Separation Center

Designation of Camp Atterbury as one of 22 centers to which men now in the European theatre will be returned for discharge or for release on furloughs before being re-assigned to ditty ill the Pacific, will not mean any elaborate changes in the present operations of the post, it was pointed out today.

For some tune Camp Atterbury has been one of the centers to which men have been returned from the war fronts to receive their discharges or to receive furloughs while awaiting assignment to other combat units. The operation specified Wednesday by Gen. Brehon Somervell, chief of the Army Service Forces, in regard to plans for the handling of troops now in Europe at Camp Atterbury and other centers. will merely step up activities at the Camp.

Col. Welton Modisette, past commander at Camp Atterbury, said that no changes in the center's personnel or equipment is anticipated, although it is expected that many of the men will be processed when the development of troops in Europe is begun. Figures on the number of troops expected to be processed are barred from publication for military security reasons, he said.

To Employ Prisoners

Capt. Wesley Jones, public relations officer at Camp Atterbury, said today that German prisoners of war may be used to ease labor shortage in the Hoosier canning industry this summer.

Approximately 2,000 prisoners, assigned to Camp Atterbury. now are working in canneries or on Indiana farms. Tentative plans have been made to send other prisoners to work in canneries. A branch labor camp at Austin is housing German war prisoners working in nearby canneries, while several additional camps are scheduled to be opened in other sections of the state.

The Franklin Evening Star - 12 May 1945
Point System Card
Clip and save this "Discharge Scoreboard"
On an Adjusted Service Rating Card, similar to that above, the War Department will compute individual soldier's scores in the "point" system that will govern discharge of Army men during the next year.  Save this reproduction, study the point values as reported in this newspaper, and you should be able, roughly, to compute your own boy's score and estimate his chances of early discharge.  Note:  This is an Army plan only, and Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard personnel are not included.

"We've already shifted into high gear, and now we're ready for overdrive", remarked Lt. Col. Donovan McGee, commanding officer of the Reception Station, this week as he watched another trainload of overseas returnees pour into the unit's Checking Station.

Under the Army's recently announced deployment plan, the station here, second largest in the country, will be the focal point for individual soldiers and units from
Ohio and Kentucky returning from inactive theaters for furloughs and assignment to new stations for regrouping and retraining before moving on to add their weight in the war against Japan.

Men overseas who have been determined eligible for discharge under the adjusted service rating plan will also pass through here and after being screened for essentialities be transferred to the Separation Center for discharge. 

Rate Increases

The influx of individual soldiers and units arriving at the Reception Station has accelerated rapidly since V-E Day and is expected to swell the present flood of returnees in the near future to four or five times the number now being processed. according to Maj. Andrew Pereny, executive officer.

While soldiers who left overseas commands before May 12 under the system are still arriving here, this load is expected to decrease shortly and for the time being no men other than liberated prisoners of war will be returned to this country under the plan whereby men were given furloughs and sent to a redistribution center for assignment in this country.

Two groups make up the greatest majority of returnees now reporting here. The first of these consists of soldiers from active and inactive theaters returned to this country under the temporary duty plan for recuperation. These ordinarily receive 45 days recuperation furlough before reporting back to the Reception Station here for shipment to a post on their way to rejoin their overseas organizations. Any of this group, not screened overseas for discharge. under the point system, are declared non-essential are transferred n the Separation Center.

Surplus Men

Groups or entire units declared surplus by overseas theaters and being redeployed to the Pacific theater make up the greatest number now arriving at the Reception Station.  These are processed and given furloughs ranging from 21 to 45 days depending upon their branch of service and other factors.  After furlough, the men report back here for assignment as a group to a new station.

Liberated prisoners of war are ordinarily given 60-day furlough, before reporting to a Redistribution station, according to Lt. George C. Beaver. unit adjutant.  About 600 of these liberated prisoners, both officers and enlisted men, pass through each week.

In spite of the increased load, extra work involved in screening returnees, and the shortage of personnel, the Reception Station is maintaining its record for speeding
the men home for hard earned furloughs. in the shortest possible time. An officer or enlisted man reporting to the station alone, or In a group. is on his way home - perhaps for the first time in several years - within 24 hours, after having been paid, issued needed clothing, records checked and Issued furlough or leave orders. This leas been accomplished by cutting red tape to a minimum and by speeding up processing in all sections of the unit. The station operates on a 24-hour day basis, seven days a week.

