Evening star., 1946-07-25

CIVILIAN lie.
started to write Mrs. Emily Post
regarding the matter, but then
thought better of it. I know how
busy she must be this time of year,
when weddings are in full cry, ad-
vising flower boys on what color
pants to wear. suggesting what goes
we'll with fried catfish at wedding
receptions, Strengthening out moth
ers and fathers and grooms and
brides on whose arms and what arms
the last mile will be walked. and
limiting that the brides aunt, who
studied voice for six months when
she was girl, sing no more than
five songs before the ceremony.
IA To Be Exact.
Frankly, 1 would like to be known
as Sergeant. Technical Sergeant, to
be exact. That has a ring to IT.,
don't you think? When the years put
snow in my hair and creaks in my
joints, the title would lend dignity.
Too, it would lend authority to my
stories when I gather the neighbor-
hood children about my knees and
tell them how, single-handed. and
armed with nothing but a joint Of
Australian lend-lease mutton and a
carbine, I held off battalion Of
Japanese.
But there are already half dozen
other veterans in my home town
with the same notion. And this Is
confusing, as you will we'll under
stand If you live or have ever lived in
a small town. Until the conclusion
Of World War II it was an unwritten
law in small town that there would
be only certain number of citizens,
never more than two or three, who
bore military rank.
Up until a few months ago, Day
tona Beach had one colonel and
one major. No others. They had
attained the rank of colonel and
major during the Spanish American
War when both served in the Hall
fax Home Guards. The Halifax
Home Guards, named for the river
that runs through the town, was
a blood d-and-thunder volunteer Or
ganizstion formed to protect the
city from the Spanish Army and
Navy in case our beach was chosen
as the point of attack on the United
States. With a fearless regard for
their own safety that brought them
conlmendation from their immedi-
ate families, the Home Guards
guarded the bridges with Horatious-
like fidelity and wore out three
armory floors perfecting ose-order
drill.
New Crop Is More Brash.
The city produced some distin-
guished officers in the World War.
out none ever dared retain his rank.
The Home Guard colonel and major
stood alone But World War II vet
Grams are bit more brash, 1t seems.
Our town Is now well sprinkled with
colonels, majors. captains, assorted
lieutenants and all noncommis-
stoned ranks. AS result, no one
enjoys any particular distinction.
When some one says he just saw the
cap'n, you don't know whom he
might mean. I think it might be
a good idea for all the ma ajors, all
the captains, etc. to meet and draw
straws to see which one will retain
his Army rank.
On second thought. maybe the
thing will just work itself out. May
be there Is something about mans
character and bearing which cause
people to continue to call him by
the title he earned.
II that Is true, am betting on a
certain pfc. In this town. Though
only in his twenties, he has a dig
nifty. carriage, a certain pompous-
ness tnat causes one automatically
to associate him with the military.
AS company clerk he acquired a
standoffishness, a love of going
through channels that Gen. Eisen-
hover has yet to attain. In years
to come, men who outranked him
by seven grades, but whose ranks
have long been forgotten, will bow
deferentially when they pass him
on the street and say:
Good morning, Private First Class
Smith"
distributed by McNausht Syndicate. 1nc)