The more senior officers, meanwhile, seemed to be so overwhelmed by the press of their duties that they were unable to devote time to investigating reports of theft of small arms from the U.S. Army. This understandable negligence did, however, lead to occasional differences of opinion between the Army and the Marines. Indeed, when one Marine colonel informed an Army captain that Marines never lost their rifles and that the Marine Corps could not be held responsible for the Army's lax training in that area, the Army captain was seen to leave the regimental headquarters in a highly aroused state of indignation.
"The General will see you now, Colonel," Major General Archer A. Vandegrift's sergeant major said to Colonel Stecker.
Lieutenant Colonel Stecker nodded his thanks to the sergeant major for holding open for him the piece of canvas that was General Vandegrift's office door and stepped inside.
"Good morning, Sir."
"Good morning," Vandegrift said.
Vandegrift was not alone in his office. There was another colonel there; he stood up when he saw Stecker and smiled.
His was a familiar face to Stecker, but he was a newcomer to Guadalcanal. That was evident by his brand-new utilities and boondockers, and by the unmarred paint on his steel helmet. And because he was wearing a spotless set of web gear, complete to suspenders.
"You two know each other, don't you?" Vandegrift asked, but it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, Sir," they said, almost in unison.
"I worked for the Colonel at Quantico," Jack Stecker said. "When he was in Marine Corps Schools."
"That seems like a long time ago, doesn't it, Jack?" Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Newberry said.
"Yes, Sir," Stecker said.
"Newberry will be taking over your battalion, Colonel," General Vandegrift said.
There was a just-perceptible hesitation before Stecker replied, "Aye, aye, Sir."
Well, what the hell did I expect? I never expected to command a battalion in the first place. Battalions go to career officers, not people who have an "R" for reserve after USMC in their signature block.
"From what I've been hearing, Jack," Colonel Newberry said, "you've done a hell of a job with it."
You didn't have to say that. Why am I surprised that you're a gentleman, trying to make this easier for me? I always thought you were a pretty good officer. As a matter of fact, the only thing I don't like about you is that you 're taking my battalion away from me.
"I've had some pretty fine Marines to work with, Colonel."
"My experience is that Marines reflect their officers," General Vandegrift said. "Good or bad."
That was nice of him, too.
"I want you to turn it over to Newberry as soon as possible, Colonel," Vandegrift said.
"Aye, aye, Sir. I'd like a day or two, Sir, if that's possible."
Vandegrift looked at his wristwatch. "Would you settle for thirty hours? There's a PBY scheduled to leave Henderson at seventeen hundred tomorrow. I want you on it."
"Aye, aye, Sir," Stecker said. "We ought to be able to do it in that time."
"Newberry," Vandegrift said, "I'd like a word with Colonel Stecker, if you don't mind."
"Aye, aye, Sir. By your leave, Sir," Newberry said, and then added, "I'll wait for you outside, Jack."
"All right," Stecker said.
Newberry left. Vandegrift waved Stecker into a folding chair.
"OK, Jack," he said. "What is it that you know about Newberry that I don't? He came highly recommended."
"Sir, to the best of my knowledge, Colonel Newberry is a fine officer. I'd be very surprised if he didn't do a fine job with Second of the Fifth."
"You looked pretty damned unhappy a minute ago," Vandegrift said. "All that was was having to give up your battalion?"
"Yes, Sir."
"The Corps doesn't give people battalions until they die or retire, Jack. At least, not anymore. You ought to know that."
"Yes, Sir."
"Or had you hoped to turn it over to your exec? What's his name?"
"Young, Sir," Stecker replied automatically, and then went on without thinking. "No, Sir, Young's not ready for a battalion yet. He just made major."
"Good company commanders do not necessarily make good battalion commanders, is that what you're saying?"
"You need experience, Sir, seeing how a battalion is run. Give Young a couple more months..." He stopped. "General, I don't know what made me start crying in my soup. I apologize, Sir."
"You looked just like that, Jack, like you were going to cry in your soup."
"I'm sorry, Sir. By your leave?"
"I'll tell you when, Colonel. Please keep your seat."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
"I'll tell you why you're crying in your soup, Jack. You're worn out, that's why."
"I'm fine, Sir. Is that why I was relieved?"
"There's two kinds of relief, Colonel. You are not being relieved because you weren't doing the job, or even because you're tired... but, frankly, being tired entered into it. You have been relieved because Newberry-through no fault of his own-has never heard a shot fired in anger, and it's time he was given the opportunity. And because The Corps has other places where you can be useful. By taking you out of there now, The Corps is going to wind up with two qualified battalion commanders, Newberry and Young. They will teach each other; Young will show Newberry how to function under fire, and Newberry will show Young how to run a battalion... what is expected of him as a field-grade officer."
"Yes, Sir."
"We're going to need a lot of battalion commanders. The last thing I heard, there may be as many as six Marine divisions."