Arrive Day & Night

Returnees arrive here at all hours of the day and night. wearing patches and insignia from every theater of operations. First stop is the checking station where records are turned in for processing. Following a brief physical checkup. the men are divided into groups according to their branch of service , and then screened for discharge or essentiality.

Meanwhile the records section has gone to work on their service r records to compute and prepare payrolls, determine length of furloughs, issue ration certificates for shoes, food and cigarettes, and make any awards or decorations authorized but not received. When the disposition or destination of the returnee, or group, is known, special orders are then issued sending him on furlough.

Processing

While this is going on, the men attend a brief orientation, where they are told something about the processing they will be given, the length of time of their furloughs and where they are to report. M-lowing lowing this the men are issued
clothing slips and go in a group to the clothing warehouse for any needed clothing.

Next step is signing the payroll after which the returnee receives his pay in full. Arrangements for shipping or storing of baggage are then made and the returnee 
receives his orders designating the length of furlough and the station to which he is to report.

The Post Transportation Branch is in charge of arranging for rail transportation from Atterbury, both for individuals going on furlough and for units assigned to other stations.

The experience of Lt. Col. Donovan McGee, commanding officer of the Reception Station, as a personnel officer overseas in World War I and as a reception center officer in this war, ideally equips him for the difficult task now facing the Reception Center.  He is shown here checking a report with S/Sgt W. S. Penrod as T/Sgt Ruth E. Bodine waits to take dictation.

Tile three block-long structures now house more than 65 per cent of the processing organizations, according to Maj. Joseph C. Dunn, commanding officer of the Separation Center. Although the same procedure is being used in separation, Maj. Dunn reports the consolidation of processes under several roofs has materially aided the Army here to change the GI into "mister" well within the allotted 48 hours.
Previously the processing buildings were spread over a four-block area, with the separatees being marched from area to area. Mostof this has been eliminated through the present centralization. And in the near future the organization will be still more compact when the Separation Center takes over the remaining building bordering on Harrison St.

Buildings in Use

(Editor's Note:  The buildings referenced were formerly motor repair shops, Buildings 1155 through 1158 and the larger Buildings 1159 through 1162.  Buildings 1155 through 1158 are still standing and in use as horse stalls for the Hoosier Horse Park. (08/05/2001)
.
Housed in the three huge buildings now in use are the Discharge Certificate Section, and Pay and Allotment Section, and Finance Branch in Building No. 1; Out-going Records Section and Counseling Branch in Building No. 2, and
Medical Branch in Building No. 3. When Building No. 4 is put in operation it will house the Initial Receiving Point and Initial Shakedown Sections.

Immediately in the rear of the huge warehouses are Separation Center Headquarters, Orientation on Building, Officers Affairs Branch and the Segregation Building, all told eight buildings - four warehouse and four storage units will be ready for Separation Center operations.

A brief summary of processing at the Separation Center offers a clear picture how this arrangement provides assembly-line efficiency. The 48-hour or less processing procedure follows.

Processing Procedure

Upon arrival the GI reports to the Initial Receiving Point and turns in his records and allied papers. He is given a short orientation talk on post regulations, separation processing, and notified that within 48 hours he should be a civilian. He then reports to Initial Shakedown where he is relieved of all government property except allowed clothing. He is then assigned to quarters and placed on the processing roster.
At present 12 rosters are. run through daily, with upwards to 50 men on each list. A guide is assigned to the group and remains with his men until final separation. Now processing starts in earnest. There are now nine steps.

They include orientation. counseling, physical examination, clothing issue, final shakedown, out-going record, finance, final ceremony, transportation, and then home.

That Final Pay Requires Huge Finance Staff
It takes a lot of figuring by the Finance Staff before a man receives his final Army pay.  A cross section inside the huge Building 1 is pictured above.  Besides his pay, a separatee received his travel mileage money home and the first installment of his mustering out allotment here.

