Soldiers climbing over wall on Commando Course (ca. July 1943)
Description:
This photograph shows a group of soldiers from Army Air Corps tackling an obstacle on the Commando Course on the campus of Springfield College as part of their training for World War II. The soldiers are climbing up and over a straight wooden ladder-like wall. Behind the obstacle, other soldiers are watching the soldiers who are climbing. The photo was thought to be taken in July 1943. At the start of World War II, Springfield College served as training grounds for the Army Air Corps, which allotted the college $90,000 for upgrading facilities. In the spring of 1944, the training program was canceled; in order to conserve its assets for expanded postwar operations in the face of decreasing student enrollment, Springfield College negotiated a contract with the U.S. Navy to serve as a Naval Special Hospital. The Navy allotted $75,000 to bring the college up to the mark of a naval hospital, and the first contingent of one hundred and fifty patients arrived on September 22, 1944. It was estimated that five hundred patients could be served. Alumni Hall was used as the hospital, and the old dormitory (now called the Administration Building) became administrative offices and housing for nurses and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).
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