Good Officers.

I had many of them.

Here is just one story.

"Hughes, Stewart, Jones, Seymour, Watkins...the Colonel wants to see you ASAP."

"What did we do Sarge?"

"Heck if I know. But he wants you all in his Office...NOW!"

So we all brush up our boots, straighten our fatigues, and make sure our gig line is straight. Over to HQ we go. It was January 5th, the New Year had just begun, and already we have to go see the Brass. What could we have done? The whole Unit was on Stand Down from Christmas Eve until January 3d.

We line up in front of the Colonel's desk. He taps a Duty Roster laying on his desk. He taps it again and says pointedly in a Command whisper:

"According to this Duty Roster, the five of you pulled guard duty every day for a week. Was that do to a punishment of some kind?"

"No, Sir!"

We all spoke as one.

"Well then, (tapping the Duty Rosters again with his pen) explain to me how just five men pulled Guard Duty for a week."

Watkins was the highest ranking at Spec Four- so he answered for us all:

"Sir, we are all single. The Married guys don't get much time with their wives and little ones. We don't have anywhere to go...so we offered to take the Guard Shifts so that the Married Guys could ...you know, have Christmas and New Year."

"Really? Nobody forced you?"

We all shook our heads.

There was a moment that seemed to drag on forever.

Then the Colonel spoke again:

"So you five, all on your own, decided to pull eight hours of Guard Duty every day for a week?"

We all nodded. Not having a clue where he was going. Watkins spoke up.

"Sir, we cleared it through the First Sergeant and the Old Man, they both said it was okay if the XO could make the schedule work. The XO set it up so we could all get eight hours off a day. Was that wrong?"

The Colonel shook his head , a big smile lit up his face.

"Wrong? No, I don't think so. I think it is one of the most kind displays of brotherhood I have seen in this Unit. Giving up your Holiday for the Married Soldiers. Brilliant."

We all sighed a big relief.

The Colonel got up from behind his desk and Saluted us. We saluted back...sharp Parade Ground like Salutes.

"I wish more Soldiers thought like you five. I am granting you all five days Admin Leave starting right now. Let the Married Soldiers pick up the slack. And keep up the good work. Dismissed. "

Imagine that, an Officer paying attention to routine paperwork as it passed by his desk. He figured out it wasn't a normal Duty Roster, checked on it, and made our day!

Needless to say, none of us were on Base within the hour!