Congressional and Indiana dignitaries visited lilt Atterbury lint N Separation ii. l Center this week, the congressional members of the House Military Affairs Committee, were invited by the War Department to tour the center here. Pictured left to right are: Brig. Gen. Ernest A. Bixby, Atterbury Post Commander: Rep. Forest Harness of Indiana: Rep. Overton Brooks of Louisiana; Rep. Charles Elision of Ohio; Rep. Henry U. Lareade, Jr., of Louisiana: Gov. Ralph F. Gates of Indiana: Col. Richard W. Cooper. Director of Personnel, Fifth Service Command: Lt. Col. Bernard C. Knestrick, Executive Officer, War Department Personnel Center: Maj. David C. Hale, Legislative Liaison Officer. Washington, D. C.

Getting an "inside" picture of the center, four congressmen spent one afternoon in Camp Atterbury seeing first-hand how soldiers are returned to civilian life. Another visitor was Gov. Ralph F. Gates, of Indiana.

The War Department last week invited the legislators to tour the nation's separation centers as it's guests. The visitors to Atterbury are members of the House Military Affairs Committee and included Congressmen Forest A. Harness of Ind., Charles Ellston, of Ohio, and Overton Brooks and Henry D. Laracade Jr.. of Louisiana.

The visitors inspected every phase of the separation program and stopped frequently to chat with soldiers in the processing litter;. Brig. Gen. Ernest A. Bixby, Post Commander, escorted the guests through the center.

He also told his guests the following facts about the progress of the Atterbury Separation Center:  

Since Sept. 1 the number being discharged here has increased 500 per cent.

A single-day record for dischargees was made here Sunday with a release of 2,046 men, while 2,138 arrived for processing.  A peak daily release of 2,400 should be reached this week.

Three hundred officers a day also are being released and the entire Separation Center load now has reached a total originally forecast for December by the War Department.  Approximately 80 per cent of the present dischargees are from the European Theater, and 20 per cent from the Pacific.

The Atterbury Separation Center celebrated its first birthday and is now full grown at the age of one.  And its current average of more than 2,500 discharges daily indicates how much it has grown since its activation on Oct. 15, 1944; when six men were discharged, in what was at that time prophetically termed "the first trickle of what eventually will become a great stream.

During the first days of operation. the mail was delivered in a bicycle basket. Today there are two full truck loads daily. The Separation Center's Message Center was originally stuffed by one man, who handled the correspondence from Post Headquarters in a manila envelope. Now there are 10 men kept busy, and a large box is filled six times daily with Headquarters correspondence alone.  At the end of the first week of processing, 149 men had been discharged. By the end of October the number had risen to 563. By the end of January 11,849 men were processed, and three months later the total was 14,192. Nearly 5,000 were discharged in May. and in June things really "opened up." More than 12,000 that month, nearly as many !n July, and more than 13,011 in August In September, with the activation of Operations Division, the figure leaped to 49,121, and the total for this month promises to exceed 70,000.

A first week crisis occurred when the newly-formed center received a telegram informing them that a sergeant and 92 enlisted men were coming for discharge. Supply sergeants frantically erected emergency cots in the supply room to handle the flood of men.

Three trucks were sent to meet the train, but when it arrived, one soldier stepped off. The telegram was investigated, and it turned out that the last two numbers of the sergeant's serial number - which happened to be 92 - were repeated at the start of the second line of the message, which made it read as though 92 enlisted men were arriving

Today a shipment of 92 men would not even cause a raised eyebrow, as shipments of many hundreds at one time are common.

Checking the figures on the Flow Control board In Separation Center: headquarters are M/Sgt. Isadore Lichtman, left, and Maj. L. F. Benson, Adjutant. 

Col. Chester F. Allen, veteran of 30 months with Sixth Army Headquarters in the Pacific, assumed command of the Separation Center last week.  A native of Beloit, Wis., where he was an Industrial engineer in civilian life. Col. Allen was called into service in October, 1940. as commanding officer of Co. L. 128th Regiment of the 32nd Division, then the Wisconsin National Guard.

He was later assigned to Third Army Headquarters at Ft. Sam Houston, Tex., remaining there until transferring to Sixth Army Headquarters for shipment overseas. While overseas he served in Australia, New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon. He left Luzon six weeks ago.

Col. Allen is a graduate of Beloit College, where he starred in football and basketball in 1932 and 1933, accepting a position as assistant coach the following two years.

