In the background

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
I was just getting set to respond appropriately to this when I read your following post, Derek. I must confess I owe ya a cold one for that 'Without blinking an eyelid' closing!

Even Engineers can amaze and confound from time to time, surprising as it may seem.

Yah, I still have a good laugh now and then over that one. I paid the price though. The Petty Officer was a little upset and later I heard through the grapevine that he had complained to the camp's RSM about my comments. The RSM tried to appear sympathetic, but really had nothing to charge me with and he considered the matter dropped. Anyway, the exercise ended, we tore down the camp and loaded up the trucks. There wasn't room in the vehicles for all the Engineers and Logistics staff so we were told that some of us were to stay behind as drivers for the various ILTISs, LSVWs, MLs, and HLs, the rest could fly back to Greenwood. Of course, I was chosen to remain behind as a driver. "There's my punishment, I thought." Oh well, no big deal, I might even enjoy driving across The Rock and Cape Breton. It was early July, the weather was pleasant, and this afforded an excellent opportunity to enjoy a part of Canada that I had never seen before. Things weren't so bad. Vehicle driver's also got rooms on the ferry for the overnight trip from Port aux Basque to North Sydney while everyone else had to make do sleeping on a couch in one of the lounges. The morning of the convoy back arrived. I was informed that I was to drive one of the Packet Commander's Iltis. I was given the key, (if that's what you can call it) and told to check out the vehicle, and stand by for the packet commander and our departure time. I did and soon it was near our time slot. I was sitting in the Iltis enjoying the early morning sunshine when the passenger door opened and in jumped, yes you guessed it, the Petty Officer. Well, he wore me out the whole way back. I was told how I should respect the "Senior Service" and blah, blah, blah. Next time I'll think twice before being a smart-ass!