NUMBER 164071
REF: (A) CMC LTR DFB1/1 13 MAY 70
(B) MCO 1050.8F
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE (A),
EFFECTIVE 22 AUGUST 70, THE PERSONNEL
LISTED ON THE REVERSE HEREOF
ARE TRANSFERRED FROM THIS COMMAND
TO WES PAC (III MAF) FOR DUTIES
SPECIFIED BY CO WES PAC (III MAF).
PRIOR TO TRANSFER, THE COMMANDING
OFFICER WILL ASSIGN AS PRIMARY
THE MOS SHOWN FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY
CONTAINED IN EXISTING REGULATIONS.
TRAVEL VIA GOVERNMENT PROCURED
TRANSPORTATION IS DIRECTED FOR ALL
TRAVEL PERFORMED BETWEEN THIS
COMMAND AND WES PAC (III MAF) IN ACCORDANCE
WITH PARAGRAPH 4100, JOINT
TRAVEL REGULATIONS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED ON THE REVERSE
HEREOF IS DIRECTED TO REPORT
TO THE DISBURSING OFFICER WITHIN
THREE WORKING DAYS AFTER COMPLETION
OF TRAVEL INVOLVED IN THE EXECUTION
OF THESE ORDERS FOR AN
AUDIT OF REFUNDS.
It was signed OF Peatross, Major General, U.S.
Marine Corps, Commanding, and below that bore the simple designation DIST: 'N' (and WNY, TEMPO C, RM 4598).
Bob had received just such a document three times, and three times he'd come back from it, at least breathing.
Not Donny: it got him a name inscription on a long black wall with bunches of other boys who'd much rather have been working in factories or playing golf than inscribed on a long black wall.
Bob turned it over, not to find the usual computerized list of lucky names but only one: FENN, DON NY J, L/
CPL 264 38 85 037 36 68 01 0311, COMPANY B,
MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON DC MOS 0311.
The rest of the copy was junk, citations of applicable regulations, travel information, a list of required items all neatly checked off
(SRB, HEALTH RECORD, DENTAL RECORD, ORIG ORDERS, ID CARD and so on), and the last, melancholy list of destinations on the travel sub voucher from Norton AFB in California to Kadena AFB on Okinawa to Camp Hansen on Okinawa and on to Camp Schwab before final deployment to WES PAC
(III MAF), meaning Western Pacific, III Marine Amphibious Force. Donny's own penmanship, known so well to Bob from their months together, seemed to scream of familiarity as he looked at it.
Now what? he thought. What's this supposed to mean?
He tried to remember his own documents and scanned this one for deviations. But his memory had faded over the years and nothing seemed at all different or strange. It was just orders to the Land of Bad Things, thousands and thousands of Marines had gotten them between 1965 and 1972.
There seemed to be nothing: no taint of scandal, no hint of punitive action, nothing at all. In Donny's evals, particularly those filed in his company at the Marine Barracks, there were no indications of difficulty. In fact, those recordings were uniformly brilliant in content, suggesting an exemplary young man. A SSGT Ray Case had observed, as late as March 1971, 'Cpl. Fenn shows outstanding professional dedication to his duties and is well- respected by personnel both above and below him in the ranks. He performs his duties with thoroughness, enthusiasm and great enterprise. It is hoped that the Corporal will consider making the Marine Corps a career, he is
