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This document details the creation of a special squad within the War Department's Corps of Engineers to be assigned to rescue work at the White House in Washington, D.C., in the event of an emergency. This action was taken in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into World War II.
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596283
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Letter from Lt. Col. C. L. Adcock of the Corps of Engineers to the Commanding General at Fort Bevoir, Virginia
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1
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596283
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document
title
Letter from Lt. Col. C. L. Adcock of the Corps of Engineers to the Commanding General at Fort Bevoir, Virginia
description
This document details the creation of a special squad within the War Department's Corps of Engineers to be assigned to rescue work at the White House in Washington, D.C., in the event of an emergency. This action was taken in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into World War II.
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Records of the United States Secret Service Pertaining to the Protection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Administrative Records
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596283
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16
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1941-12-16
month
12
year
1941
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nara-archive
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1
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photo
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553b0ac37c569bef
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WAR DEPARTMENT
COPY
Office of the Chief of Engineers
WASHINGTON
TX
December 16, 1941
Subject: Special Squad for Resoue Work.
To
# Commanding General,
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
1. The Chief of Engineers has been directed, through the
Washington Provisional Brigade, to have a special detachment formed
at Fort Belvoir, trained and equipped to perform reacue work at the
White House in case of emergency.
2. The items of pioneer and other equipment required for
such a task, the training to be given enlisted personnel in prepara-
tion for this duty, and the size of the detachmentwill be determined
by you after you have designated the troop unit at Fort Belvoir for
this mission and selected the officer in charge.
3. It is suggested that the officer whom you select to super-
vise this matter consult Major K. F. Hertford, Major F. J. Wilson, and
Mr. S. B. Smith, office, Chief of Engineers, and Captain william F.
Powers, Engineer Board, all of whom are familiar with the methods and
equipment employed in Great Britain.
4. Arrangements can be made by the officer designated by
you to secure access to the White House through Colonel H. B. Smith,
Hq. Washington Provisional Brigade, Room 128, Potomac Park Apartments,
21st and C Streets, N. W., Washington, Do C. (Telephone REpublic 6700-
Extension 2517), in order to determine the probable sise and weight
of building material to be handled in such rescue work should it be
required.
5. The Headquarters Washington Provisional Brigade further
advises that colored troops may be selected for this assignment.
6. The readiness of this detachment to report at the White
House on call will govern the number of personnel to be trained.
For the Chief of Engineers,
C. L. Adcock,
Lt. Col., Corps of Engineers,
COPY
Executive Assistant,
Troops Division.