Private Edwin A. Rinard (February 3, 1904).
Of these men Private first class Smith and Private Prins were on duty in the kitchen and were at no time subject to restriction of diet and liberty. Private first class Curtis deserted before the experiment was well under way and can not be attributed to any cause arising out of the investigation. Private Rinard’s desertion was in my opinion due to the restrictions of diet and liberty incident to the experiment. I would say, however, that this man was a worthless character and was discharged “without honor” from the army during a previous enlistment.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) Wallace Dewitt,
1st Lieut. and Asst. Surgeon U. S. Army,
Commdg. Detachment.
As supplementing Dr. DeWitt’s statement it may be mentioned that Rinard reported for the experiment at New Haven on December 11, 1903, and remained here until February 2, 1904. On December 11 he weighed 59.8 kilos, while on February 2, the last day he was here, his body-weight was 60 kilos. Evidently, any restriction of diet he may have suffered had not made any great impression upon his bodily condition.
There were thirteen men of the detachment who really took part in the experiment, and of these all but four were in the original detail. Of these four, two joined in October and two early in November. Of these thirteen, all but two continued to the close of the experiment, April 4, 1904.
The following statement gives the name, age, birthplace, occupation, length of service (U. S. Army), etc. of the thirteen men.
It will be noted that the men range in age from twenty-one years six months to forty-three years, and that representatives of many countries are on the list.
Regarding the duties of the men, i. e., their daily work, the following statement from Dr. DeWitt will give all needed information on this point. The character of the Gymnasium work will be referred to later.