I am sometimes struck by how Luther writes his parents and sister and tells them which Post Office he is, or will be, nearest to, so they can send him mail there. It took the Great War to institutionalize the Armed Forces Post Offices. One of the constant refrains that came up at various planning conferences I attended over the last 20 years, was who was going to deliver the mail to the front. The Army doesn't want to, the Marines refuse and the Air Force and Navy are not at the front and therefore not inclined to be at all helpful in the matter. The question remains though and is right up there with just who is going to provide the massive manpower to confine all the enemy prisoners of war we expect to capture and the millions of refugees we expect to see. Oddly enough, the Army refuses, the Marines won't and the Air Force and Navy don't take prisoners.
4 comments:
Again, I love reading these letters and marvel that they have survived. I feel I can hear Luther voice as he relates his experiences.
And, keep us all from evil, designing enemies.
...and the Air Force and Navy don't take prisoners.
Well, that's the way it USED to be, in USAF's case. I'm not so sure any more.
I could read Luther's letter just fine.
I have always enjoyed reading them and now transcribing them. The last road trip before Christmas has reminded me that I need to get finished transcribing them all and posting them and then see about getting them into a University's online materials section since they still constitute primary source history of the Civil War.
One of my worst superiors was sacked after opening fire on Iraqis who had already surrendered. It was not unexpected. On the other hand, they had surrendered to aircraft the day before so there is proof that the air forces and navy don't take prisoners. But that was then and in the now and future I think you're right. We will take prisoners....and give them to the Marines to guard.
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