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Sea Stories
From Vern Smith
7/21/05
Putting one over
on the Gunny?
As a member of the First Marine
Division, Headquarters Battalion, Communications Company, Radio
Relay Platoon, I was exceedingly pleased with my promotion to
Corporal (E4). There was some disappointment in not making "Buck"
Sergeant (E4), which was my 4 year goal upon joining the Corps
in 1958, but the Corps chose to add an additional rank between
PFC and Corporal prior to my E4 promotion, namely Lance Corporal
(E3), or as we lovingly referred to it "PFC with Pop Guns."
I came to Radio Relay Platoon,
by way of Boot Camp, Second Infantry Training Regiment, Class
'A' Electronic Technician School at Treasure Island, where I
received my first stripe upon graduation, and then spent a short
stint at Radio Relay Repair School at MCRD San Diego. I received
"PFC with Pop Guns" later, after about a year and a
half at Camp Pendleton.
I was proud of the two stripes
with "Pop Guns," but all hell was about to break loose.
Along with the increase in rank, I was also made section chief,
responsible for half the men and equipment in the platoon. My
primary concern was that this new position put me in charge of
5 Corporals that had more time in grade than I had. As time
went by, it became obvious they were out to make me look bad
in the eyes of my superiors. If we would have had more Staff
NCOs, my position would have been filled by at least an E7, so
someone in authority above me must have felt I could do the job.
After several challenging
and miserable months in this new position, my first big test
came in the form of what we called a "problem": A
simulated battle situation that would put myself and all the
men and equipment under me under close scrutiny.
All was going pretty well
until I got word that one of my Senior Corporals had turned over
his jeep while racing another Senior Corporal. My first response
was to swear the messenger to secrecy. I then jumped into my
jeep and drove out to Engineer's Hill where the incident had
occurred. Fortunately, there were no Staff NCOs or Officers
in this area. When I got there, the jeep was on its side and
the driver was ranting and raving about how this was probably
going to cost him a stripe. The second driver asked, "Isn't
there something you can do to lessen the severity of the situation?"
I said, "We'll see."
I went to the underside of
the rolled jeep and asked the Corporals to take the 3 or 4 subordinates
to the opposite side of the jeep so I could inspect it in private.
I observed that one of the copper brake lines had enough slack
in it, so I flexed it many times with my fingers until it cracked.
I then went to the opposite side and pushed the brake pedal
to the floorboard several times with my hand. I then proclaimed,
"Faulty brakes were the cause of this accident," and
invited all to see the brake fluid that had sprayed all over
the rear axle and undercarriage. We pushed the jeep back onto
its wheels and limped back to Mainside and the Company area.
I went into the Gunny's office
and reported the terrible accident that had occurred while the
jeep was coming down from Engineer's Hill and told him how the
brake pedal had gone to the floorboard. He went outside and
tried it with the same results and looked under the jeep to discover
the smell and the sight of brake fluid on the undercarriage.
He immediately got on the phone and began to chew on the Motor
Pool Sergeant's ear about how several of his men could have been
killed or injured because of the lousy maintenance performed
on our vehicles. I nodded to the two Corporals, who smiled at
me, and I never again had a problem with those that had more
time in grade than myself.
The problem concluded without
any more hitches and word came down from those in charge that
we were to be commended on our outstanding communication contribution.
Months later the Gunny asked
me how things were going between me and the Senior Corporals?
I replied that "all is well and we are making great progress
together." He had a funny look on his face when he further
questioned, "I wonder what made them turn their attitudes
around 180 degrees towards you?" Feeling rather smug, I
simply smiled and said, "I guess they finally came to recognize
my leadership qualities!" He then raised a doubting eyebrow
and I felt a chill run down my spine.
I think the Gunny knows our
secret.
Semper Fi,
Vern Smith
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