One of these days, although not anytime soon, I might need to do a FAQ section. In the meantime, I’ll just do it the hard way. Here are a few of the most recent questions, which I’m going to attempt to answer.
Have you really been to the locations in your book?
Yes, with one notable exception. Antarctica. Otherwise, I’ve traveled to or actually lived in most of them. I grew up in West Virginia, and have traveled extensively or lived in the South Eastern United States. I was in the James River Valley as recently as a week or so ago, and along the Savannah River basin even more recently. I have passed through Hawaii, lived in Texas, and moved extensively through Central and South America. I have even logged time in Europe, Korea, and other portions of the Asian and Australian continents.
Why does a Lieutenant General outrank a Major General, when a Major outranks a Lieutenant?
This is actually one of my favorite questions! When the United States decided to start naming our military ranks, we borrowed then from the British. Believe it or not, and this is a slightly more obtuse factoid from military history, the original name for the rank “Major General” was “Sergeant Major General.” Through the years in the British Army, this longer title was eventually shortened to just “Major General.” This is why the Lieutenant General is the higher rank, because it was consistent with Lieutenants out-ranking “Sergeants Major.” Of course, as Command Sergeant Major Clagmore would say, “Lieutenant, you might THINK you out-rank me, but you’ll NEVER out-think me because of rank!”
What did you do in the Army?
I served. Some of things I can talk about? I flew helicopters, and commanded at several levels (Platoon, Company, Battalion, etc.), in Aviation, Medical, and “other” type units. I have a special operations background, and have jumped through the hoops necessary to work in those fields. I also started my career out of college as a Private, and was the rank of Sergeant when I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. As for rest, I’m keeping that on the “down low” or on a “need to know” basis.
Was your Dad in the Navy like General Patrick?
Yes, he was, and he was a man with some very proud service. He was in World War II on a Destroyer Escort, the USS Cloues, in the Pacific. (He had an uncle serving as a Turret Captain, on the USS North Carolina too.) Later he went to Submarine School and served on the USS Seal. Eventually he served in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Air Force Auxiliary, as an aviator/pilot. Hence I grew up around the Navy and with airplanes, which may have something to do with my eventual gravitation towards Army Aviation. Well, that and the fact that I was told that the “only way out of Special Operations was to either die or go to flight school.” Joke was on me, since even after I started flying, I was usually still snagged for the “off the wall” stuff. I also have a working knowledge of the Submarine service, at least as a spectator. As for the Naval Aviation side, I did get deck qualified and have landed and/or operated from several ships to include the USS Capadono (Fast Frigate or FFG); USS Guam (LPH); USS Okinawa (LPH); USS Sphinx (converted LST); USS Enterprise (CVN); and a number of other vessels that include LHA or LHD class ships.
Well, enough of those, if anyone has questions, then by all means send them in to me, and I’ll do my best to answer them. I might even divulge a few more secrets about the Gomers.
~ Michael S. Pauley
Have you really been to the locations in your book?
Yes, with one notable exception. Antarctica. Otherwise, I’ve traveled to or actually lived in most of them. I grew up in West Virginia, and have traveled extensively or lived in the South Eastern United States. I was in the James River Valley as recently as a week or so ago, and along the Savannah River basin even more recently. I have passed through Hawaii, lived in Texas, and moved extensively through Central and South America. I have even logged time in Europe, Korea, and other portions of the Asian and Australian continents.
Why does a Lieutenant General outrank a Major General, when a Major outranks a Lieutenant?
This is actually one of my favorite questions! When the United States decided to start naming our military ranks, we borrowed then from the British. Believe it or not, and this is a slightly more obtuse factoid from military history, the original name for the rank “Major General” was “Sergeant Major General.” Through the years in the British Army, this longer title was eventually shortened to just “Major General.” This is why the Lieutenant General is the higher rank, because it was consistent with Lieutenants out-ranking “Sergeants Major.” Of course, as Command Sergeant Major Clagmore would say, “Lieutenant, you might THINK you out-rank me, but you’ll NEVER out-think me because of rank!”
What did you do in the Army?
I served. Some of things I can talk about? I flew helicopters, and commanded at several levels (Platoon, Company, Battalion, etc.), in Aviation, Medical, and “other” type units. I have a special operations background, and have jumped through the hoops necessary to work in those fields. I also started my career out of college as a Private, and was the rank of Sergeant when I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. As for rest, I’m keeping that on the “down low” or on a “need to know” basis.
Was your Dad in the Navy like General Patrick?
Yes, he was, and he was a man with some very proud service. He was in World War II on a Destroyer Escort, the USS Cloues, in the Pacific. (He had an uncle serving as a Turret Captain, on the USS North Carolina too.) Later he went to Submarine School and served on the USS Seal. Eventually he served in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Air Force Auxiliary, as an aviator/pilot. Hence I grew up around the Navy and with airplanes, which may have something to do with my eventual gravitation towards Army Aviation. Well, that and the fact that I was told that the “only way out of Special Operations was to either die or go to flight school.” Joke was on me, since even after I started flying, I was usually still snagged for the “off the wall” stuff. I also have a working knowledge of the Submarine service, at least as a spectator. As for the Naval Aviation side, I did get deck qualified and have landed and/or operated from several ships to include the USS Capadono (Fast Frigate or FFG); USS Guam (LPH); USS Okinawa (LPH); USS Sphinx (converted LST); USS Enterprise (CVN); and a number of other vessels that include LHA or LHD class ships.
Well, enough of those, if anyone has questions, then by all means send them in to me, and I’ll do my best to answer them. I might even divulge a few more secrets about the Gomers.
~ Michael S. Pauley
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