The 250,000th man to be discharged at the Separation Center here was presented his discharge certificate by Brig. Gen. Ernest A. Bixby, Post Commanding General in a ceremony early Tuesday morning. The quarter millionth man was Pfc. Cosier F. Nowosielski, twice wounded Detroit veteran. Present for the occasion were, left to right: Col. Chester F. Allen, Commanding Officer of the Separation Center; Col. Thomas L. Martin. Executive Officer, War Department Personnel Center; Gen. Bixby; Pfc. Nowosielski; Col. John E. Brannan, Post Executive Officer; and Lt. Col. Donovan McGee, Assistant Executive Officer, Personnel Center.

The 250,000th Man discharged from the Separation Center here since it's activation was presented his certificate early Tuesday morning by Brig. Gen. Ernest A. Bixby, Commanding General of Camp Atterbury. The quarter-millionth man was Pfc. Casimer F. Nowostelski, Detroit. Mich., twice wounded veteran of 23 months service in the ETO and wearer of the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

A total of 62,183 officers and enlisted men were separated here during the month of November. And through the 5th of this month 12,043 have already been released including 2,701 on the first day.

Present during the ceremony which marked a major milestone in the 'history of the Separation Center were, in addition to Gen. Bixby, Col. Thomas L. Martin, Executive Officer, War Department Personnel Center; Col. Chester F. Allen, Commanding Officer, Separation Center; Col. John E. Brannan. Past Executive Officer; and Lt. Col. Donovan McGee. Assistant Executive Officer, Personnel Center.

Pfc. Nowostelski. veteran rifleman and company messenger in the 3rd Division, wears in addition to the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters. the ETO ribbon with four bronze battle stars, Croix de Guerre Distinguished Unit Citation and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was inducted in July, 1943 and trained at Camp Croft, S. C., before going overseas in January, 1944.

He was wounded at Anzio and later while crossing the Rhine. In October, 1944 he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for reestablishing communications under fire when his platoon, guarding a road block, was cut off. He received the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star for similar action during the Siegfried Line break-through.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE OF RECEIVING BATTALION
FROM ENTERING TIME UNTIL DISPOSITION

PREFACE

You have been admitted to the Receiving Battalion of Wakeman Convalescent Hospital, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  By this time you should have been processed by the Receiving Section of the Registrar's Office in Building 483 on the lower floor and had the following items checked: Records checked, in which a Form 55A accomplished, pay status checked, furlough status checked, (Some of you will have furloughs made out the second day of Processing by Medical Officers), Free Telephone Home Form accomplished, cigarette ration cards issued, Processing Slip issued, and assignment to your Company and Ward.  If the previous mentioned steps have not be done see your barracks leader at once.

Upon arriving at Barracks, Building 465, you will sign in on a roster, in which the Barracks Leader will assign you a bed for that evening only.

If you arrive after 0100 you will not be processed the day of that morning, but given an opportunity to rest, at which time you will remain in your barracks.  You will then begin processing the following morning with the group admitted during that 24 hours.  All those admitted before 0100 will begin processing the coming 0800.  It is to your advantage that you pay particular attention to your processing routing, because the sooner you are processed the sooner you will get your furlough or assigned to your new Battalion.

After the first day of processing, passes may be secured through your company orderly room.  You will have a formation at 0745, 1300, and 1615 every day, except Saturday and Sunday, (there will be only a 0730 formation on Saturday,) at which time information concerning you and company policy will be explained.

INFORMATION

Police

An in all military installations, the standard of cleanliness and orderliness of the Battalion Area and of the Barracks must be very high.  This will necessitate your cooperation to the fullest extent.  Refrain from throwing things on the ground as it will have to be picked up later.  A police of the area will be made daily and as many more times as is necessary to keep the area and barracks clean.

Military Courtesy

Military courtesy is only the act of being a gentleman and soldier at all times.  Saluting is merely saying, "Hello" without words.  Let's say "Hello" and let's be gentlemen.

Passes

Passes will not be issued on the day or night of your arrival.  After you have completed your first day of processing, you may sign up for a pass with your duty non-com (Barracks Leader).  Overnight passes will end at 0630 unless extended by your Company Commander.  Patients nor reporting back from overnight pass by 0630 will be considered to be Absent Without Leave unless sufficient reason for the delay is explained.

Mess

Mess will be held at the following hours in Buildings 469, 468 or 479.

Getting to mess on time assists the limited cooking staff to adequately serve you and clear the mess hall.

A snack bar will soon be in operation in Building 480, and the hours the doors are open will be announced at your Company Formation.  Your cooperation is requested in helping keep the place clean and orderly.  Take advantage of the Snack Bar.

