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amount. I also learned they were being paid in cash! The Lt. said he was under orders from Bn. HQ and that it wasn’t something he could change. He also told me that he would be deducting each Marine’s ’fair share’ to the United Way campaign. Trying to remain calm although inside I was ready to explode—I said is this about competition between the Battalion Commanders, Regimental HQ, etc.? He said that it was likely! I suddenly knew that the reason these tired, hungry, thirsty, dirty Marines were being paid was so money could be ‘taken’ from their pay so some senior officer would ‘look good’ in competition with the other officers! My fuse blew! I told the Lt. that I would be riding back with him to Bn. HQ.—I requested ‘Mast’ with Capt. Tolleson—presented him with my complaint— he listened but indicated it was out of his hands —not a resolution he could make. According to the rules of ‘Requesting Mast’ if the issue couldn’t be resolved at the lowest level of command it was to be passed to the next highest level—which would be Col. Utter—the Battalion Commander. This was NOT a ‘routine’ action on my part—I had never ‘requested Mast’ in my time in the Corps. —I was told that senior officers did not like junior officers ‘requesting mast’ and that it could be a career ending move. The Colonel agreed to see me and I presented myself to him in command headquarters tent. The XO, Col. Wilson, met me and escorted me in to see Col. Utter. The Col. asked me what this was all about. I explained what had happened and how I felt about the United Way fiasco—I remained ‘at attention’ in front of the Col’s field desk while he listened to my explanation. When I finished he said “ is that it? That’s your reason for requesting Mast Lt.?! I said ‘yes sir’. The Col. said “ you’re dismissed—get out
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