There have been countless books written about and by the "Private" soldier. These generally concern his trials and tribulations along humorous lines giving the impression that he is the o n l y guy who suffers; the o n l y lad who is the football of fate and the one and o n l y butt of all minor injustices found in the army. Take for instance this "See Here Pvt. Hargrove" or "C/O Postmaster" and God knows how many cartoons that all win the public sympathy for the poor "private"; such as: "Sad Sack", "Up Front with Mauldin", "Pvt. Berger", and etc. . . . Someday someone is going to present the case of the "poor unjustly damned Company Commander" so he too can gain the public's sympathy he so richly deserves.

Take my case, for instance, handicapped from childhood with the first name of ELMER and coming from a town by the name of OSHKOSH has presented a tough enough combination to buck without being a Company Commander on top of it.

On 24th August 1943 I was, in no uncertain terms, given command of one Company "I" 49th A. I. R. relieving Capt. Smith who was on his way to school and looking extremely pleased about the whole thing. I had the most dire misgivings. A practically brand new 1st Lt. fresh from being a practically brand new 2nd Lt. right out of Benning which hadn't as much as hinted such a thing as an Armd. Inf. existed.

I'll never forget that first day. The company was lined up and we looked each other over. In as much as it hadn't been very many months back that I'd lined up and looked over a series of new company commanders I knew just what was going on in every-ones head; such as -- "He looks like a jerk to me", or "eyes are to close together, probably meaner than hell" or "Mmmm -- a soft touch if I ever saw one". For my part, I was impressed from the start but a bit nervous.

Then it started . . . CRUNCH! ! ! Men went "over the hill", several beat the ears off some M. P.'s, and the Regiment broke up into separate Battalions. Co. "I" became Co. "C" of the 49th AIB, the Unit Fund getting snarled up in the process. The property books were in a mess. Companies and Battalions started getting tested in problems, there were ten thousand parades and "Bowl" formations and a man murdered in the company: Ask any of the old timers about those days. They'll probably turn white and walk away trembling. Fortunately a lad by the name of Sciubba took over as supply sergeant, and a stout boy by the name of Bottitta took over as 1st Sergeant. And then there were officers around like Kimpel, Wingender, Ballinger, Pollio, Young, Kupris, and Platoon Sergeants like Paradis, Frazier, Rutkowski, and Judkins along with solid lads like Christensen and Hughes who with much head wagging and tongue clucking saw us through that period. I'm not kidding myself -no one man runs a company its the bloody team work that does it.

I made so many "by indorsements" in those days that we used a hay bailer to file them in a 2 1/2 to deliver them to Bn. Hq. Those Louisiana Buzzards used to wheel overhead watching me with an expectant eye . . . . drooling. They knew a sure thing when they saw it.

Then maneuvers! Those were the days of strong men and broken winch cables. Just listen in when the old timers talk about the "D" Series Hell, At that time no one had ever heard of Trench Foot and I might add in my case I had it up to my navel. I used to wonder why my toes turned black and dropped off.

Then maneuvers! Those were the days of strong men and broken winch cables. Just listen in when the old timers talk about the "D" Series Hell, At that time no one had ever heard of Trench Foot and I might add in my case I had it up to my navel. I used to wonder why my toes turned black and dropped off.

After maneuvers the loss of some of the finest Pfc's and Pvts. that ever drew a breath -- everybody glum and me responsible for morale. A series of rumors and finally POM with a crash -- charts, thousands of charts -- tens of thousands of inspections. I certify this or that every five minutes.

"Dear God, Packing and crating and Me, Battalion packing and crating officer". Pvt. H a r g r o v e b u t t y o u r h e a d i n t o t h a t o n e a n d s q u a w k.

I can say that we not only packed and crated the Battalion, but unpacked and uncrated it at least five times what with changes on dizzy directives every five minutes.

Then came a train ride, rosters, inspections. Camp Kilmer, more inspections and reports. I certify, I certify, I certify! I grant you the fact that you all suffered some inconveniences, but you should have been a company commander for some real plain and fancy suffering in those days. And then came that boat ride. I think here we had better drop the whole subject. The record contained herein speaks for itself.

After all of this the only observation I have to make is that I deem myself the most fortunate of men in having been able to share this experience with some of the best damn soldiers in the Army. I know, at this time perhaps you are thinking about that always present company punishment book, the army in general, and blah, blah, blah! And probably when the company lines up and we look each other over somebody still thinks; "There is that jerk again" or his eyes are too close together", etc., but I've watched you go slam into them and I've gotten old and grey waiting for the count afterwards and then some of you didn't come back. Mauldin put that one on paper.

I say again "the best damn soldiers in the army of the best damn company in the army. HELL, OF THE WORLD!"