Combat Arms Detail?
By LTC Ray Gilchrest.

     In 1954 I was sent to Germany assigned to the 14th Armored Cav Regt to serve my 2 yr detail with a combat arm- having been a tanker in WWII I chose the iron monsters.  Our mission was patrolling the East West border which was very interesting to see the contrast at night with all the lights aglow in the West and the East in almost total darkness.  What I didn't care for was all that "field duty" exercises etc. On arriving in Fulda Regt. Hqs. I was happy to learn there was a small Class B Office there operated by then 1lt Roy Fox.  He was happy to see me as he could never get anyone to takeover when he went on Leave. Having a great relationship with the Regt CO he arranged for me to take over for him during a field exercise I didn't care to attend. He went to Yugoslavia, had a ball, and I was enjoying the comfort of my "home turf"- great staff etc.

     However one morning about 0300 AM I was awakened at my BOQ and advised it was X Day-so what? It was the first I had ever heard of MPC Conversions but I surely learned fast.  All units are ordered to remain in place and the MP's brought anyone on the road to the nearest Post-I got even some Brits with BAFs their script-I received my new series MPC from our Parent (think it was the 42nd FDS in Wurzberg delivered by Cpt. Max Whitlesey by L19 about noon) We had pretty well collected and receipted all the old series and I felt pretty good about life THEN some DA Civilian from a PX some 50 -75 miles away pulls in with THREE footlockers full of everything - I had never seen so many 5,10,25,50 cent bills not to mention the $1,5,10,andd 20's which was our largest denomination in my life an hope I never do again! I informed him politely that my responsibility was the 14th ACR and he needed  to get to V corps in Frankfurt- He was adamant and I was tired!

     I got the Regt. CO on the line and YEP he said take it! I explained I didn't have enough script to do so and service the Regt. to which he replied DO IT- to which I said YESSIR! and continued my comments after hanging up! It took many laborious hours and we had only a small safe so we had MPC [ which is cash until you get it turned in!] all over the small office- file drawers, waste baskets, boxes, etc. My small but valiant team labored long into the night with me until we gave up exhausted, locked up and hoped for a better tomorrow! I never thought we would ever get it all counted,  bundled and worst of all Balanced!

     At that point that trip to the field, even at "stand too- gassed, fed, engines running and ready to roll before Daylight" seemed like it might have been easier than what my Team and I encountered! What a lesson-What is that old refrain I recall from St Louis, Ft. Harrison?? LEARN TO DO BY DOING!

     Best Wishes To all you great RAFINOS and our backbone, the best NCO's in the Army!