United States Army
Signal Corps Photographic Center
35-11 35th Avenue
Long Island City 1, New York
Harrison Fisk (15-43)
sent a large package of orders with the above heading, ranging
from early 1943 to his discharge in 1945. A lot of the "job
titles" were the same old ones we have all heard: Project
Officer, Liaison Officer, Admin Branch, etc. The interesting job
titles on these orders include "Narration and Casting,"
"DomesticAnimation Branch," "Studio Support Branch," "Film
Distribution Division," "Central Film Library Division," "Sound
Branch," "Central Machine Branch," etc. One can easily guess
that the filks assigned there were into some highly important
programs to include training, motivation, and possibly some
propaganda films as well. (Don't even consider asking if they
were the ones who produced those horrible VD and personal
hygiene films.)
Movie fans will enjoy hearing the names
of some assigned there, three of whom are widely known.
Russell Arms (41-45), assigned to the Casting section
(best remembered as lead singer on "Your Hit Parade"),
Daniel J. Dailey, Jr., (12-42), assigned to Narration
and Casting and Forrest M. Tucker (25-43) whose
name was found on a set of orders stating that he completed the
infiltration course and participating in an aerial firing
exercise. (Both of the latter became well known actors.)
The most amazing thing is that when I
first talked to Harrison, he was sure that he no longer had any
records of any type from his military years. Just recently he
stumbled across his military file in an old filing cabinet.
Adding over 130 names to the listing of graduates. Others of you
might get lucky if you check where you have not checked lately!!
- Richard Green