lessonslearned
Human Nature
an army Veterinary corps officer stationed in Saigon,
Vietnam, in 1968 learns a valuable lesson from one of his
sergeants about reverse psychology.
I
was serving as the commander consumed fairly quickly. We tried to force
of the 4th Medical Detachment (Vet- issue the lettuce to the units as they de-
erinary Service) in Saigon, Vietnam, parted the class i yards, offering them
in 1968. this was a small veterinary unit five to 10 cases each. they all had excuses:
that was charged not only with the care “My reefer [refrigeration] unit isn’t acting
of military working dogs but also with properly,” “i am short on time,” “We can’t
inspection of food products that were en- use that much lettuce,” or “i don’t have
tering the country. room.” With the prospect of the lettuce
inspectors stationed at the port in spoiling, i turned to the Ncoic of our
Saigon would inspect food products as food inspection unit and asked what to do.
they arrived in the country to ascertain He just said, “let me handle it, Sir.”
they would not harm U.S. military per- after several hours, i returned to the
sonnel, thus protecting the health of class i yards and noticed a sergeant had
the troops. the areas where our inspec- stacked all of the pallets of lettuce out-
tors were stationed were called class i side the fence and placed a large sign
(subsistence) yards. after the arriving on them that read: Do Not toUcH.
subsistence was inspected, it then was ProPerty of 9tH iNfaNtry DiVi-
Tell Your Story
issued to the various units. these units SioN. i then observed the drivers of the
■ Shar Submite y yourour ser levicssonse-
would send their own refrigerated trucks trucks leaving the class i yards noticing
rleelatarneded adv by e-mailenture tos (o r
to the fenced class i yards to pick up the the large stacks of lettuce with the warn-
mishapsprofserie)s@mo by e-mailaa.or tog
subsistence and transport it to their mess ing sign, stopping, looking to see that no encor byor maile@mo toaa. MOorAAg, or
halls. the units would pick up a prede- one was watching, jumping out of their
Pmailrof themessional to Serie Encors,e 201 Edi-
termined amount of food depending on trucks, loading about five to 10 cases, and
N.tor W, 201ashingt N. Wonashingt St., Al-on
eSt.,xandria, Alexandria, VA 22314. VA 22314. All
the master menu and the number of per- then speeding away with a feeling of ela-
submisAll submissionssions will will be c beon-
sonnel assigned to each unit. tion on having “stolen” something from
siderconsidered foedr fo publicr
publication.ation.
occasionally, it would be necessary to the 9th infantry Division. the two huge
Comment on the latest
“force issue” some food items in order SeaVaN shipments of lettuce were gone lesson or share your
to prevent spoilage — and thus financial in a matter of hours.
own at
www.moaa.org/
loss to the government. these force-issue My Ncoic certainly taught me that
lessonslearned.
situations actually were free subsistence understanding human nature can get
products over and above the normal allot- much quicker results than trying to force
ment that was given to the various units something on someone. mo
when they picked up their daily rations at
the class i yards.
— c. Donald Seedle is a retired Army Vet-
one time, we had two huge SeaVaN
erinary Corps lieutenant colonel. He currently
shipments of lettuce that were going bad
resides in Allens Park, Colo. For submission in-
and would have to be destroyed if not formation, see page 18.
78 Military officer December 2009 image: shutterstock
Dec_lessons.indd 78 10/28/09 2:34 PM
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