Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
A:
Well, I'm not sure it really matters. I think it does from the standpoint of knowing, but I think
the Corps has got such a great bunch of professionals that, certainly to do the job I was doing,
you can take the basic professional and make it work. You're going to go to each district to
do that and ask them to identify, as I was identified, five captains. I mean, that doesn't
mention all of the civilian professionals that had already gone as part of the Alaska
earthquake recovery. I suppose those were done through the system by asking folks to
nominate and look for volunteers or look for certain skills just as we do today. So, I think we
have the capability to do that very well.
I'm not so sure that any one experience then qualifies you for the next experience. Yes, I'd
been through it, but would I know beforehand that you've got to deal with these folks in
Public Affairs? It was easily identifiable wherever I was later that I had those kinds of
experiences. I think we have the ability to communicate and find out these things. I don't
think you can have a ready district or a ready team that's on standby ready to go. I think, as
we demonstrated in Loma Prieta by mobilizing 350 Corps folks over a weekend, we can get
the right people there in almost no time at all, if somebody alerts us and tells us what they
want.
Advanced Course, U.S. Army Engineer School
Q:
Around March of 1965, then, I guess you go back to Fort Belvoir for the advanced course, is
that correct?
A:
Yes.
Q:
After having company command, or the equivalent, really.
A:
I had not had company command.
Q:
Had been an adviser in Vietnam.
A:
Yes. Well, by this time I'd come out on the majors list, like I mentioned. Actually, I returned
from Alaska and somebody said, "We saw your name on the majors list." I said, "I don't
think so." I certainly wasn't aware of lists or eligibility or even what "below the zone" meant
at that time, as opposed to today. I guess you get the feeling today like everybody knows
where they stand, but that wasn't on my screen at the moment.
So, we got the list and looked it up and I was. I called to verify it, and sure enough that was
me. So, then I said, "Well, look, guys, you better get me the company command quickly. I
mean, first of all, here I am in my ninth year, I'm just going the advanced course. I'm already
late. I really ought to go to company command." They said, "Nope. You've got to go to
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