[QCWA] WW2 and me

[Joseph Fenn]

CDate: Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:03:32 -1000 (HST)
From: Joseph Fenn <jfenn at lava.net>
To:qcwa
Subject: Is this appropriate?

I dunno if the following would be appropriate to putting it on the
qcwa mailist.  Probably should be in the Journal but easier to do
it to the email route.
When I joined the Ft Benning signal corps in Sept 1940, we had our
control site in the Infantry School Bldg which was just wee bit
inside the main gate.  Our Ctrl point WUO was in the same bldg but
on the 2nd floor.  On the 4th floor Col Eisenhower was Commander
of the Infantry school.  At our Ctrl point we not only handled
Military traffic to WVR  but also had a counter where telegrams
could be handled to Postal Telegraph and/or Western Union downtown.
General Patton was way out in the woods in tents with his 2nd
Armored Divn.   Early in 1941 the first draftees started coming
and we got one assigned to us to handle the Telegrams that walked in.
It just happened that the draftee answered the phone and told the
caller to standby as he was with a customer.  He did and layed the
phone down.  After about 10 minutes he brought the phone over to me
and said "someone wants to send a telegram".  I picked up the phone
and said "Go ahead sir".  Woweee he slammmed into me with what
the hell has been the hold up,   I just lost $10,000 during this
ten mins wait, This is General Patton.  I told him very sorry
sir but we have draftees that are not aware of whats going on yet
and I will take care of him.  Patton said "oh I see well sorry
I exploded on you" and he gave me the text for the W.U. msg.
To this day I felt I was lucky to be scolded by the best
General under (then 4 Star General Eisenhower).  Patton raced
accross france heading for the German border but the
"battle of the bulge" was occurring up further north and the
allies were surounded.   Patton get the msg from them and
took a sharp left turn and raced his tanks up and freed up
the other divisions that were urrounded and also broke the
barrier and continued on into Germany.   To this day I feel
fortunate to have been scolded by one of the best Generals
we had at the time.  I treasure that call.
                Joe Fenn KH6JF