A Short War Story

A recent discussion of gin drinks reminded me of an old war story which I have enjoyed for years.

As a young Captain in the 1970's I worked briefly for an Armored Corp Brigadier who had served in WW II One evening at the club he explained to several of us how he first got into the tank corps as it was being created for WW II.

He was commissioned a lieutenant in the horse cavalry prior to WW II, and was training at Fort Bliss, near El Paso Texas. As the culmination of a set of training exercises he was to lead a live fire cavalry charge across the desert. He spoke of his excitement as he pulled his .45 pistol, raised it over his head, stood in his saddle, yelled "Charge", brought his .45 down and fired – right into his horses' head.

Killed the horse instantly. His transfer to a nearby tank unit was almost as rapid. During the quick transfer he recalls his CO saying something about "No one who shot his own horse was ever going to be a cavalry officer."

He was drinking gin-and-tonic as he told the story.