Memoirs of 2dLt W. B. Jackson, USMC
REST BILLETS NEAR NANCY
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We got back to the quiet back of the lines and billeted in a little town, the name that comes to me is something like Frouard, not far from Nancy. A typical rest billet, cleanup, police everything and drill. A day or so after our arrival here, I received orders to report to Battalion Headquarters. I did so. The commanding officer, Major Littleton T. Waller, Jr., told me to go over to Toul, not far distant and get myself some gold bars and a Sam Browne belt. I was a Second Lieutenant now. I went over and did just that plus a pair of boot shoes. I had nothing to show that I was a "shave tail", just the bars and the belt. My blouse sleeves still showed where the corporal's chevrons had been. I decided to visit the officer's canteen. Did so, got some chow but felt like a lost soul. I was wearing an issue OD uniform. Many of the officers in the canteen were all dolled up in tailored uniforms, nattily pressed etc. I finally wearied of the inside of the place and went out into the beautiful grounds. In a fountain court in the grounds I bumped into a wandering non-com and sat down on the fountain wall chatting. I remember other young officers passing by and giving me the glassy eye. Fraternizing?
I finally took off and got myself back over to Battalion Headquarters. In the meantime the young medico, a fresh recruit, who had given me my promotional physical exam reported that he couldn't pass me. He said every eighth beat of my heart was just a flood and not a pulse beat. The Major pointed out that I had just come out of St. Mihiel and it was no wonder if a fellow's heart might be doing some nervous jumping. The medico still said no. The Major asked if the medico would recommend my medical discharge. The Doc said, "Certainly not, there is no reason why he can't go on doing his present duty". "Oh", said the Major, "he can go on doing duty, running around the fields of France carrying a 65 pound machine gun on his shoulder but he can't go on doing duty on those same fields wearing a raincoat and carrying a pair of field glasses?". The medico was embarrassed. The Major went over to the Battalion clerk and said something to him. The clerk did some typing and the Major came back over to the medico carrying two pieces of typed paper. He told the medico that one was a favorable finding on the physical exam, the other was a medical recommendation for my medical discharge. He told the medico that he could sign either one by sign he would. The medico was more embarrassed, but finally signed my physical fitness report.
The Major then told me to report for duty to the commanding officer of the 77th Company' my old outfit. I understand that regulations then provided that a newly commissioned officer should be transferred for duty with an entirely different organization. I reported to the company commander. He ordered me to take command of the same platoon that I had gone overseas with as a buck private. Some job, I knew them all.
My duties for the next few days were overseeing the drilling of the platoon during the day time and censoring the Men's home going mail at night. While here the platoon commanders were told to recommend one corporal for promotion to sergeant. I recommended Corporal Butterfield and left my recommendation at the company office. Later I heard that the Captain was promoting an entirely different man on the recommendation of the 1st Sergeant but in my opinion less qualified. I went down to the company office and asked the 1st Sergeant
to hold up the Captain's appointment until I could see him. I momentarily forgot the police
sergeant business the summer before. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to find the Captain without luck. Late that afternoon I went to the company office and told the 1st Sergeant to let the recommendation go on as I had not been able to find the Captain. The 1st Sergeant said he had already sent it in on the Captain's express order. He did not tell me that, when the Captain had happened to drop into the office in mid-afternoon and saw the recommendation not yet on it way, he had told the Captain that I had ordered it held up. That night I was called up before the Battalion Commander and our Captain an d told to explain my order. I did so, indicating that it was for temporary delay until I could see the Captain. This put a somewhat different light on the matter. Apparently they believed me. So after a stiff lecture from the Major to, in the future, avoid even an appearance of countermanding my company commander's orders, I was sent back to my quarters. Suffice it to say the 1st Sergeant's friend was given the promotion. It is my recollection that Butterfield finished the war a decorated corporal.
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