I spent two years in Germany with Second Armored Division in the middle fifties. There was only the cold war. Our enemy was the Russians. I commanded an Armored Infantry Platoon of five personnel carriers. At Fort Benning, Georgia I had the high score in marksmanship. I was "expert" in M1, Carbine, and BAR Browning Automatic Rifle. That made me a sitting duck to be the Division Small Arms coach. We trained and then went to the Seventh Army matches where the guys won. When I got back to my base word came they were having a parade to honor me. That Saturday morning I stood on the reviewing stand while all these poor guys marched by and gave me an "eyes right" (or left). Then I received this award from the base commander and signed by the general. I couldn't believe it. But I enjoyed it. Here is the rest of the story: Not long after that we were on maneuvers. I was then in Battalion HQ as asst. operations officer. On this day I was racing around in a jeep directing traffic at crossroads and trying to keep tanks from meeting each other head-on on dusty roads. After directing at a crossroad I leaped back in the jeep and the driver took off. About ten minutes later I felt for my carbine. It was gone! You do not lose your weapon!!! Court Martial! Drummed out of the military! Hung on the parade ground. Shot at dawn. I didn't know what. We raced back to the crossroads but no carbine. It was history and I soon would be! In a few days we were back at camp. Word came for me to report to Colonel Lang the Battalion Commander. I got my pressed fatigues and polished boots and headed for his office. I marched in smartly and said "Lieutenant Pogue, sir". (This was the colonel who had stood next to me at the big parade a few weeks earlier.)The colonel said, "Have you lost something, Lieutenant Pogue?". "Yes Sir", I meekly replied. "Does it look anything like this?" and the colonel reached down and came up with a carbine in his hand. "Yes Sir". "This one matches your serial number, Pogue, would you care to explain?". "No excuse, sir" (Can I write my mother a final letter?) The old colonel enjoyed this episode to the hilt. He gave me an "official" reprimand that would not go on my record. I was a free man once again! I think the parade and the certificate of recognition from General Ruffner saved my hide. I had left the carbine on the hood of the jeep while I directed traffic. When we left it quietly slid to the ground and some "angel" found it and turned it in. I never knew who, but I thank him again. Standing with a colonel is exciting and fun. Standing before a colonel is.... well, scary. So it is in life. Standing with God is exciting and rewarding. Standing before Him. That's another story.