information

[Books OToole]

I want to know the name of the Marine recruiter that turned down Audie Murphy because he was too small.

Books

[Be-A-triss Bandit]

One of my old Tops used to tell stories about the "professional privates" that were finally retiring out of the Marines when he was a young enlistee in the 1950s.  Busted, promoted, busted, promoted....  The Army had people retiring as privates with 20 years at the beginning of WWII.  I'm not sure when they came up with the rank over time equals no enlistment rules.  But still, these old men would have only been 38 or so.  So an infantryman in his late thirties may be belivable, but a 180 lb 50 year old is only believable in the higher NCO and officer ranks.
But that's not the point.  We keep some of our tradition and culture alive while enjoying ourselves doing it.  And there were bookkeepers, milliners, butchers and bakers and candlestick makers, all sorts of jobs 120 years ago.
BB

[Dr. Bob]

BB,

During the War of 1812 and the Mexican War there was no retirement system for the Army or Navy.  It was not unusual to find officers in commmand of Regiments who were too sick to command and remained at home and the senior officer present actually ran things.  Soldiers who were too sick or broken down to serve were left to beg or live off of relatives or charity.  Old privates & cpls. were not uncommon.  I don't know when retirement became available to the soldiers in the Army.  Maybe St. George can shed some light on that.  Today we have a vastly different set of rules that we are familiar with.  Some times it is difficult to wrap our 21st Century minds around 19th Century reality.

Dr. Bob   NCOWS Senate Candidate

[Delmonico]

BB,

Some times it is difficult to wrap our 21st Century minds around 19th Century reality.

Dr. Bob   NCOWS Senate Candidate

You said a mouthful there.   19th century reality would kill most of us on this board, or rather we would already be dead.  'Course a real "hardcore" would only want proper 19th century medical tech used on them, the rest of us "Farbees" would opt for the 21st century ones.

Ya know back to the original context of this thread, wouldn't a "Farbee" post those pictures on a website, a real "hardcore" would walk around with copies to show folks.

[Be-A-triss Bandit]

Doc, you're informative.
Delmonico, you're, well, you're just bad.
Farbee Bandit