSIMILE, So, after two years of courtship, they were niarrled and moved into a 4-room apartment- The colonel strummed a pret-ty fair guitar In those days, and not infrequently serenaded the l*ht of his life. WHES FEELING PARTICULARLY AMOROUS. HE WOULD HUM A BIT. But the Instrumental phase of the courtship had no bearing on its climax.
¦I. -'-Mill.
WHEN COLONEL McCOSKRIE crosses the threshold at Quarters 5. he doe" not bring his official problems with him. There he can kick off his shoes (pro-iding he arranges them neatly), loosen his tie and plop down In that easy chair, complete with footstool. With the light from * lamp coming over his right shoulder, he can keep up on his military rending. Kan the latest periodicals. With careful aim he Ails the fray aioji "ic Chinese table at his right uifA fae asn /.am a cigarette. Preferably, though, the McCosKiies would like a houseful of com-tany. Colonel "Mac." as he affectionately W :alled by everyone who knows him that well, likes lots of people around—dozens of people! hundreds of people. He la a perfect host and an 'fully nice guy to have around. At home ho ver raises his voice, always Is congenial and considerate- BUT SHOULD YOU DESIRS TO TEST HIS PATIENCE TO TUB FULL, DONT FORGET TO DUCK. '
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ON THIS JOB. Colonel McCoskrie la 100 per cent army. At home you might find Him d'mn in Ihe basement, palling (he plan I. he will net nut In Ihe yard come spring. Tliey're his plants and nobody els* lays a paw' on them. His wife doesn't even water thent- SHE MIGHT WATER THEM TOO .MICH. OR TOO OFTEN, IN WHICH CASE TUB COLONEL MIGHT DISMANTLE THE HOME. BRICK BY BRICK.
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TSE TRAINING CENTER'S commanding niflcer likes his job. Ho lifces to work. // he r"«* our o/ «t. he'll look for more. His chief bobby 19 amateur photography. Movies in color from China. Hawaii, the Philippines, and countries m which he has served. are evidence of his fine craftsmanship. Ha likes golf, but doesn't have much, if any, time to play the game. He's fond of all sports and used to box. He still can thrdw a nice punch.
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THE OV* K pretty handy Around the hOUae. When lie (lies a doo'-loch. you don'l *e* the colonel Marin;, grief-stricken, mr :\ heap <if unidentified pari*. Door Dells and electric liglU fixtures are right down his alley. One thing always stumped Him. though. When the McCoskne daughter. Pfl*e>". who now la 28. broke a toy. the colonel would a»k for a transfer. He Just simply fooldn't fix the (two words omitted) things:
BRFORE HE WITS the Kay at night. McCoskrie Is quite apt to peer into the refrigerator for aoiue fruit. And he will reconnolter to determine whether mere is any rake In the house. // there is, and especiallu 1/ there is one baked by hia ici/c. he will ad-iviiice \eitho»l caution, drooling fereeptibly. But his reaction to ordinary cake is conservative compared with what happens tf the cake has coconut on or injt—or both. In that case he brings into play more than 30 years of army experience in this and far-flung countries. HB WILL CHARGE AS THOUGH WIXH FIXED BAYONET. KKACH THE OBJECTIVE, CAPTURE THE CAKE AND SET UP A GOVERNMENT OF HIS OWN IN ONE CORNER OF THE S ITCH EN. ___
