Brother Bob-

I also served over twenty- (twenty two, three months, and 29 days, but who's counting..??) maybe I didn't state my case clearly... I was just gripin' about the minimal pay for ALL of us...not that some earned more than others.

I went to school for 8 months to learn avionics, and during that, took the W.O. FAST test, and scored within 3 points of a MAX. Bombed out of candidacy when my eyes were tested. (why din't they do THAT first??) Then applied for OCS- was accepted for Field Artillery- 2LT in 23 weeks.

Had a GT 137..no genius, but capable- attended FA OCS and (no excuse, sir!!) bombed out in my 16th week because of MY inadequacy in higher math. By the way, FA OCS Class 1-70, all of whom were qualified as Artillery Officers, didn't go to 'Nam.Several were commissioned in the Finance Corps, Signal Corps, and AG -- only those who didn't complete the course went to 'Nam--and I didn't "post out".. I wanted to stay, and go to Vietnam as a Forward Observer. I was good at all the skills it took to do that. I just couldn't compute firing data (like in the Fire Direction Center, where the arty-oriented clerks figured up the weather factors affecting arty fires, some with the FADAC-Fld Arty Data Computer.) I liked it on the ground, where the shrapnel meets the flesh.

I bear no grudge to anyone whose experience and duty performance led to a brighter future. I got out in 71 as a SP5, and started over three years later as an PV2, in Combat Arms, before the war was over, and retired as an SFC. OK by me. But I took my share of getting kicked in the teeth for doing my job, when others were Awarded for being my superiors. No bullshit.

I'm not bitter at all except for the situations in which some folks with loads of authority and no common sense got people killed or aimed
needlessly.

You mentioned Lieutenants and Captains who were underpaid. Amen. Warrants and Specialists and Privates, too. If someone "miked" the cojones of most of the guys we knew, and PAID them by size (or weight), there would have been a lot more money lying around with no place to spend it...

Lump