How did they keep up with things?

[Jim K]

Local record keeping was done by the company clerk. Most of the other stuff was bucked to higher echelon, battalion or regiment. Paper work got passed by jeep messenger or by phone. Other communications (teletype) did not usually go below regimental level. In hot combat, commo was reserved for combat messages, but it was normally also used for admin stuff.

As to pay, what pay? Troops in combat didn't get paid; what would they have spent it on? Pay caught up in lull periods and was in scrip, not US money.

Sometimes units did get out of touch, but only for a short time, since they knew where they were and where they were supposed to be. In spite of a few "lost" units (as described above), the military generally knew who was where and could reach them by commo. That is the reason "Saving Private Ryan" is so silly; sending a platoon under a captain (normally a company commander) to wander around in enemy territory looking for one guy is such a dumb idea I am surprised anyone took the premise seriously.

Jim

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