The Command Inspection

By Jim Hines

That joker 2LT Rasmussen pulled another good one after you left Asmara. Major General Denholm (Commanding General USASA) was on a tour of European/Middle Eastern field stations and decided (why, god only knows) to come to Kagnew. Rasmussen had enough advance warning that we were having GI parties for about a week.

The day MG Denholm arrived, Rasmussen had an honor Guard (seems like it was 10 guys) wearing khakis, bloused boots with white laces, ascots, white helmet liners, white gloves, etc, lining that little bit of a sidewalk from the curb to the door of the barracks.

The General's car pulled up, Rasmussen and crew snap to attention (at least Rasmussen did, probably simultaneously getting his rocks off and shitting his pants). Denholm slides out of the car looking like a total wino (needing a shave, his uniform looked like he'd slept in it and no cap on). Rasmussen hops to and reports the company ready for inspection. MG Denholm gives him a half-ass return of his salute, looks him up and down, looks at the "honor guard", and says, "nice game you're playing here, son". Then the son of a bitch walked into the orderly Room, had a cup of coffee, took a leak, and that was it!

Of course, when he got out to Tract C it was a different story. There he cared what he was looking at. Poor old Lt. Rasmussen, his 15 minutes of fame down the tubes.