gray06 Nov-Dec 2009_Gray01_Jan-Feb 2005.qxd.qxd - Korean War ...

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I gave the note to the Sergeant in charge.
He said the doctor’s orders would cause a
problem, since the new man is supposed to
clean the machines. I said we could have the
two Koreans who clean up around here clean
the machines, too.
“The Colonel doesn’t want the Koreans
working on the machines,” he argued.
“They speak good English,” I countered.
“And they know what we are talking about.”
The Sergeant wasn’t sure what to do. He
said okay, but if the Colonel says anything
you have to be responsible. I said fine. But, I
added, “Save the note from the doctor and
don’t lose it.”
I smiled. The Sergeant shook his head and
I left.
I had the two Koreans taking the
machines apart, cleaning and reassembling
them, and doing some adjustments on them.
I told the Koreans that if an officer came into
the room, they were to holler “Attention” and
come to attention.
The Colonel came in one day; I heard one
of the Koreans holler “Attention.” We all
snapped to attention. The Colonel smiled and
ordered, “At ease.” I could tell by the smile
on his face that he thought that was pretty
good.
He said, “Harris, I hear you’re doing a
good job.”
“I do my best, Sir.”
He said, “They can’t get their reports out
up on the front; their typewriters don’t work.
I’m sending you and your two Korean
helpers up there to get the typewriters
repaired so they can get their reports out.
There will be a tent repair man and his two
helpers, and a truck driver to help with setting
up. You are to be in charge and I have
left word at the supply that they are to give
you what you need, okay?”
“YES SIR,” I said emphatically.
“Good luck,” the Colonel said as he
departed.
The next day Cpl Miles came by with a
two-and-a-half-ton truck. I went off to
Supply. The next day we headed north and
stopped overnight at an intermediate area.
The following day we continued north.
When we arrived at our destination, we
learned that the tent man’s father had died, so
he had gone back to the States. Miles took
over his job with the tent repairs.
We pulled in where Miles said we were
supposed to go and checked in at the office
tent. They showed us where to set up our
tent. We went to lunch and took the four
Koreans with us.
The Mess Sergeant stopped us and said
the Koreans would have to wait until everyone
else was fed. I told the Mess Sergeant
that I was responsible for them per the
Colonel, and I needed to keep my eyes on
them. That didn’t help, so I went up to the
main tent and asked to speak to the officer in
charge.
If I remember correctly, the First Sergeant
went down to the mess tent and told the Mess
Sergeant that the Koreans were to eat with
Harris and/or Miles.
After lunch we set up the two tents and
had all the tables and equipment ready to go.
The Sergeant at this location had the light
wire run and a light set up in the main tent.
We were off and running.
The next day they ran the generator for us.
However, in the afternoon we were informed
that they could not run the generator any
more during the day. They had to save it for
use at night. So, in the daytime we opened
the flaps of the tent to see by. When it got too
cold we used a lantern. We did most of the
work at night.
The next day we had a couple customers.
We cleaned their machines that night, let
them dry, oiled them the next day, checked
all the moving parts to see that they were
working, oiled and assembled, tested the
unit, made necessary repairs, and sent them
back where they came from. We did this for
a few customers.
A few days later a Sergeant came in wanting
a typewriter. I told him that we did not
have any to hand out. We told him to bring in
his typewriter. He revealed that his typewriter
was back in the rear for service, where
it had been for two weeks.
“I can’t get our reports out,” he said. “I’ll
tell you what I’ll do. I have a quart of
whiskey that says you can get me a typewriter.”
That got my attention—and established a
bargaining chip.
“Okay,” I said.
I told Miles that early tomorrow morning
he should make a trip down to the salvage
depot and see if he could get two or more of
this make and model typewriter. Late in the
afternoon the next day, Miles came back with
three of those little rascals. We had one
cleaned that night, and fixed the one that
belonged to someone else. The next day we
had one of the stock units up and running.
That Sergeant was in a hurry for a typewriter.
He came back that afternoon and
asked how we made out.
“Do you have the quart of liquor?” I
asked.
He said he did.
“Then I have the typewriter ready for
you,” I said.
He went out and got the liquor, and we
made a swap. He came back a few days later
and told me that his machine really worked
well. In fact, he said, “I told a few others how
they could get a typewriter.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“No,” he responded. “I thank you.”
We were now in the trading business.
One guy brought in his typewriter. A truck
had run over it.
“I can’t fix that,” I admitted.
“I have a quart of liquor,” he told me. “I
heard I could get a typewriter here for it.”
“Do you have it with you?” I wanted to
know.
He said he did.
“Bring it in and I’ll get you a typewriter,”
I said.
Deal completed; another satisfied customer.
How to get a promotion in the
U.S. Army
The Captain in the rear area said to the
Sergeant, “The General is coming to visit us,
and I don’t have any Liquor. Do you have
any?”
“No,” the Sergeant replied.
The Captain continued. “Do you know of
any around here?”
“Not here,” the Sergeant said. “But I think
Harris has some.”
“Who is Harris?” the Captain wanted to
know.
“He is assigned to us and is up front fixing
typewriters,” the Sergeant informed him.
“Can you get in touch with him?” the
Captain asked.
“Yes Sir,” the Sergeant replied. And he
did.
The Sergeant told me what was going on.
“I have a quart for the Captain,” I told
him. “Would you have a quart for me?”
“Sure,” the Sergeant said. “But, the
November – December 2009
The Graybeards