“Sandstorm Division” May Be New Name for Camp Cody’s Thirty-Fourth

The name “Sunshine” having been preempted, Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Raymong, chief of staff of the 34th division, has suggested the name of “Sandstorm” be attached to it. This suggestion, embodied in a memorandum issued Friday, will be voted on by the division. The memorandum, which gives the reasons for the name, follows:

“It is necessary to find a new name for this division, as the term “Sunshine” has been per-empted. For an effective appellation and one, at the same time, that shall be always reminiscent of our stay in Deming, it has been suggested that we call ourselves “The Sandstorm Division.”

“While the new name will always remind us of some of the most persistent climatic peculiarities of Camp Cody, it is not to any facetious suggestions the term “sandstorm” may inspire that your attention is directed. There is the persistence of the sandstorm, its power, its overwhelming nature. When it arises in its might, even the most violent of men are subdued and seek shelter.

“All, too, know the potency of the sandblast. Before it the most obdurate of substances give way. It will back its way into the heart of the most resisting of metal.

“The Sandstorm Division” – the term furnishes a fitting and effective allegory of all that the 34th division aspires to be. Shall the term be adopted? You are requested to turn in your answers, Yes or No, to these headquarters before 4 pm. Saturday, April 20, 1918. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Sunday, April 21, 1918

The Sandstorm Division

Col. Elliott M. Norton now commanding Camp Cody’s 387th Infantry

Colonel Elliott M. Norton, former commander of the sixth infantry, fifth division overseas, is now commanding the 387th Infantry.

For six months Col. Norton had an intimate relationship with the real fighting game, a portion of the time in the St. Miheil sector, Montfancon, Cunel Romange, etc. He has been in the regular army since 1900 and has served in the Philippines many times, a part of time with General Pershing.

The 387th has scored 100 percent four consecutive weeks. Twice it was “cited for unusual bravery in action” by being counted the best in camp.

Men who have been drilling two weeks in the 387th look like men of two month’s service. They have punch and pep. – Deming Graphic Newspaper – November 29, 1918

Army Truck at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico

Camp Cody 388th Supply Company Get New Commander

Captain Cady, the new commander of the 388th supply company, led company E, 104th infantry, 26th division, the New Englanders who did valiant service overseas. He saw many companions shot down near him but escaped bullets, blasting shell and gas. For eight months he was on the fighting line.

Captain Cady was with Pershing in Mexico and is personally acquainted with many New Mexico officers having come to the border with the Massachusetts troops. – Deming Graphic Newspaper – November 29, 1918

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Storm Stops Camp Cody Track Meet

The 34th division athletic field and track meet, programmed to take place on the grounds at the division exchanged theater Saturday afternoon had to be postponed on account of a terrific sandstorm, which prevented anything like sport. The meet is set down for next Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2 o’clock. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Monday, May 27, 1918

Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico – WW1

Troops Leaving Camp Cody at Rate of 500 Daily

Two troop trains are leaving Deming, New Mexico, daily, containing discharged soldiers, the ticket office there showing a daily sale of over 500 tickets, according to Garnett King, chairman of the El Paso passenger traffic committee. The government is furnishing individual transportation to all those soldiers living west of a line through Fort Worth, Des Moines, Ia., and to Minnesota. Men living east of that line are being sent to Fort Worth and Des Moines and demobilized there.

The federal authorities intend to demobilize most of the troops at Camp Cody, but the headquarters organization, the military police and the remount depot will be held until the last. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – December 10, 1918

Camp Cody – Mimbres Valley

Thompson Finishes Work on Big Contract At Camp Cody

J. W. Thompson, contractor, who for several months has been putting in big improvements in Camp Cody, has practically completed the work and the office force is now finishing its work. It is said that the work under the Thompson contract this time cost well over $1,750,000.

Among the principal items were a sewer system costing about $550,000; increasing and improving the water system, over $40,000, and installing ranges in kitchens for the new 97th division, which was to have been trained there if the war had continued as was expected, over $40,000.

Then there were bath houses with cement floors and with hot water equipment, and the like, considerable building, and other construction work. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Monday, December 2, 1918

Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico

Camp Cody Soldiers Saved Deming From Big Fire

Mayor Hamilton Sends An Official Letter of Thanks to General Johnston

Major R. F. Hamilton, of Deming, has sent the following letter to Brig. General John A. Johnston, commander of Camp Cody.

“Dear Sir: I am directed by the board of trustees of Deming to thank the officers and men of your division through you for the assistance rendered to our fire department and the people of Deming at Thursday’s fire.”

“The board of trustees, members of the fire department and the people of Deming are unanimous in their expressions of praise and gratitude for the inestimable services of the members of the 34th division, which alone made it possible to confine the fire within the area in which it was held and thereby prevented a conflagration which would have consumed practically all of the business section, perhaps even including the government warehouses in the east end of Camp Cody”.

“Permit me also to convey to you the admiration of the people of Deming for the men during the fire, for the courageous manner in which they went into hazardous places and to express the opinion that if the “Sandstorm” division displays the same courage, enthusiasm and singleness of purpose when it is called into action overseas, and we feel confident it will, it will give its officers and the whole country every reason to be proud of it.”

