Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-02-22
Dear Joe
By JAMES I. HICKS

Does the army really need you?
Quit shouting, Joel / heard you
the first time and besides you don't
have to convince me-the Inspector
General is the one you should tell
your troubles TO.
But the Inspector General will
listen because General Eisenhower
has told him he will listen.
Here's the story.
On January II General Ike sent
out a directive TO the commanding
generals Of the air, ground and
service forces and to the command
ing generals Of the eastern and
western defense commands telling
them mot asking them) to give
you a chance to tell why you think
the army doesn't need you.
II you wanna be specific here
is exactly what Ike said, Joe. "All
military personnel, particularly
junior officers and enlisted person
mel, will be given the opportunity
to present their individual COM
plants to the Inspector General in
the manner authorized by regula-
tions. Every individual will be
given a chance to tell why he thinks
he is not essential. To the maxi
mum extent practicable, corrective
measures will be taken on the
ground and at the time Of inspec-
ton"
Now wait a minute, Joe! Don't
go dashing for the orderly room.
You might end up in the guard
house. Take another look at what
General Ike had to say. See that
part up there that says 'in the
manner authorized by regulations"
Do you know your regulations?
II you don't, Joe, here is u tip
that might keep you from digging
a six by six after retreat tomorrow.
The correct procedure to follow
in getting to see the lG is to first
ask permission from the first ser
geant to speak with the company
commander. COX, Joe, agree with
you, any recruit knows that But
what happens when you get to see
the Old Man?
Well, Joe, you state your bust
ness in soldierly fashion and tell
the so and so in the pink pants
(but don't lose your temper-'cause
you may lose your rating) tell him
why you think the army can get
along without you. After he listens
to your story he will tell you wheth-
er he agrees with you or not.
If he agrees with you, it may
not be necessary for you to see the
lG. He, himself, can recommend
that you be released as non-essen-
tial but if he doesn't think you have
a good argument, ask him to let
you tell your story to the IG.
Do it respectfully, Joe, because
the officers still run the army,
but do it because regulations give
you the right to do it.
He won't refuse your request to
see the IG. He knows that he
doesn't dare refuse-but that's not
saying he wants you to talk with
the IG.
You see, Joe, no company COM
mAnder wants his men TO talk with
the IG because the IG is one Of
the most feared men in the Regular
Army.
Most Of the commanding officers
still in the army are planning to
stay in the regulars and are buck
ing for the next highest grade and
they know full well that II the IG
drops around for an inspection and
their command is rated less than
excellent" they stand very little
chance Of promotion in a peacetime
army.
That's why General Ike put this
thing in the hands Of the lG. The
recent stink that the boys kicked
up on the other side about being
kept on an island to guard the
pebbles on the beach is slowly but
surely getting results and this d.
receive Of the Chief Of Staff is
one of the results.
It's your chance to talk where
you can be heard. Joe, and frankly
il you spill your CUTS to the &c,
what you spit up (whew that
sounds like barracks slanguage
doesn't it-but you get what |
mean will soon be on Ike's desk
in Washington because another
part Of the same order says that
a report is desired each month that