- Historical Date: October 16, 1940
- Location:Muskegon, MI
Army life in the service of Uncle Sam was still pretty much a matter of saying ah-h-h-h, being vaccinated, and wandering around the second floor of the Armory in a pair of shorts or a bathrobe for almost 100 Muskegon National Guardsmen who today passed their second mobilized day taking physical examinations.
Members of Company G and the headquarters detachment, most of whom spent last night at their homes, reported at 7 a. m. again today to find the medical examing [sic] board ready with their stethoscopes and dental instruments.
Physical examinations are ex- [sic] Physical examinations were today after which the medical board will move to Grand Haven to inspect Company F. Results of the examinations, which will mean discharges for men unable to meet prescribed standards, will not be known until the work is completed.
Guardsmen examined Tuesday spent their time today in packing blankets, stoves, tents, spare parts and other equipment into boxes for the trip to Camp Beauregard, La. The Muskegon units expect orders to entrain in about a week.
Purposes of the thorough physical examinations, Guardsmen learned, are to weed out the unfit, record marks of identification, and establish a file of the soldiers’ condition at the time of mobilization to check on possible claims made later for disabilities suffered in service.
Tattoo marks and fillings in teeth are among the best means of identification, the medical board pointed out. Scars are also carefully recorded.
Soldiers are vaccinated against smallpox and typhoid fever. Their physical condition, vision and hearing are tested. Color blindness is tested by identification of strings of colored yarn.1
This article talks about the details of preparing to leave for service; packing equipment, getting physicals and vaccinations. But tucked away inside the article is a mention of recording marks of identification: tattoos, fillings, scars. Marks that could be used to identify a dead body. America had not yet joined the war, but war was coming just the same.
- Newspaper clipping from unknown newspaper, probably Muskegon Chronicle
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