It was our second field problem and the weather had been miserable during both of them. Much to his credit the Divarty CO came out and suffered along with us.
Like everyone else I was wet, tired, miserable and generally not too particular happy when the colonel encountered me doing some damned thing or another.
He commented something to me about the weather and I replied, "Sir, in the words of the late great Oliver Hardy, 'Here's yet another fine mess you've gotten us into.'"
I got to see his shadow, the Sergeant Major, turn purple and the colonel chuckled and said, "That's no lie, Sergeant. This weather is just plain miserable."
"Well, I may just have to be philosophical, Sir. Wars don't check with the National Weather Service before battles. I'll just chalk this horror show up as being good training although training to be miserable really isn't needed. That comes naturally. It's like griping."
"I think your right," he said. "Misery needs no practice. Next problem I'll have S-2 check with the weather service."
"Please don't, Sir. Please check with the Old Farmer's Almanac so at least we have a fighting chance."
That made him laugh like hell and he turned to the Sergeant Major and told him that he wanted S2 to start using the Old Farmer's Almanac for future weather predictions.
He walked off smiling and shaking his head.
IIRC the next field problem was in pretty good weather but I can't say for sure.
Indeed, most of the officers I encountered were pretty decent guys, but there was always a Frank Burns or two to remind you that you were in the Army.
ReplyDeleteGenerally those officious types are majors.
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