Having been a draftee during WWII and with 1/2 semester of college smarts under my belt I learned the lesson of the chain of command. In basic training at Fort Hood I was doing OK for a small size G.I.. Apparently during the weeks of training the Company COs are supposed to be looking for possible officer material to go to OCS. Well one day I was told to put on clean khakis and report to the CO headquarters for OCS interview. I had my interview and went back to the barracks. It was just a few minutes until I was told to report to the orderly office. When I walked into the room I could see the top dog sgt. was not going to be very friendly. He immediately called me to order and read me the riot act about not going through him before going to the OCS interview and that I violated Army protocol. At that time I learned that Army personnel are not always on the same train. I spent many hours on KP duty after the incident. I did not make it to OCS, probably a lot to do with the fact I told the Officers on the interview board my first priority was to go and kill as many Japs as I could to avenge my brother’s death on Okinawa. I ended up going to Leyte.
My Dad was in MacArthur’s Army Air Corp and went to Leyte and New Guinea. He was there on the beach when “Dug Out Doug” walked across the water and said: “I have returned.”
My Dad left Leyte Island on a hospital ship.
Thank you for the freedom we take for granted.
Battle of Leyte Gulf......very cool. Too bad Obama never read about it. That was true leadership. Those Navy Captains saved your buttollas. ; ) Thank you for your service. You guys are awesome, Obama’s generation not so much.
My father who was in the Sixth Marine Division took part in both campaigns (Eniwetok and Okinawa--as well as Guam).
My father who was in the Sixth Marine Division took part in both campaigns (Eniwetok and Okinawa--as well as Guam).