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Gonzaga Students Stepped Up for World War I
When the United States officially entered World War I in 1917, Gonzaga students wanted to join the war effort. President James Brogan, S.J., seeking ways to keep them on campus, he persuaded officers at Fort Wright to provide drill instructors. Gonzaga then negotiated with the Department of War to establish a Students Army Training Corps (SATC) that began in fall 1918. Selected students and faculty were sent to the Presidio in San Francisco for 60 days of training. Afterward, these students and teachers helped officers assigned here. The program allowed students ages 18-21 to continue their studies at Gonzaga and prepare for military service. The 350 students who joined received the rank and pay of a private. In its first month, Capt. Theophilus Steele replaced Col. W. R. Abercrombie as commandant and Abercrombie was reassigned. After the armistice was signed, the SATC disbanded in December 1918. Gonzaga received a certificate of devotion to country in 1921 from the adjutant general.
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