War gets personal in this (above photo at left) hand-to-hand combat business, which all of Uncle Sam's recruits reporting to Camp Dodge for basic training must learn. Pvt. Robert Bradfield (left photo,at right) of Salem, Ia., takes rifle with fixed bayonet from Sergt. Francis Allard of Hibbing, Minn., the instructor.

(Above photo at right) A soldier must know how to handle, among other weapons, a .45 caliber revolver and here a group of men pull down on targets on the pistol range at Camp Dodge. This course is designed to familiarize men with the revolver and its use. A revolver comes in handy on the battle field.
(Above) After a day on the range a rifle must be cleaned and kept in top condition. Pvt. Clark O. Fleming of Dinsdale, Ia., spend some spare barracks time cleaning his M-1 rifle.
(Above) Triangulation exercises aren't as technical as they may sound. Pvt. Ralph Sawyer, Clinton, Ia., and Pvt. Archie Deal, Woodbine, Ia., are shown learning to sight a rifle.
Bayonet drill is an important part of military training and here (above) Pvt. Roy Shirk plunges the cold steel into a straw-filled burlap sack. Shirk is from DesMoines.
Time out in the barracks means time to read or write letters. Pvt. Lindy Marcum of Humboldt, Ia., shows a picture to his buddy, Pvt. Jack Olds of Davenport, Ia., while relaxing in their bunks.

Source: The Des Moines Register, March 5, 1944