FREQUENT OCCURANCEThe more I read about wartime experiences the more I become convinced that there was one incident which occurred in every theater of war. To me it tells us so much worthy knowing about the average G.I.
One version is told by a veteran of the China-Burma-India phase of World War II which so many American citizens - even today - either ignore as having been unimportant compared to other campaigns in Africa, Europe and the naval and island engagements throughout the hellishly large Pacific Ocean area. The Burma Road, Chang Kaia Shea's Nationalist China the strangest of all, ancient over-peopled and over-sacred-cowed India often went unnoticed.
For that, and other reasons, I chose the version told by Richard H. Spencer in a letter sent to "Ex-CBI ROUNDUP" Magazine"in November of last year.
"...following several weeks of filming actions by Chinese troops, I was about out of film. I left for the long trek back to Bingham to get my films sent out to Ledo for processing. I had started to check on any mail which might have come my way when I was stopped abruptly by a spit and polish major. He was wearing bright suntans overlaid with a growing expanse of medals and decorations; on his shoulder, flashing symbols of his rank and place.
"Of what army are you a part of? " he scoffed.
"The U.S. Army, sir."
"Don't you know to salute an officer?
"No one salutes here, sir! Orders. There's a price on all our heads; highest on officers." He did not tell him that even General Stillwell did not wear insignia."
The Major the jumped Spencer for being out of uniform as well, since he was wearing cut-offs because air-dropped supplies were all in Regular or small Chinese
sizes. If I can get anything that will fit me I'll be glad to get some new pants and shirts, sir!" Without further comment, the Major "stomped" away.
The major's name went untold. The G.I. withheld the identification which he knew, but I'll bet you he has watched for that Major's name to appear on every Reunion list ever since.
r, is the major's memorial to be found today only in the form of another notch on the apon some sniper - somewhere?
a.l.m. March 16,2006 [c394wds]
