The Decoy Doughboy

Souvenir Edition -- Printed in Czechoslovakia

May 23, 1945. -- Publishes by and for the men of the 18th Combat Team. -- First Infantry Division, U. S. Army.

Showers

Thanks to W/O Henry J. Kelty and M/Sgt. Barney Baxter of Service Company, men of the regiment have had access to hot showers and a change of clothing whenever company commanders could spare their men to make the trip to the home-made showerpoint. Mr. Kelty and Sgt. Baxter spent severals weeks collecting the necessary materials and several days following the Rhine crossing the "Decoy Showers" were open for business.

On March 17th Mr. Kelty and Sgt. Baxter conceived the pan whereby the fox-hole dwellers might wash up and change cloths every few days at a shower point located directly behind the front lines. After collecting salvagable parts such as pipes, elb6ws, stoves, and a water pump, left behind by the Germans in their hasty retreat, Service Company employed three qualified plumbers in the regiment, and had the shower point in workable condition within a few days.

The three plumbers, Pfc. Gerhard Shultz, Pfc. Leo Massoni, and Pfc. John T. Thacker, (the latter two remained to operate the point) set up 12 showerheads and a miniature supply room for the battle weary foot troops.