Από την Κρήτη εθελοντής στον Αμερικανικό Στρατό., item 45

• November 1, 2018 07:08:13 Anastasia Ioannou

  sents your Government you will understand how

  important it is that you do not hesitate to do

  promptly what you arc told.

  What' counts most in the carrying out of orders

  is this spirit, this morale, which I have spoken of.

  It would be a poor army whose soldiers carried

  out their orders in a sleepy, inconsequential fashion.

  It is said that most old-timers in the army love to

  grumble. This may be true, but I doubt it, for I

  have witnessed them in such far countries as the

  Philippine Islands, where conditions were bad, and I

  have yet to see a man who did not carry out his

  orders under stress willingly. There may have been

  things that grated on their nerves, but they were

  able to subjugate their feelings pretty thoroughly.

  From the beginning you must accustom yourself

  to carrying out orders in a thoroughly healthy man-

  ner and with good will for all. You are the defender

  of your country, the individual upon whose efficiency

  depends a battle, a campaign, a war. Your officer

  expects you to live up to that high standard of duty

  so necessary for success. He has been associated

  with you during the long preparatory period. He

  knows you are anxious to do what is expected of

  you (if you are), and he wilt turn to you in time of

  need to help hear the heavy burden of responsibility

  resting upon his shoulders.

     Cultivate a wholehearted loyalty to your non­-

  commissioned officers, your officers and your com­-

  manding officcr. Don’t believe every little rumor

  about them. They are human and are trying to do

  their duly. You will prove your lack of usefulness

  by standing around cawing at them. Get down to

  your task and make it grow under your hands.

  You've got to do it, so why not do it in a cheerful,

  helpful way? You can’t be loyal if you grumble.

  You will never be efficient if you shirk your duties.

  You will never become a non-commissioned officer

  if you neglect your work and fail to make yourself

  acquainted with your responsibilities.

  
  

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