Private Replies to Battalion Surgeon

[imntxs554]

Saipan did not look appealing, and it sounded specially repugnant to those men of the 4th Division who listened to their battalion surgeon explain some of the island's other defects."In the surf," he said with solemn relish, "beware of sharks, barracuda, sea snakes, anemones, razor-sharp coral, polluted waters, poison fish and giant clams that shut on a man like a bear trap." "Ashore," he went on with rising enthusiasm, "There is leprosy, typhus, filiarisis, yaws, typhoid, dengue fever, dysentery, saber grass, hordes of flies, snakes and giant lizards." He paused, winded, but rushed on: "Eat nothing growing on the island, don't drink its waters, and don't approach its inhabitants." He stopped, smiled benignly and inquired, "Any questions?"A private's hand shot up."Yes?"" Sir, the private asked, "Why'n hell don't we let the Japs keep the island?"" Thank You Don for sending this to me.

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[Gil Boyd]

Sounds just like Southend, oh no sorry many of the sharks are on land

[Paul S.]

The comment (much exaggerated) heard during a lecture to troops preparing to go to Vietnam in 1967: 'There are a hundred different species of snake in Vietnam. Ninety-nine of them are poisonous. The other one just eats you whole!'