Camp Grayling Michigan.
National Guard Training -1970.
"Acting Sergeant."

Okay, picture a kid, fresh faced, freckled, just out of High School. Still waiting to go to Basic Training, but already with more than seventy days on Active Duty do to the National Teamsters Strike, and numerous College Protests. Because I hadn't been to Basic yet...they left me in charge of the Radios back at the Armory most of the time. And once in a while they had me drive the Jeep with its OX radio mounted. I was a PV 1.

So we get up to Grayling and I am in the Advance Party along with a couple of Lieutenants and the First Sergeant. I was the "Gofor" as I was the lowest ranking, youngest, and I believe the hardest worker. LOL

But I kept getting the run around from different Supply Sergeants, or Permanent Party folks. So the First Sergeant called me in and told me that the Battalion Commander had authorized my being given an "Acting Sergeant Slot" until the Troops all got here for Summer Camp Training.

He handed me my three stripes and told me to go sew them on my Uniform, and I would make all my "visits" in Khaki Class A Uniform.

"That way they will think you are a "real Sergeant" and this petty crap will stop."

Well, I knew diddly snot about being a Sergeant. The only role models I had were from Movies. So that is how I acted as an "Acting Sergeant." I would go to a building to get...I don't know, three desks for the Admin Section. A PFC Supply guy would say:

"You have to pick them up tomorrow, we are short handed right now."

I would respond:

"Don't give me that crap Private. I have the hand receipts right here. It says to pick them up at 10:30 hours. (pointing to my watch and tapping it for emphasis) I believe SOLDIER, it is Ten Thirty Hours. WHERE ARE MY DESKS?!"

And suddenly, they remembered where those desks were. This went on all day. Picking up all kinds of keys to buildings, bed frames, etc...I was on a rampage. We got everything done in one day.

The next day the Head of the Advance Party and the First Sergeant call me into their office.

"Hughes, what have you been doing?"

"Just getting the stuff you told me to, Sir."

"Well, we know that. And you did a good job. The Permanent Party Liaison called us this morning and told us not to send over that " &*%%# Sergeant that just came off of the Trail. Tell him to lighten up, we aren't all maggots."

They took my stripes back that day.

Funnily enough, the whole month I was up there, I still got treated like an NCO. I think the Permanent Party felt Guilty for getting me busted from and E5 to an E1. Little did they know.

When I finally did make Sergeant over in Germany...I didn't Act like one...I was one. LOL

"