Stupid GI Tricks

[dragoon500ly]

While cleaning out the ole storage shed, I came across a box of old journals that I had maintained while serving in the Green Machine from 1977-1987...its a collection of things that I had witnessed, thought it would be good for a laugh!

While on a field exercise at Hohenfels, we had a platoon get lost. For those who have never been to the there, right in the middle of the maneuver area is a rather tall hill capped with the ruins of and old castle. Needless to say, if you keep that landmark on one hand, you will eventually arrive at the main post. It was also a favorite assembly area prior to moving back to the motor pool.

Our fearless Second Lieutenant was fresh out of ROTC and was convinced that because he was a "Butter Bar", that the NCOs of his platoon had nothing to teach him.

Picture the company commander sitting in his jeep, on top of Castle Hill, watching the platoon drive around and around the hill, while the platoon leader, had his map spread out all over the coupola of his M-60A1.

Our Captain would come up on the radio net and ask the platoon their ETA and was assured by the Lieutenant that he was five minutes out. After almost an hour of watching this, the Captain comes up on the net and orders the platoon to halt. He then asks for the location of the platoon. After the Lieutenant gives a grid (32km off), the Captain asks the Lieutenant to stand up and look to his left, and did the Lieutenant see the CO waving at him?

Yes Virginia, the most dangerous weapon known to man, is a Second Lieutenant with a map!