Formations

Formations are held daily at the following hours and places:

Attendance at all formations is required.

Day Rooms

A day room is available to each Company at the following places: Company "A" day room in Building 464, Company "B" day room in Building 473.

Process Slips

Too much attention can not be paid your process slip.  See that it is initialed in every box adn by your Barracks Leader.

Process slips will be turned in on the morning of your day of transfer only to the shipping clerk who will be at your Orderly Room.

Appearance

Your day of processing will start at the hour shown on your process ship, but it is mandatory that your bunk be made and your barracks policed prior to your first formation which is at 0730 beside your barracks under the supervision of your Non-Com (Barracks Leader).  You will fall in a formation of ranks with the ranking NCO of each rank at the head.  Roll will be called by the duty Non-Com at this time.  You will then be marched to your Company Formation where special announcements will be made.

General

Any problems we can help you with while in Receiving Battalion should be brought to our attention.  We will gladly assist you in any capacity and will appreciate any suggestions you may have to offer co9ncerning the well being of the patients being processed.

FIRST DAY

0700     Make up your bed with clean sheets furnished you by Barracks Leader.

0730     Pack your Barracks Bag for a complete move, taking with you of the bedding only two sheets, and one pillow case that you used the evening before and move them to Supply Room, Building 473, waiting there for the next call, where they will tell you to report.

0800     You will receive initial orientation in Building 483, to include the mission of Wakeman Convalescent Hospital together with explanation of your processing, step by step.  To save a lot of confusion, pay close attention to the above explanation.  At the completion of the Orientation, you will be given a break and a chance to smoke.

0910     Your next step in processing will be a conference in the same building, at which time you will receive information on particular phases of army life and your part in it.

0940     You will receive instructions from Counseling Personnel, w/attention directed to affairs that may have arisen since you have been away.

1040     You will return to Barracks, Building 465, and wait there until your group is taken to Battalion Supply, Building 473.  At this building you will get your bed and barracks assignment, draw 2 blankets and be advised about clothing issue.  You will sign for 2 blankets, 2 sheets, and 1 pillow case, since you have the sheets and pillow case in your possession.

1300     You will promptly report to your Company Order Room --- Company "A", Building 464 and Company "B", Building 473  where you will receive such instructions as are necessary for the afternoon.

1315     Upon completion of company formations, you will proceed to Battalion supply, Building 473 for clothing check.  After your clothing has been checked, you will be taken to a Model Stock Supply Room and the clothing that you are short, issued that day.  When this is completed you have finished your first day of processing , when you will retire to your barracks and see that everything is in order for tomorrow.

SECOND DAY

NOTE YOUR COMPANY SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY DAY OF PROCESSING THAT IS DIFFERENT

COMPANY "A" ONLY

0800     You will have a dental examination in Building 482 on the first floor.

1000     Upon completion of dental examination you will report to the Appointment Clerk, at which time a Medical Appointment Slip will be given you which explains all the Medical Workup.  You will be given appointments from 1000 to 1630 for Ear, Eyes, Nose and Throat, and Physical Examination, Social Work, and Personal Conference.  At the end of the day when all your appointments are complete and your Medical Appointment Slip is completed, you will turn the slip in to the Appointment Clerk on the first floor.  When this is done your have completed the Second day of Processing.

COMPANY "B" ONLY

0800     You will have an Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat examination in Building 482 on the second floor along with Medical Examination by Medical Officers.  They will determine the length of convalescent furlough, if you are eligible for one at this time.  If you are eligible for a furlough you will sign the application at this time.  You will also be given appointments for Medical Consultations, and the proper time to report.  Be sure you meet these appointments, since it is important before your Medical Workup is completed.  Medical Workup will continue the remaining part of the day until you have finished your workup or have appointment for the following day.  After having completed the three examinations mentioned, your second day of processing will be finished.

THIRD DAY

0830     You will turn in your bedding which consists of 2 blankets, 2 sheets, 1 pillow case and bunk tag, to Supply Room, Building 473.  Move your bags to your Orderly Room and wait for the Shipping Clerk to take your processing Slips.

0800     Shipping Clerk will take up your processing slips and move you by bus to your new Battalion.

THE COMMANDING OFFICER

Page last revised 04/13/2022
James D. West
www.IndianaMilitary.org