Question 64: Free Response

There is too much goldbricking in the army. Strong healthy men are given jobs that invalides [invalids] should have while the chronically sick men go to the field as a rule.

Another criticism I have to make is that sometimes our officers are unreasonable in their disciplining of us. Also the medical setup where patients are treated with pills isn't too good where medicine can be obtained. At the front we don't expect excellent medical care, but we would like to get it while still in the U.S.

I am in this army now from Oct 1 1941 and I think I worked as hard as any man in my outfit but it seems like I never will get a promotion. I took care of the weapons in this company for about 9 months and they always have the excuse that an armorer does not deserve a rating in the engineers. I think as long as we are combat engineers my work should call for a T IV rating.

When I enlisted in the army I was given Personnel work for about 9 months and liked it very much. After that time that particular section was broken up and I was put in in Operations against my will. Since that time I have been lax and not at all interested in the work because I hate it.

Why the hell] /underline] don't the Army put a man where they can get the most out of him and give him a job he likes. I am waisting my time and drawing $78.00 a month for nothing.

At the time I was drafted in the Army I held a civil service rating as a mechanic and asked at the Classification center to be placed as an air craft Mechanic. I was told I could have volunteered and received this branch of service but since I was drafted it was not available to me. Why should the Army be conducted in this manner if they really need aircraft mechanics as they claim?

A war worker shouldn't be discourged with his work, but should never encourage strikes.

Concering question eight: I wouldn' want to stay in, but will do all I can while here The function of Junior Non-Coms reflect on their 1st Sgt. There is no exception there. Concerning quston twenty one: I am a mess Sgt. Very few menus have proper components to make the menu complete, due to exeperienced peoples making up the Components & not the menu.

if the negro fight for his country why shouldnt he have have more privleg

if the Gernan were to make peace they would Build up and have another war there wont be much work after the war becoars there wont be much money and no one will dare to what he has

The most of us like the Army for we are here to do a job and we intend to do it right. Many of us do not want to be officers because we have seen so many who were only "fronts" for the enlisted men who really got the job done. For the most part we are proud of our officers; the most of them here to get the job done, and are doing their work extremely well.

There is a little uneasiness in our minds about the oppertunity of another war. We know Stalin is not the kind democracy loving man he is pictured. We would like to know just how he is going to be watched, like Germany and Japan. - And we would like a hand in writing the peace.

Re: Question #52

I don't think the President and Congress are being fair to the fightin men by letting those 0 worker work when they want to and Strike when they want to. I think we are fighting more for the workers than for ourselves. Therefore they should be made worke as long and draw the same pay as we do

I would like to know why our outfit only doesn't get a week end pass or an overnight pass. For every other outfit in this camp does I know. They just let the married men get them. For I think we are in getting one. We are all soldiers in the Army, Half the time we are lucky to get an 8 hour pass. For I know our outfit would be more pleased with the Army then ever before, if that would just happen. I thank you.

I think that we will lose the war if the War and Navy department tries to shift everything around to suit everybody In war no democratic country can fight a war with success. The people should and do rule in peacetime but during war the constitution of the U.S. should be put in storage and the President with the aid of the War and Navy departments should say what to do, how to do it and when to do it. In this way Congress will not prolong the war and it will help us to bring the constitution out of its storage place more quickly.

This is about the last part of the questionnaire.

I think that all Negro soldiers should be in a separat place. To stop all fighting among the white soldiers.

Why don't Btry Commanders follow T. O.

Why can't waste be cut out in kitchens & some good meals cooked for once [.]

I would like to be stationed in the North, because I was stationed there before in the Coast Artillery And I liked it there very much.

I think that my folks are not doing so good now, because my dad depended on my brother and I to help support the family. Now he is the only one working, makeing a very small salery. He also has 8 children to support now.

I am sincerely who would suffer most in case the Japs won the war Whites & negros? What was the navy's idea of waiting until a war started to admit negros to that service other than cooks and K.P.'s? Probably it does take a war to learn whites that they must live with Negros.

I answered question 32 saying a war worker cause I have had some training in the mechanical field & could be more help as a war worker or even in the Army at an air-base as a mechanic's helper. That is my ambition to work my way up to a commission in the Army air corps ground force & finally to fly a plane of my own over Berlin & Tokoyo. I do hope that they give me a transfer soon as I keep wishing for it.

You cant please everyone all the time. I dont like the idea of mixing races. You could suggest taking a soldier's income tax out, like his insurance it wouldn't "hurt" so bad. After all its a darn good army to be in.

The negro problem will be a serious one after the war more so in the south. I think the south may even have to make certain laws to hold the negro in his right place. In the army where the negro has the same right as white people the problem can easily be seen. There is nothing that can be done about it now but people should see the problem approaching and begin to think about it so that they can deal with it when it does arrive.

Too much quibbling about whether shoelaces are straight or crooked, whether knife and Jack are arranged properly for display, whether tent poles are painted in the right direction for display.

We should be winning the war instead of spending all week getting ready for Saturday Inspection. We have too much gold-bricking carried over from a peace time army which gave most of its time to appearances. We give too much attention to appearances and uniformity. Skill in passing the buck seems more valuable than solving the problem. Officers and Non-Coms not seriously interested in making good soldiers, but in making a good report to superior Offier.

1 The president of the United States didn't treat the young boys 18-19 fair because we are old enough to fight for our country same as a man Then why shouldnt We had a right to vote maybe there wouldn't be a War.

2 After every War they elect a Republican president then the depresson comes then the Democrats gets and sticks their nose out where It don't belong and trade with foreign countries then theres a boom Then war starts in Europe the U. S. sticks her nose out where It doesn't belong the Democrats dig up the old draft Bill again Then we are at War again Read this carefully and watch in 15 or 30 years from now it will be the same thing and the people is getting mighty sick of it to. This War is nothing but a money scheme to get the people killed off. But theres a day when you rich men a politics will pay dear for this.

Where is the money going to come from to pay for Englands material and Russias. I say keep our men and material on this side of the waters where they belong. Because every one of the European countries are treacherous and can't be trusted.

put yourself out in a soldiers place in combat zone and see how you would like it. If we wouldn't have aided England and all of those filthy countries we wouldn't be in War Today. May I express myself again Keep our material and men on this side. as president Roosevelt said before his last election vote for me and I wont send your boys across his word is no good. Its just the money that talks.

Can't understand the large interest in the negro's place in the army & after the war. This much interest was not shown before we entered this Conflict. Why brought before us now to such a degree. Why our guess as to the ending of the war was wanted. To get in this thing and put our shoulders to the wheel and get it over so we can all go home.