This is to be only one of the memorable experiences I had while stationed at this base, from the last part of January 1953 until the 19th of January 1954.

At this time I need to point out that when I had been in the Air Force only 3 years and 3 months, I had achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. I was very proud of that, however there were those in our squadron that really resented it. That will be the point of contention in this story.

During these information sessions, there would be two groups---the lower 4 grades, The privates through sergeants and in the other group, the First Three Graders---Staff Sergeants through Master Sergeants. Well---- at this time, it must be noted, that military courtesy and discipline on this base was very lacking. To this writers knowledge, there were only 2 Staff Sergeants in our Squadron of which I was one. Now---someone had decided that three year Staff Sergeants weren't entitled to meet with the 1st Three Graders----so that particular meeting we met with the Lower Four Grades. Frankly, I didn't give a damn! Until---that day!

We were all seated in a large room---waiting on the instructor---- he was late----well, what the heck, rank has it's priveleges! Finally---the door opens and in strolls an old moss back Master Sergeant. What a sight he was! He stood about 5' 6", rather slight of build, his head appeared to be too large for his body, he had beady little black eyes, and little pig ears---and those wire rimmed glasses didn't help his appearence either. He appeared to be about 80 years old, of which I doubt that he was. The Wyoming winds had taken its toll on the old guy. When he spoke, he had a very low and gravely sounding voice, another sure sign of the Wyoming wind. He was the most unkempt Master Sergeant I saw in the 4 years that I was in the Air Force, which made his presentation that much worse, because the subject of the day that he had chosen was "Three Year Staff Sergeants!" He hated us and he was going to make damn sure that we knew it and that everyone else knew it too. He spent several minutes telling how dumb, how undeserving, how inept we were, that absolutely no one should have that rank in that amount of time. Needless to say, I'm not at all enjoying his presentation. Then, He begins to elaborate on His career.

He says, " I've spent my entire military career right here---33 years!" He says,"By gawd, it took me 13 years to make Private First Class! I was right here when it was Fort D A Russell.!"

By now, I'd had all I wanted of this guy, I stood up and just went to speak when he blurted out "Sit down!"

I replied,"Not a chance Sarg----you've stood here and cut me to pieces in front of all these men, now---I'm going to have my say!" He was dumb founded, he sure as hell wasn't prepared for what he was about to hear.

We were all wearing our Class A uniforms and on that particular day, I was wearing my ribbons. I pointed to the Purple One and asked,"Sarg, do you know what that is?" No answer! I pointed to the Korean Campaign ribbon and asked the same thing---same answer! I pointed to the little Silver Stars on it and asked if he knew what that meant----no answer. So I told him,"Sarg, what these mean is that we did a hell of a good job, so don't you stand up there and tell all of these men that I can't handle my job. I'm gonna tell you another thing that you don't want to hear, I'm damn proud of these, I'm damn proud of the job that we've done---and further more---I am Very proud to be a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force! Oh --- and there's one other thing---by gawd, if it took me 13 years to make PFC, I wouldn't tell anyone---matter of fact you should have been discharged for being unadaptable and untrainable!"

Well, the old codger bristled up and said," I'm takin' you to the Old Man!"

So, I told him,"There you go being wrong again----I'll go to see the squadron Commander---but make no mistake Sarg, you Can't take me!" By now, he was boiling over. So off to the C Os office we go!

The captain asked him why he had brought me there. " Insubordination Sir, insubordination to a superior!" I looked at him and said, "Superior in rank only!"

The Captain looked at me and said, "Well Hall?"

I said, "Captain, if telling the truth is insubordination, then I'm guilty." So the Captain asked the old guy what had happened and he told him----but he left out a whole bunch of the good stuff.

Then the Captain gave me a turn---I told him everything that had happened in that room and that I wasn't going to sit there and be ridiculed by this guy or anyone else without defending myself and I also told him that it is my opinion that the only reason this guy made PFC in 13 years was because it took him that long to learn to tie his shoes by himself. When I said that, the Captain swiveled in his chair so that we couldn't see him laugh. When he turned back around, he said,"You don't really believe that do you?"

By now, I had thrown caution and diplomacy to the wind and I said, "Captain, I think that he was promoted from PFC to Master Sergeant all at one time because he could tie both shoes in the same day and they figured that this is as good as he's going to get!" The CO turned around again. When he turned back he said," You don't really believe what you're telling me do you?"

I said, "No Captain, not really, I don't think he can tie both of them right now!"

The Captain kinda laughed again and said,"Hall get the hell out of here!"