- Historical Date:
Rejected by Examiners, Co. G Commander Swears in Men, Successor Named.
With a new commanding officer in charge of Company G succeeding Capt. Lawrence G. Covell, notified he failed to pass the physical examination, Muskegon’s two National Guard units, inducted into the federal service Wednesday evening at Hackley stadium before more than 2,500 persons, continued preparations today for a year’s training at Camp Beauregard, La.
Capt. Herald M. Hootman of Grand Rapids, former communications officer at regimental headquarters, arrived today to assume command after Capt. Covell was informed Wednesday he was one of seven men rejected by the army examining board.
Machine gun bullet wounds in his right leg, received in the Argonne offensive, Oct. 9, 1918, were responsible for the examining board’s ruling. Capt. Covell was hospitalized for 22 months until Aug. 11, 1920. He still carries a deep scar where surgeons cut into the bone to remove the bullet.
In Service 25 Years
In the National Guard for 25 years, Capt. Covell has been transferred to regimental headquarters at Grand Rapids pending final notification of discharge. He is expected to continue as manager of the state automobile license bureau, from which he recently requested a leave of absence to accompany the Muskegon unit to Louisiana.
The medical examining board in charge of Capt. Simon Warmonhooven also rejected Priv. Vernon Sargent, a member of Company G for about 14 years, Corp. William Beyers, and Privates Eugene Allen, Oscar Beneteau, Cyril Corpe, and Edward Van Etten, all members of Company G. All members of the headquarters detachment passed. The places will be filled by recruiting before the units entrain for Camp Beauregard.
Rejection by the examining board came a keen disappointment to Capt. Covell, commanding officer of Company G since the death of Capt. Howard H. Pellegrom of Grand Haven, March 5, 1938.
Capt. Covell, decorated with the Order of the Purple Heart in recognition of his wound, enlisted with the Muskegon company in 1915. He was advanced to second lieutenant in 1926, to first lieutenant a few months later, and promoted to captain in 1938
Knew He Was Through
In perhaps his final official act as commanding officer of Company G, Capt. Covell Wednesday evening administered the oath of enlistment to almost 100 members of the two Muskegon units at Hackley stadium, though he knew then of his rejection by the army examining board.
Beside Capt. Covell as he administered the oat was Commander Floyd Bargy of the Merritt Lamb post of the American Legion, chairman of the proceedings. As the oath was completed, Guardsmen brought their rifles to “Present Arms” and the officers sabres flashed in salute while massed bands of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights high schools played the Star Spangled Banner.
Guardsmen and the large crowd of Greater Muskegon residents heard Judge Joseph F. Sanford declare, “You are making sacrifices not alone for the cause of your country but for the cause of Christianity. You march under the banners not only of your country but of the Christian faith.”
Preceded by the bands and the Merritt Lamb post color guard, the Guardsmen, had swung into the stadium and faced the stands. After the ceremony, they marched from the field while the crowd stood silently in the stadium and watched.
Preliminary training before leaving for Louisiana, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday at midnight although no definite orders have been received, continued today under command of Capt. Hootman.
The new commanding officer has been a member of the National Guard for alsmot 25 years. he served on Mexican border patrol duty in 1916, took part in the Alsace-Lorraine, Meuse-Argonne, and St. Mihiel offensives in the Word war, and since 1924 has been a member of Michigan National Guard units.
Col. William Haze, of Grand Rapids, commanding officer of the 126th Infantry regiment, visited the Armory today to confer with officers of the two Muskegon units. Col. Haze was accompanied by Lieut. Col. Clark H. Apted, commanding officer of the second battalion of which Company G and the headquarters detachment are units.
Promotions in Company G to fill places left vacant by the discharge of married men with dependents were confirmed recently, it was announced today.
Advancements include: to first sergeant, Sgt. John Groulx; to sergeant, Corporals Charles Miller and Roy Borgeson and Pvt. First Class Harland D. Hammond; to corporal, Privates First Class John Clark and John Kwak and Private William Wills.1
In perhaps his last official act as commanding officer of Company G, Capt. Lawrence G. Covell is shown here as he administered the oath of enlistment to Muskegon’s two National Guard units at Hackley Stadium Wednesday evening. Left to right are: Sgt. William Davis, recruiting officer; Bob Quinn; Commander Floyd Bargy of the Merritt Lamb post of the American Legion; Capt. Covell, and Judge Joseph F. Sanford, principal speaker. (Chronicle photo)
- Muskegon Chronicle. Nov. 17, 1940.
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