Wiley L. Golden Story 1

Wiley L. Golden wrote the following:

"Lieutenants Take Guard Duty with a Smile"

The enlisted men of the 513th Squadron had just completed their new club house and would have a gala opening within a couple days. A small-piece band, comprised of members from the different squadrons, would entertain. No, there were no femmes with whom any member of the 513th could covort across a new floor.
 
The day before the party, Col. Edwin P. Schmid, the commanding officer of the 513th, came into the S-2 room. Spotting Sgt. Golden, he inquired about the affair asking if all the enlisted men would be attending.

The answer to the colonel was "no" as there would be forty of the men going on guard duty that evening which would cut the attendance. Schmid said that could be remedied very easily, just put the second lieutenants on duty, and if you run out of them, start on the first lieutenants. This from one out of West Point?

The recipient of this simple solution was taken somewhat aback because at no time could he remember any second lieutenant catching guard duty when plenty of enlisted men were around. Schmid went on to say, "place the men as they enter the S-2 room." "And who would tell the officers?" "You will Golden and keep a record. If any arguments arise, tell them to come across the hall and see me!"
 
A few did raise hell but changed their minds when told to contact the colonel and voice their objections to the enlisted men having a party. From that day on, Schmid was first in the hearts of his enlisted men. Later, he became deputy commander of the entire group under Dick Fellows' command.
 
Col. Schmid and quite a number of the officers did join the parry that evening. Fellows, we couldn't locate.

Golden did get back in the good graces of those officers who caught the guard duty. He had been transferred to the public relations department of Group, and one officer, knowing that Golden would make several trips to the 35th Field Hospital in Erchi to cover a story in connection with the 376th, inquired if a truck could be had from the motor pool with an OK from Col. Schmid to travel to the hospital. Of course, a sergeant was putting his neck on the line to accomodate several officers (six) who wanted to visit their nurse-friends as these officers were not allowed off base.

They were picked up along the roadside among the bushes waiting for the truck to come by. The MP's never caught on to this strategy.

One big trump cord was held by the sergeant, that being the officers had better be on hand when the truck was to start back to the home base at 11 P.M. or it would be rather a long walk, and often it is wondered what Col. Fellows and Schmid would have done if they had ever found out about this little trickery.