Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "596283",
    "label": "Letter from Lt. Col. C. L. Adcock of the Corps of Engineers to the Commanding General at Fort Bevoir, Virginia",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/596283"
}

{
    "id": "596283",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/596283",
    "contentType": "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.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/596283",
    "collections": [
        "Records of the United States Secret Service Pertaining to the Protection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt",
        "Administrative Records"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/83/5962/596283/content/arcmedia/Public_Vaults/09983_2005_001_a.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/83/5962/596283/content/arcmedia/Public_Vaults/09983_2005_001_a.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/83/5962/596283/content/arcmedia/Public_Vaults/09983_2005_001_a.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/596283",
    "naId": 596283,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 16,
            "logicalDate": "1941-12-16",
            "month": 12,
            "year": 1941
        }
    ],
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/83/5962/596283/content/arcmedia/Public_Vaults/09983_2005_001_a.jpg",
    "mediaId": "553b0ac37c569bef",
    "ocrText": "WAR DEPARTMENT\nCOPY\nOffice of the Chief of Engineers\nWASHINGTON\nTX\nDecember 16, 1941\nSubject: Special Squad for Resoue Work.\nTo\n# Commanding General,\nFort Belvoir, Virginia\n1. The Chief of Engineers has been directed, through the\nWashington Provisional Brigade, to have a special detachment formed\nat Fort Belvoir, trained and equipped to perform reacue work at the\nWhite House in case of emergency.\n2. The items of pioneer and other equipment required for\nsuch a task, the training to be given enlisted personnel in prepara-\ntion for this duty, and the size of the detachmentwill be determined\nby you after you have designated the troop unit at Fort Belvoir for\nthis mission and selected the officer in charge.\n3. It is suggested that the officer whom you select to super-\nvise this matter consult Major K. F. Hertford, Major F. J. Wilson, and\nMr. S. B. Smith, office, Chief of Engineers, and Captain william F.\nPowers, Engineer Board, all of whom are familiar with the methods and\nequipment employed in Great Britain.\n4. Arrangements can be made by the officer designated by\nyou to secure access to the White House through Colonel H. B. Smith,\nHq. Washington Provisional Brigade, Room 128, Potomac Park Apartments,\n21st and C Streets, N. W., Washington, Do C. (Telephone REpublic 6700-\nExtension 2517), in order to determine the probable sise and weight\nof building material to be handled in such rescue work should it be\nrequired.\n5. The Headquarters Washington Provisional Brigade further\nadvises that colored troops may be selected for this assignment.\n6. The readiness of this detachment to report at the White\nHouse on call will govern the number of personnel to be trained.\nFor the Chief of Engineers,\nC. L. Adcock,\nLt. Col., Corps of Engineers,\nCOPY\nExecutive Assistant,\nTroops Division."
}