Hawaiʻi National Guard at the National Matches
REPORT OF TEAM CAPTAIN.
Headquarters,
First Infantry, National Guard of Hawaii,
Honolulu, Hawaii,
November 28th, 1910.
The Adjutant General,
Territory of Hawaii.
Sir :-I have the honor to report that in pursuance of General Orders Nos. 8 and 9, July 12th and 15th, and of Special Order No. 15, July 19th, 1910, the Hawaii Rifle Team, consisting of eighteen officers and enlisted men of the National Guard of Hawaii, detailed as members of the team for the year 1910 to participate in the National Rifle Competition at Camp Perry, Ohio, left Honolulu en route for Camp Perry on the S. S. “Sierra” at 10 a. m. July 20th, 1910, being one short of the authorized number, to-wit, nineteen, including twelve principals, three alternates, team captain, coach, spotter and surgeon. At the last moment Commissary Sergeant Edward B. Blanchard, one of the principals, found it impossible to go, and was excused for personal reasons which seemed to me adequate. It was too late to fill his place, and the team was thus compelled to leave in a somewhat handicapped condition.
The voyage to San Francisco was without incident, and we arrived at that port at eight o’clock on the morning of July 26. The following day (July 27), at 9:30 p. m., the team entrained for the East on Train No. 10, and proceeded to its destination by the routes specified in Orders: over the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. Camp Perry, Ohio, was reached at 8 :10 a. m. August 1st.
On the 12th following, Lieut.-Col. C. B. Cooper, the team surgeon, who had left the team at San Francisco, arrived and inspected with me the mess hall provided for common use, Here we found conditions such as to lead us to the conclusion that it was not a fit place for the men to subsist for the length of time we were to remain at Camp Perry, and, acting on the advice of the surgeon, I immediately determined to mess our own team. with the assistance of men detailed by Captain Harlee, from the United States Marines, we managed to provide an excellent dining room by using two hospital flies for a cover and wire screening for walls-the screening being purchased in Port Clinton, nearby-thus obtaining a welcome immunity from the flies, which were plentiful. A cook was engaged in Port Clinton, where we also purchased all of our provisions, the latter being fresh every morning. I believe this arrangement did much to keep the men in good health and condition-throughout our stay there was no sickness of any kind.
I wish here to take occasion to especially mention the kind treatment and universal courtesy extended to the members of our team by Captain Harlee and his officers of the United States Marine team. Their assistance and advice were invaluable.
In order to give the team some needed practice before the commencement of the regular competitive match, I entered two teams, designated. respectively as Hawaii Teams Nos. 1 and 2, in the preliminary Championship Regimental Team Match-six men each over a course of 200, 600 and 1000 yards ranges. Thirty-two teams in all were entered, the winner being the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, with a total score of 831. Hawaii Team No. 1 made an exceptionally good showing, finishing sixth, with a score of 804 points, and a cash prize of $24. Team No. 2 finished 22nd, with a score of 753.
In the General Competitive Shoot, 43 teams were entered in all, among whom Hawaii won 22nd place, with a total score of 2945 points, tying the leading team (United States Infantry) at 600 yards, with a score of 556.
The match was concluded on the 24th August, and at eight o’clock in the evening of the day following (August 25) the team broke camp and entrained for San Francisco, proceeding thither by the same route as that followed when outward bound. A number of furloughs and leaves were granted enroute to members of the team desirous of. visiting relatives or friends off the direct line of travel, but all rejoined in San Francisco prior to the elate fixed for departure, excepting Lieut.-Col. C. B. Cooper and Captain F. B. Angus-the former having left the team at Camp Perry, the latter at Reno, Nevada. At San Francisco, Sergeant T. J. K. Evans was granted a furlough. The team reached San Francisco at 6 :05 in the evening of August 30th, and on the 10th September, at 1 :30 p. m., left for home on the S. S. “Sierra,” arriving at the home port on the morning of the 16th following, with all the members well and present excepting Lieut.-Col. Cooper, Captain Angus, and Sergeant Evans, who did not return with the team.
The Hawaiian Team has each year shown improvement in its marksmanship and steadily increased its standing among the many teams competing annually at Camp Perry. The 1910 Team has made in every way a creditable record, and the conduct of its members throughout has been commendable.
Respectfully,
W. R. RILEY,
Major, First Infantry, N. G. H., Team Captain.
Honolulu, November 23, 1910.
– 1909-1910 Biennial Report pp. 27-39
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
