Klonor
05-12-2004, 08:06
My grandfather was in the Army back in WWII. I think he tried for the Navy first, but they wouldn't take him. He was a Staff Seargant, he didn't go overseas, and he didn't go overseas because he was so good at his job.
It was standard procedure in his department that people working in the States would regularly be rotated overseas so people out there could have a chance to do some non-combat work. His turn to be transferred came and went, and he stayed in the US. Why? Because his superior officer was an idiot and the superior officer knew it. My grandpa was in charge of making sure that all the paychecks for the soldiers was sent out on time, went to the right person, and had the right amount. His superior officer was in charge of making sure that he did his job, he didn't know how to do the job itself. Anyway, my grandpa was really good at the paperwork. When it came time for my grandpas oversea journey his superior officer told his superiors that "If you want this done right, XXXXX stays here."
Now, I know that not every Allied soldier who saw combat died, but when you think of the dangers involved in combat it might just be that paperwork saved my grandfathers (and my) life.
It was standard procedure in his department that people working in the States would regularly be rotated overseas so people out there could have a chance to do some non-combat work. His turn to be transferred came and went, and he stayed in the US. Why? Because his superior officer was an idiot and the superior officer knew it. My grandpa was in charge of making sure that all the paychecks for the soldiers was sent out on time, went to the right person, and had the right amount. His superior officer was in charge of making sure that he did his job, he didn't know how to do the job itself. Anyway, my grandpa was really good at the paperwork. When it came time for my grandpas oversea journey his superior officer told his superiors that "If you want this done right, XXXXX stays here."
Now, I know that not every Allied soldier who saw combat died, but when you think of the dangers involved in combat it might just be that paperwork saved my grandfathers (and my) life.