Well, Bert, this was my time in the upper echelons, having lost my last platooncommander during the MOUND caper, when I was acting sgt.

The companycommander gave me 6 platoon for my very own, at long last. I took themfrom The Bowling Alley to The Hook, and we did the recce patrols for thecompany. Third stripe was on the way and all was well until, one day Istupidly let three of my less intelligent diggers go back to BHQ forsome long forgotten reason. Perhaps it was I who wasn't too intelligent,they got on the grog back there and failed to return before dark and'stand to'.

Thus me three men short in the trenches, them picked up by theMPs, and I've got a very angry battalion commander on my back. Bye byesergeants stripes, farewell my own platoon, the bastards got 28 days eachin the Canadian slammer in Seoul which was no picnic spot, and I wasback to corporal acting sgt. again.

Cost me my army career really, I gave up the ghost following that. Such is life.

Thank heaven the cease fire was signed shortly after thisepisode. When we retired to our new positions behind the DMZ theybegan painting the rocks white, and I returned home.