Elmer Hampton Stroman
Sergeant
Radio Division - Scott Field - Army Air Corps
The University Experience
The University of Oklahoma was a place of leisure and learning even in the late 1930s. The school hall was teaming with the country’s brightest pupils, among them a young man with an aptitude for music, Elmer Stroman. Like many others, he was able to enjoy studying for his classes, playing in the marching band, and the lighthearted moments in his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta. The ability to focus on such things was a gift of his father’s labor, a man who had worked as a commercial assistant for Singer Sewing Machine Co. in rural India for several years and later as a driller for an oil company in Oklahoma. It was during his father’s travels in India that he had been born in the Zenana Mission Hospital in Bareilly near the Nepal border. Elmer was far too young to recall anything of India, having spent most of his life in Carter, Oklahoma, but it no doubt made a great story to share among his peers in university.
In 1940, Elmer graduated “with a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education degree” (1). His class dispersed back to their homes likely expecting to enter into their desired civilian professions, Elmer becoming a salesman for a period. Yet well they had enjoyed University, most the world had been locked in a bloody conflict, which soon spread to the United States. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 meant war and Elmer was one of many youths who rushed to join the military, doing so on December 11th, 1941. Seemingly overnight the country had switched from enjoying the end of the hard years of the Depression to preparing for the monumental struggle that had begun. |
America's Radiomen
Elmer volunteered at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and went through his basic training, destined for the Army Air Corps. He proved adept at whatever tasks the army gave him qualifying as a marksman with a carbine, a mechanic for the Army Air Corps, and completing flexible gunnery school. Yet where his talents really shined through was in his ability as a radio operator, a course where his skill with precision musical instruments helped him greatly. With such talent, the Army Air Corps identified him as a perfect candidate for an instructor, being that his University Degree was oriented towards teaching. As such, the 5’9” Oklahoman was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and posted to Scott Field, Illinois in May of 1942 (2). He became a “instructor in the radio division” there and put his teacher’s education to work helping to train the masses of radio operators needed for this conflict (2).
The extensive material taught by Elmer and his fellow instructors covered everything from the classic morse code to in-depth communications for combat aircraft (2). It was an intensive course, which is why it was said that Scott Field produced “the best damned radio operators in the world” (3). In fact, there would be some “77,370 graduates” including a number of African Americans who would become part of the famed Tuskegee Airmen (3). Elmer had a direct hand in the instruction of a great number of these soldiers during his years spent at the base, being able to proudly boast that he helped train some of the top aircraftmen in the world. |
The Counter Intelligence Corps
His time spent at Scott Field had been productive and a rather pleasant posting. He often received leave to go visit his parents or to spend time in neighboring St. Louis throughout his years there. Yet as the war began to wane, the need to train masses of men was no longer required and the Army Air Corps transferred the Sergeant to a new posting at Camp Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland. Here he became part of the Headquarters Company for the U.S. Counter Intelligence Corps. This camp was now its top training facility, and it seems likely that he once again taught classes in radio communication. Those who came here were not the typical soldiers of the Army that Elmer was used to and were instead men preparing to become specialized agents (4). The training included the “detection of treason, sedition, and subversive activities and prevention of sabotage and espionage against the army” (4). The group trained by Elmer during the end of 1945 would become part of the nucleus of all counterintelligence operations needed for the upcoming Cold War (4).
Though likely a highly intriguing posting, Elmer decided to return to civilian life and accepted his honorable discharge at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas in December of 1945. He had been away for four long years from Oklahoma and was certainly happy to be home. His career as a salesman had fortunately awaited his return and he eagerly joined the automotive parts industry.
Though likely a highly intriguing posting, Elmer decided to return to civilian life and accepted his honorable discharge at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas in December of 1945. He had been away for four long years from Oklahoma and was certainly happy to be home. His career as a salesman had fortunately awaited his return and he eagerly joined the automotive parts industry.
Sources:
(1) Elmer Stroman Made Instructor. (1942, May 3). Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite.
(2) University of Oklahoma. (n.d.). Stroman, Elmer Manuscript Collection. University Libraries. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://lib.ou.edu/content/stroman-elmer-manuscript-collection.
(3) 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs. (2017, May 10). Scott History: 1940's. Scott Air Force Base. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.scott.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1179089/scott-history-1940s/.
(4) Nason, C. G. (2020, October 15). Counter Intelligence Corps Center and School Open at Camp Holabird 15 October 1945 . CW2 Christopher G. Nason Military Intelligence Library. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://m.facebook.com/IntelLibrary/photos/a.167172658523/10158854079138524/?type=3&source=57.
(1) Elmer Stroman Made Instructor. (1942, May 3). Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite.
(2) University of Oklahoma. (n.d.). Stroman, Elmer Manuscript Collection. University Libraries. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://lib.ou.edu/content/stroman-elmer-manuscript-collection.
(3) 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs. (2017, May 10). Scott History: 1940's. Scott Air Force Base. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.scott.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1179089/scott-history-1940s/.
(4) Nason, C. G. (2020, October 15). Counter Intelligence Corps Center and School Open at Camp Holabird 15 October 1945 . CW2 Christopher G. Nason Military Intelligence Library. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://m.facebook.com/IntelLibrary/photos/a.167172658523/10158854079138524/?type=3&source=57.