Звездный десант

           Hegotadecorationandapromotion.IfyougobacktotheSecondGlobalWar,youcanfindacaseinwhichanavaljuniorofficertookcommandofamajorshipandnotonlyfoughtitbutsentsignalsasifhewereadmiral.Hewasvindicatedeventhoughtherewereofficersseniortohiminlineofcommandwhowerenotevenwounded.Specialcircumstances—abreakdownincommunications.ButIamthinkingofacaseinwhichfourlevelswerewipedoutinsixminutes—asifaplatoonleaderweretoblinkhiseyesandfindhimselfcommandingabrigade.Anyofyouheardofit?"

           Deadsilence.

           "Verywell.Itwasoneofthosebushwarsthatharedupontheedgesof

           theNapoleonicwars.Thisyoungofficerwasthemostjuniorinanavalvessel--wetnavy,ofcourse—wind-powered,infact.Thisyoungsterwasabouttheageofmostofyourclassandwasnotcommissioned.Hecarriedthetitleoftemporarythirdlieutenant’—notethatthisisthetitleyouareabouttocarry.Hehadnocombatexperience;therewerefourofficersinthechainofcommandabovehim.Whenthebattlestartedhiscommandingofficerwaswounded.Thekidpickedhimupandcarriedhimoutofthelineoffire.That’sall—makepickuponacomrade.Buthediditwithoutbeingorderedtoleavehispost.Theotherofficersallboughtitwhilehewasdoingthisandhewastriedfor‘desertinghispostofdutyascommandingofficerinthepresenceoftheenemy.’Convicted.Cashiered."

           Igasped."Forthat?Sir.