“Expressing the desire of the people of this community to be of assistance to you in every way, and that you may not hesitate to call upon us at any time should occasion demand, I am very respectfully yours. (Signed) R. F. Hamilton, Mayor”

The Deming Public Library association has sent a letter of appreciation to Major H. M. Nelly, adjutant of the 34th division for the help of the soldiers in saving all the library books and building. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – July 15, 1918

Cody Theatre Fire – Deming, New Mexico – July 1918

Beyerstedt Puts Out a Song For Camp Cody Fighters

Violinist is Author Of Two New Songs, One Dedicated to Camp Cody

Bert Beyerstedt, “the violinist with the punch,” who recently appeared at the Crawford theater with the Raymond Teal company, has just published two snappy songs, one of them dedicated to the soldiers at Camp Cody. The songs are published by Beyerstedt Bros., Winona, Minnesota, Bert being on of the members of the firm.

The Camp Cody song is called “The Sandstorm Division” and bears a portrait of Miss Hazel Lake of the Teal company. The words are by Frank G. Jaquet, a former member of the Teal company.

The other song is called “Just a Girl and a Boy” and bears a full length portrait of Miss Madeline Lee, prima danna of the Teal company. The words of this song are by Arline Palmer.

The words to the “Sandstorm” song which is dedicated to the men of the 34th division, which Mr. Beyerstedt gives The Herald permission to publish, are as follows:

We are boys from Minnesota,
We are boys from South Dakota,
We are boys from Iowa, Nebraska, too
Through the sand and cactus drilling,
Just one thought our minds is filling
To collect a bill that now is overdue,
You’ll be sorry, Butcher Kaiser
But you’ll be a whole lot wiser
When this sandy, hand bunch get after you.

CHORUS

It’s the Sandstorm division
That will put kaiser Bill over the hill
When we get over to him, we will show-
That it’s a case of fight, not blow,
So, lookout, for we are on our way
And we will make you Germans pay
And you Austrians and Turks,
We will get the whole damn works
It the good old Yankee way – It’s the way.

There will be no more Turkish harems,
No more German harem-scarems.
We will crush your “me unt Got” phrase good and well,
We will make all you Huns,
Hear the voice of our great big guns,
We will then revenge the death of nurse Cavelle
And your baby killing kaiser,
We will grind to fertilizer.
Give to him a thro’ trip ticket down to hell

CHORUS

In this land that is so free,
No more sauerkraut you will see.
No more linburger the air will ever stench
No more “German fries” now will we eat
Or with German laager treat,
But bury all of them down in a trench
For the Sandstorm is out to kill,
And we will get you, kaiser Bill,
We’ll join our pals, the English and the French

CHORUS

El Paso Herald Newspaper – Friday, August 9, 1918

Camp Cody Band – Deming, New Mexico – WW1

Camp Cody Soldiers Have Garbage Rules

Coming Out of Mess at Camp Cody, They Drop Leavings In Cans

Hereafter when soldiers emerge from their mess halls they will find confronting them seven, different cans for the reception of any waste that may be in their mess kits.

In the first can they will put bread, next meats and fats, then come bones, then coffee grounds and such, next tin cans and lastly fruit pits and seeds, which plum, olive and date, the latter being used in the manufacture of carbon for gas masks.

All these are kept separate and carefully weighed after each meal, and nothing that has one cent value in it is allowed to go to waste.

Records Are Kept.

Careful records are kept so that at any period designated the nutrition officer is able to report to the commanding officers the exact wast of any portion of food.

Where large numbers of men are served a “director of garbage” stands with a cane and indicates into which can articles are to be dumped.

Mess kits are washed, first in hot soapy water, next in clear water and lastly in clear hot water. Sanitation, conservation, reclamation, seems to be the camp slogan. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – Tuesday, October 15, 1918

A Company Kitchen – Camp Cody, New Mexico

Orders to Move 2,200 Men From Camp Cody Received

Instructions have been received by Garnett King, chairman of the El Paso traffic committee, to give attention to the demobilization of 2,200 soldiers at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico. Richard Warren, of the E. P. & S. W. system, has been sent there to attend to the matter.

“Each day 500 must be moved,” said Mr. King. “I hope to complete the movement by making additional equipment to the schedule.”

There are 15,000 troops at Camp Cody, and 12,800 will be there after the present movement, it was reported. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – November 23, 1918

Train Kills Men Near Camp Cody

Auto Driver and Three Soldiers Caught on Crossing by S. P. Freight

Walter G. McClure, driver of a service car; Vern Kinnaman and Roy V. Kinnaman, brothers, soldiers in the 134th ambulance company, and Leo McGrath, soldier in the 135th ambulance company, were killed Friday evening at 6:30 o’clock, when the automobile in which they were riding from Camp Cody to Deming was struck by a Southern Pacific fruit express train at a crossing.

Richard A. Smith and Robert Carlton, two other soldiers in the auto, were injured, but will recover, it is thought.

The Kinnaman brothers’ home was at Walthill, Nebraska, and McGrath lived at St. Paul, Minnesota. The injured men were also from St. Paul.

Driver From Texas

McGrath’s neck was broken and McClure was dragged under the train to instant death. Roy Kinnaman lived only ten minutes after the accident and his brother, Vern, lived only an hour, both being taken to the base hospital quickly.

Driver McClure came to Deming from Cedar Park, Texas, a week ago. He is survived by his mother and also by two children. He had only begun to drive the service car on Friday, it was said. – El Paso Herald Newspaper – August 3, 1918

Train Kills Men Near Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico