Stupid GI Tricks

[Abbott Shaull]

Yeah the things that Commanders would come up with to keep troops busy...

[weswood]

I remember one Team Spirit Ex in Korea the Capt had me washing rocks and putting them on a wood boardwalk. Mud off the walk was 6" deep. I made sure every time someone would ask who's bright idea it was, I told them EXACTLY who. "That would be Capt McMannis' bright idea, SgtMaj."

[Abbott Shaull]

I remember one Team Spirit Ex in Korea the Capt had me washing rocks and putting them on a wood boardwalk. Mud off the walk was 6" deep. I made sure every time someone would ask who's bright idea it was, I told them EXACTLY who. "That would be Capt McMannis' bright idea, SgtMaj."

Oh I wonder how the conversation went between the the good Captain and the Sergeant Major afterwards...

[weswood]

Oh I wonder how the conversation went between the the good Captain and the Sergeant Major afterwards...

I was a smart Lcpl, I kept my head down for that one

[Abbott Shaull]

I was a smart Lcpl, I kept my head down for that one

You know there is reason why the top NCO is First Sergeant and not Sergeant Major...lol Yeah I think I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that conversation too. No sense of drawing attention to yourself from the Sergeant Major... The only thing worse is when said Captain goes to the Colonel to complain and has to give the said Captain the same speech the Captain gives his 2 Lts on the regular basis when the Company First Sergeant or even the Platoon Sergeant gives the 2nd Lt an ass chewing...lol

It goes something along the lines, wipe your nose son, suck it up, and drive on...lol

[pmulcahy11b]

One of the best conversations I ever overheard was a Lieutenant complaining to the Commander about something the Sergeant Major said to him. The Commander said:

"You mean that the Sergeant Major gave you a suggestion and you didn't even consider it?!" And then the Commander gave the Lieutenant a "dumbshit Lieutenant" sort of laugh...

[Abbott Shaull]

One of the best conversations I ever overheard was a Lieutenant complaining to the Commander about something the Sergeant Major said to him. The Commander said:

"You mean that the Sergeant Major gave you a suggestion and you didn't even consider it?!" And then the Commander gave the Lieutenant a "dumbshit Lieutenant" sort of laugh...

Yeah, the next best thing is when the immediate Commander gives an order that you can't perform. After said Commanders comes to whine...uhm chew ass and the senior NCO tells him they didn't have what they needed to perform the job. All the while the said Commander boss is there and states with straight face that the NCO had a point in such a fashion as to not laugh at him, but in firm enough voice that junior Commander knows he shouldn't push the issue.

[dragoon500ly]

There is a story that comes out of Armor Officer Basic, that dates back to when ole George Patton was organizing the OCS school at Fort Know prior to WWII...

The story goes that Patton gathered the first group of candiates together and said "Gentlemen! This is your first lesson in how to be an officer! I want this flag pole erected before retreat!"

He then stood back and listened to the converstations that followed. Various plans to use tripods or manpower to raise the pole, how deep to dig the foundation, when to mount the hardware, and so on...

GSP finally called the group to attention and said "Gentlemen, I have listened to your various ideas and you have come up with some intresting ideas. But you are in training to become officers. There is only one correct answer to the question of getting this flag pole erected in time for retreat." George then turned to a NCO who was standing nearby. "Sergeant, organize a detail and have this flag pole erected in time for retreat!"

There are many who concentrate on the infamous slapping incidents, on GSP's outbursts with the press, there are even some you claim that he was promoted to fast and to high a position. But no soldier who ever served in the Third Army under him, ever had anything but the highest of praise for him as a fighter, and above all else as an officer and as a leader.

[Abbott Shaull]

There is a story that comes out of Armor Officer Basic, that dates back to when ole George Patton was organizing the OCS school at Fort Know prior to WWII...

The story goes that Patton gathered the first group of candiates together and said "Gentlemen! This is your first lesson in how to be an officer! I want this flag pole erected before retreat!"

He then stood back and listened to the converstations that followed. Various plans to use tripods or manpower to raise the pole, how deep to dig the foundation, when to mount the hardware, and so on...

GSP finally called the group to attention and said "Gentlemen, I have listened to your various ideas and you have come up with some intresting ideas. But you are in training to become officers. There is only one correct answer to the question of getting this flag pole erected in time for retreat." George then turned to a NCO who was standing nearby. "Sergeant, organize a detail and have this flag pole erected in time for retreat!"

There are many who concentrate on the infamous slapping incidents, on GSP's outbursts with the press, there are even some you claim that he was promoted to fast and to high a position. But no soldier who ever served in the Third Army under him, ever had anything but the highest of praise for him as a fighter, and above all else as an officer and as a leader.

Yeah GSP could arguably one of the first General to be ripped apart by the Press. During the Civil War, Generals were raked over the coal regardless if they deserved it or not.

GSP was a great leader and believed in leading from the front, not some HQ behind the line. Most Generals have done something to the extent of his outburst with the press or worst. Lot of the time, it all depends how well HQ can suppress the information.

Just like the recent General who was dismissed from Afghanistan several months ago. I am pretty sure all Generals and HQs have their dirty little secret about how they feel about their orders and who is leading them.

[dragoon500ly]

Ever wondered on how a Black Jack Pershing, a George Patton, or a Erwin Rommel would have fit into today's military?

Would strategic mistakes like not finishing Desert Storm by seizing Basrah, not completing the fighting in Afghanistan before invading Iraq, or not blocking in Ossoma prior to cleaning out Bora-Bora have been allowed by any of these generals?

Or even better...would GSP have told Bush/Obama were to shove their stars and ripped them both new orifices after he had retired?

[Abbott Shaull]

Ever wondered on how a Black Jack Pershing, a George Patton, or a Erwin Rommel would have fit into today's military?

Would strategic mistakes like not finishing Desert Storm by seizing Basrah, not completing the fighting in Afghanistan before invading Iraq, or not blocking in Ossoma prior to cleaning out Bora-Bora have been allowed by any of these generals?

Or even better...would GSP have told Bush/Obama were to shove their stars and ripped them both new orifices after he had retired?

No they wouldn't, and yes GSP would have made what was said in the Time article seem tame. All three would of been more capable to tell Rumsfeld where to go...lol

[Panther Al]

Way way back in the day on AHWI newgroup, there was talk on various ways that the end of part two of the great european civil war could end with the "good" germans doing ok (and Rommel living) and the bad ones getting what they deserved. But the on topic bit if it was that it also posted that the Soviet Union viewed VE day as a operational stand down for maintenance and promptly decided to see if Paris was as nice as every one says. The real debate was who would be better: Patton or Rommel, since this time they both would be drawing from the same logistical tail and sharing the same air cover.

A later version of the thread joked that the two of them running in the same tank country would be called the "Great Tank Race." My money is on Rommel.

[Abbott Shaull]

Way way back in the day on AHWI newgroup, there was talk on various ways that the end of part two of the great european civil war could end with the "good" germans doing ok (and Rommel living) and the bad ones getting what they deserved. But the on topic bit if it was that it also posted that the Soviet Union viewed VE day as a operational stand down for maintenance and promptly decided to see if Paris was as nice as every one says. The real debate was who would be better: Patton or Rommel, since this time they both would be drawing from the same logistical tail and sharing the same air cover.

A later version of the thread joked that the two of them running in the same tank country would be called the "Great Tank Race." My money is on Rommel.

How rude Montgomery wasn't mention...j/k...lol

[Panther Al]

Due to my, admittedly rather odd, upbringing I always found myself in the middle on Monty. Americans think that he was horrid, yet the English thinks that he was outstanding. To be honest, with the exception of operation "what the hell was I thinking-garden" he, once he went on the offensive, did rather well. But that is the catch- once he went on the offensive. He had the tendency to be the ACW General (I know who it is but for the life of me I can't get the name right - sigh) that was asked by Abe "if you are not using the army, could I borrow it?" I feel that whilst he did not win the war for England, he did build the army that did so- under lower but much better -fighting- leadership.

[Abbott Shaull]

McClellan comes to mind. Yeah, I think that was part of the problem. Everything seemed to move at slower pace, as oppose to under some American Generals like Patton where you couldn't move fast enough...