tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post2275370069433254557..comments2023-07-04T10:09:25.824-07:00Comments on The World War II Letters of William Wellington Taylor, Jr.: Letter 16- November 1, 1943Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-24730094461177706212009-02-17T15:58:00.000-08:002009-02-17T15:58:00.000-08:00This sounds like a prototype for the army acronym ...This sounds like a prototype for the army acronym SNAFU. I understand the need for military ranks and protocol, but it must be frustrating when a "dufus" of obviously less intelligence and lacking in common sense can make decisions over which one has no control. Bill seems to deal with this dilemma by using sarcasm as a release.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-36384589399973000022009-02-17T06:55:00.000-08:002009-02-17T06:55:00.000-08:00Though I didn't have to repeat training, I know th...Though I didn't have to repeat training, I know the frustration of being held back two weeks in the army. As I was being processed for graduation from Basic Training, some dufus questioned my dog tags that had "Jr." on them. My legal name does not include "Jr." and so my signature did not match my dog tags. Even though there was no question about my service number, they held me back two weeks until I could send away for my birth certificate to prove my name. I finally graduated with the class that was two weeks behind mine, but they put me to work on a construction crew during those two weeks doing hard labor (busting up sidewalk and repaving!). It was ridiculous and not my fault since the guy who made up my dog tags was the one who made the mistake. He just assumed my legal name included "Jr." since he saw my father's name (whom I had listed as next of kin) had the same name. - wgWard Clarke Griffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-51753528396089933652009-02-14T11:04:00.000-08:002009-02-14T11:04:00.000-08:00It is easy to sympathize with Bill. Just as he is ...It is easy to sympathize with Bill. Just as he is beginning to form relationships with his fellow soldiers, after spending the first week in the hospital isolated from his peers, he is facing having to start all over. Bill has an active mind and obviously gets bored easily, so having to repeat anything, much less basic training must be a real letdown.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-23972805419907412642009-02-14T10:34:00.000-08:002009-02-14T10:34:00.000-08:00Moving Bill is so typical of the Army. What is als...Moving Bill is so typical of the Army. What is also typical is the degree to Bill is personally invested in his training and probably in the other men in his platoon. Despite what he says about them, I suspect he has formed an attachment to this family. I suspect that his expectations about being able to transfer will be dashed. The Army does that.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.com