"In that case you'll hear from me later through regular channels. I see you men know your way around in this army."
Stan and O'Malley saluted and moved off. O'Malley grinned. "Slick work, Stan," he said. "Now we won't get blamed for anything."
"And we won't get a medal, either," Stan remarked as he matched O'Malley's grin.
Returning to their Nissen hut the boys policed their living quarters and got things in order. The hut was such a primitive affair that little could be done to keep it in order. The round wood stove leaked ashes on the floor which was always tracked deep with mud. There was a little wash bowl and a table which O'Malley used to stack his laundry upon. The cots were GI with GI mattresses.
After they had cleaned up, the boys went over to the huge sheds where the mechanics worked over the planes. They learned from the chief mechanic that Colonel Holt's order had come through.
"I have the boys on your ships," the sergeant said. He did not seem to approve of the idea.
"I'll be after lookin' out fer me own ship," O'Malley said and hurried away.
"You don't seem to like the colonel's idea," Stan said.
"We've tried it before, sir," the sergeant replied.
"What happened?"