Author: Major E.E. Schroeder
Source: Puka Puka Parades, June 1967, vol. 20 no. 5
Letter written by Major E. E. Schroeder who was a Special Service Officer at Camp McCoy while the 100th was there. He recalls how fond the 100th was of baseball and taking them to a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field
Major E. E. Schroeder USAR (ret)
470 High Street
Milton, Wisconsin 53563
11 July 1967
The Hon. Daniel K. Inouye
United State Senator from Hawaii
Senator Chambers
Washington, D.C.
Respected Sir:
To-day I finished reading your excellent book, “Jour ney to Washington.” It is especially well written and should be an inspiration to read by millions of people all over the World. I surely enjoyed it.
Especially intriguing was your occasional mention of the 100th Infantry unit from your home State. The reason being that while that Battalion was training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, I was the Special Service Officer and really enjoyed working with those men. Because of their interest in baseball and with their complete cooperation I chartered a special train from McCoy to Chicago to see a National League game at the Cubs’ Wrigley Field. I accompanied them on that trip. That was in 1942, twenty-five years ago this month. The University of Chicago entertained us the Saturday night before the game at their International House. The boys from the 100th did themselves proud both as guests and entertainers as many had taken their ukuleles and/or guitars with them. I was mighty proud of them as they marched into Wrigley Field. It was announced over the public broadcast that they were there at the game. When the train left that night from Chicago to return to Camp McCoy every last one was ready to entrain. It was a great experi ence for me to be in charge of that group.
Back in Camp McCoy those men organized a baseball team which I escorted to meet teams in Winona, Minn., Tomah, Stevens Point, and Marshfield, Wis., amongst other cities. The men of the 100th were very popular both in Tomah, Sparta and LaCrosse, and there were always more invitations for them for week-ends than for others. I mention this mainly because of what you stated in your book about their welcome (?) in homes outside of Camp Shelby, Miss.
If when you return to your home State and meet any of the men of the old 100th, ask them if they remem ber me and whether or not they do, please give them my very best wishes. They were a fine outfit and their record in the World War II was of very high quality. I really enjoyed working with them at Camp McCoy. I left there before they did, for service in India and later in Germany.
Respectfully yours,
/a/ E. E. Schroeder