The “mill” at Bordeaux was housed in a long, low hut with separate departments for the chief operations necessary to the preparation of troops for embarkation, the steps being arranged progressively. At the entrance end were the executive offices. Here the soldier, as he passed through, received his service records, withdrawn from his company’s files, and also a Red Cross bag in which to carry his personal trinkets and his record cards and papers on the journey through the “mill.” Next he came to the records inspection section, where officers perfected the entries in his record. Here he also received a copy of the orders under which his unit was traveling, his pay card, and a card known as the individual equipment record. On the equipment card appeared the printed names of all articles which a completely outfitted American soldier should wear or carry wherever he went. Next the soldier stood before an inspector who examined the worn equipment, noted wherein it was incomplete, labeled any damaged or worn-out articles for discard and salvage, and checked on the equipment card such new articles as should be issued to the soldier later on. The standard equipment of each returning soldier was as follows: 1 Barrack Bag 2 Undershirts 2 Pairs of Drawers 2 Pairs of Socks 1 Pair of O. D. Gloves 2 O. D. Shirts 1 Pair of Shoes 1 Pair of Laces 1 Pair of Breeches 1 O. D. Coat 1 Overseas Cap 1 Pair of Leggins 1 Chevron (for noncommissioned officers) 1 Shelter Half 3 Blankets 1 Overcoat 1 Slicker 1 Shaving Brush 1 Toothbrush 1 Tube Tooth Paste 1 Comb 1 Piece of Shaving Soap 1 Towel 1 Cake of Soap 2 Identification Tags 1 Belt 1 Razor 1 Ammunition Belt 1 Pack Carrier 1 Haversack 1 Canteen 1 Canteen Cover 1 Condiment Can 1 Meat Can 1 Cup 1 Knife 1 Fork 1 Spoon 1 First Aid Pouch 1 First Aid Packet The soldier next went to the disrobing room, where he divested himself of all clothing except his shoes, which he was to carry through with him. The cootie would not cling to leather. Then he passed on to a medical examination for infectious disease. If he passed this safely, he proceeded to the bathing department, where, under the watchful eyes of a sergeant, he soaped and scrubbed himself thoroughly, first in a hot shower bath and then in a cold one. Experience had taught that the greatest enemy of the louse was plain soap and water and plenty of it. Meanwhile certain of his discarded garments, if they were in good condition or if they could be repaired for future wear, had been sent from the disrobing room to the steam sterilizer in another part of the building. The sterilization process took thirty minutes, which was just about the time it took the soldier to go through the “mill.”