How to get a Dishonorable Discharge! How to get a Dishonorable Discharge During my undergraduate year
Mar 11, 2021 21:19:14 #
During my undergraduate years in college there were still a lot of veterans going to college on the G.I. Bill. There were several of them who participated in U.S. Air Force R.O.T.C. and were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force Reserves. The 1950’s were an uncertain time, and no one knew what the future held. So many of the veterans preferred to be called back as officers if the country needed them.
Jim was one that became a close friend, had served as a Marine and was now in college on the G.I. Bill. He later married another classmate from Gainesville, but her family had property in the Bulcher area. We often had coffee at our breaks in classes. Jim related this story about his being in Korea during the Korean war.
He had been assigned to a Marine Air wing and spend his working hours servicing and repairing Marine aircraft to get back into combat. Sometime during his tour, he and a buddy were given leave and they purchased some beer and other items for a picnic and went to the beach. He never said where this was, what coast but it doesn’t make any difference, other than it was held by friendly forces.
After a dip in the ocean and killing a few brewskys, Jim and his buddy noticed some U.S. Navy supply ships anchored out some distance offshore. They got into an argument about whether their M-1 rifle could fire a bullet far enough to reach one of those ships.
Now whether it was the beer or just a simple challenge, one or the other of them fired their rifle at the nearest Navy cargo ship. After waiting what seemed like a long time, they heard a “ping”! The bullet striking the hull of their target! This brought a lot of laughs, and so they had to repeat this trick a few more times.
They finally tired of this game, pack up their stuff and leave. But in the mean time some other Marines who were also on the beach saw what they were doing and had taken up the sport. Now after Jim and his fellow Marine had left the area, the Shore Patrol arrives and arrests all the other Marines who were lounging and shooting at the ships offshore. The results were all those who had participated and were arrested were given time in the brig and a dishonorable discharge. It is not considered a friendly act to bounce rifle bullets off the Navy’s cargo ships.
Jim and his buddies were the ones who had started the mischievous acts and had escaped completely from any retribution or punishment. Others who were caught and punished had seen what Jim and his buddies were doing and copied it, much to their regret. Just Sayin…RJS
Jim was one that became a close friend, had served as a Marine and was now in college on the G.I. Bill. He later married another classmate from Gainesville, but her family had property in the Bulcher area. We often had coffee at our breaks in classes. Jim related this story about his being in Korea during the Korean war.
He had been assigned to a Marine Air wing and spend his working hours servicing and repairing Marine aircraft to get back into combat. Sometime during his tour, he and a buddy were given leave and they purchased some beer and other items for a picnic and went to the beach. He never said where this was, what coast but it doesn’t make any difference, other than it was held by friendly forces.
After a dip in the ocean and killing a few brewskys, Jim and his buddy noticed some U.S. Navy supply ships anchored out some distance offshore. They got into an argument about whether their M-1 rifle could fire a bullet far enough to reach one of those ships.
Now whether it was the beer or just a simple challenge, one or the other of them fired their rifle at the nearest Navy cargo ship. After waiting what seemed like a long time, they heard a “ping”! The bullet striking the hull of their target! This brought a lot of laughs, and so they had to repeat this trick a few more times.
They finally tired of this game, pack up their stuff and leave. But in the mean time some other Marines who were also on the beach saw what they were doing and had taken up the sport. Now after Jim and his fellow Marine had left the area, the Shore Patrol arrives and arrests all the other Marines who were lounging and shooting at the ships offshore. The results were all those who had participated and were arrested were given time in the brig and a dishonorable discharge. It is not considered a friendly act to bounce rifle bullets off the Navy’s cargo ships.
Jim and his buddies were the ones who had started the mischievous acts and had escaped completely from any retribution or punishment. Others who were caught and punished had seen what Jim and his buddies were doing and copied it, much to their regret. Just Sayin…RJS
Mar 12, 2021 06:23:55 #
Alcohol and gun powder are a combination that far too often leads to bad decisions!
Mar 12, 2021 14:57:31 #
woodguru
Loc: El Dorado Ca
Military, guns, alcohol, what could go wrong? I'm tempted to tell a story about 8 or 9 guys transforming the way cars get transported on trains from Detroit to New Orleans, but I'd need a few in me to go there.
Mar 12, 2021 15:09:36 #
Woodguru: Well remember, a bad incident usually leads to a great story! Just Sayin...RJS
Mar 12, 2021 17:14:05 #
woodguru
Loc: El Dorado Ca
Robert J Samples wrote:
Woodguru: Well remember, a bad incident usually leads to a great story! Just Sayin...RJS
You have me laughing...alright, picture a train, a huge long train, well over 200 cars...on it's way to New Orleans
A train trestle going over a creek that made a great place to go shoot guns....
A big bend in the tracks as soon as it passed the trestle, think can't see the engine nor can the engineers see their train.
These train cars were carrying cars, lots of cars, three decks worth of cars per train car...
It sort of reminded a person of a shooting gallery with moving targets...just sayin
There were shotguns, .45's, .357's, 44 mags, an m14 .30 carbine with 30 shot mags, and .22's with bricks of ammo.
There was military precision logistics, two teams, one reloaded while the other saw how many targets could be hit on their train, there were not a lot of cars that got through.
This incident has bothered me, I was 19 when it took place...the only good that came out of it is that it forced the train company to put sides on their car carriers, something they had needed to do because they already had a light damage factor, nothing like this though.
I'm pretty sure we'd have earned time in Leavenworth rather than a discharge.
Mar 12, 2021 17:36:30 #
Absolutely right ! Sounds like a good movie script! Just Sayin...RjS
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