THE OTHER REASON
"GET IN THE FRONT-LEANING REST POSITION AND SHOW YOUR ID!"
The
Tale of the "Guard Duty Switcheroo" -
the
FOD didn't know what he was in for
Well….I
could have been mistaken. I wrote in
my other “War Story” {Oh
Brother Where Art Thou?} that the
reason I was the only ROTC officer sent to Vietnam was my court-martial defense
of a kid who had no business being drafted in the first place and sent to Basic
Combat Training (BCT). He was
a tranquil “only child” being raised like a geranium by doting parents in
Chicago. The aggressive military
environment overwhelmed him; he had no idea what the term “social
interaction” meant. My unorthodox methods got him released from the stockade
and sent back to mom and dad. My
deeds probably
did not go unnoticed by the “higher ups” who wanted to burn this kid.
But…thinking
more about this…there was another stunt that I pulled.
Maybe both of them combined got me that "special
port call"
to Vietnam that seemed to be reserved for only OCS-trained artillery types.
The
year was 1966. The Selective Service
Boards were burning the midnight oil sending out draft notices and loading the
Reception Stations with young, new draftees.
I just completed my Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Ft Sill and
my first active duty job after schooling was located at Ft Bliss.
I was assigned as the Training Officer in a Basic Combat Training (BCT)
company. There I joined an
undermanned cadre of Drill Sergeants (God bless those guys!!) running the
draftees through what was then eight (8) weeks of rigorous training.
Part of that rigorous training was performing Guard Duty and properly
executing the eleven General Orders. Practical
application was exercised by assigning trainees to perform Guard Duty, fully
equipped with a loaded M-14, at various locations in the Post area.
These were mostly insignificant buildings but regarded as "vital
installations" for our purposes. The
effectiveness of our Guard Duty training was tested periodically by the FOD
(field officer of the day). It
generally consisted of intentionally crossing the area guarded by the trainee
and expecting the proper “challenge” and ID process, followed by quizzing
the trainee on the General Orders. This
was pretty standard procedure…until one fine, very rainy night.
I
was on duty that night when I got a call from Battalion Headquarters that the
FOD was coming to inspect a certain guard post.
This call was a “heads-up” warning from a friend at Bn Hq that
trouble was headed my way. It seems
the FOD, a certain lieutenant colonel (who shall remain nameless) had a habit of
testing the trainees by trying to “bluff” his way past the guard; he would
simply state his rank or title instead of providing the proper identification.
He knew that these “kids off the street” were in total awe of the
military rank structure. (And
that's because we drilled it into their young heads!!) He wanted
to see if the trainee would accept his rank ploy instead of following through on
the proper execution of his General Orders.
If the trainee did so, it would result in “nasty-grams” from
headquarters citing the company for training deficiencies,
mandating additional training, and requiring the
usual reams of paperwork. This was a
very unwelcome distraction when our mission was to prepare these young men for
what might be mortal combat in Vietnam. We
didn’t need “the chickenshit stuff” from above when we were dealing with
kids just plucked off the streets. The
call was to let me know that the FOD was enroute to pick me up and visit a
specific guard post.
I
turned to my night shift Charge-of-Quarters (CQ) and asked: “Who’s the best
trainee we have in the company?” The
CQ replied: “That would be Pvt Aurelio Rodriguez…he’s the sharpest young
man we have.” I said: “Fine.
Run over to his barracks, get him dressed for Guard Duty, explain the
situation, and tell him what we are about to do”.
Then, get the company truck and pick up the kid who’s out there now.
We have to move quickly!”
Fast
forward to the FOD intentionally moving into the guarded area.
It
was a very stormy night; the rain was coming down in sheets. Just as I expected, Pvt Rodriguez shouted in very military tones:
“Halt! Who goes there?”
The FOD replied, “I am Lieutenant
Colonel _______, the Field Officer of
the Day”. Pvt Rodriquez responded,
“Advance and be recognized”. The FOD steps forward and repeats: “I
said, I am Lieutenant
Colonel _________, the Field Officer of the Day.”
Being fully prepared for this event and knowing that the FOD was testing
his training to demand proper ID, Pvt Rodriquez commands that the FOD get in the
“front leaning rest position” and provide the proper identification.
This was definitely not what
the FOD expected! The FOD, realizing he has placed himself in a box, had no
choice but to comply. He assumes the position, holding himself up with one hand
while laboriously trying to maneuver the other hand through his military
raincoat, unbutton his rear pocket, fish out his wallet, and get his military ID
card. Meanwhile, the rain is beating
down viciously and the FOD is getting soaked to the bone. I stood in the
background, just shaking my head.
The
next day the FOD was at Bn Hq, finishing up his paperwork.
He obviously figured out what happened.
As I passed by, he stopped me and said, “Lieutenant… that wasn’t
necessary.” I simply nodded and
went about my business. If he ever
pulled that stunt again, he probably waited for a dry, clear night to do it.
The
paperwork the FOD was working on likely included a note for my 201 file, giving
his highest recommendation that I be sent to Vietnam.
Submitted
by
Lt Dennis Dauphin