S.O.S. into A.S.F.

Mother, take in your service flag,

Your son's in the S.O.S.

He's S.O.L. but what the hell,

He's having a hell of a rest.

He's weak and pale but that's from ale

Unless I miss my guess.

Mother, take in your service flag,

Your son's in the S.O.S.

Such verses from a World War I ditty were well known to Lieut. General Brehon B. Somervell when he took over command of Services of Supply. Despite what uniformed wags from the combatant branches said, they had nothing to do with a change of name announced last week on the first anniversary of the S.O.S. The new name: Army Service Forces. Reason for the change: to conform with Supply's counterparts -- Army Ground Forces and Army Air Forces.

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