Army Red Tape

[John Hartwell]

Gen. William S. Lincoln, published his Life with the 34th Mass. Infantry (of which he had been Colonel) in 1879. It is based on his personal diary of his service, with some later annotations. On May 4, 1864, he makes the following (p.262) note regarding recent "improvements" in army procedure:

"Stripped naked as we are of all carnal comforts, there is one thing we have in abundance. We fairly revel in red tape. For instance: Word was sent in from our left wing, out on picket, that one of our men had been suddenly taken severely sick. Under our former status, our Surgeon, upon receipt of such information, would have procured- an ambulance and driven out and brought in the man. But under the existing arrangement he reports, in official form, the fact to the Medical Director; the Medical Director, endorsing said report, forwards the same to the Medical Inspector; this official, first endorsing said report, forwards the same to the officer commanding the ambulance train; this officer forwards it to the Lieutenant in charge of the train; the Lieutenant directs his Sergeant to have the man sent for; the Sergeant directs his chief of ambulances to send for the man; the chief directs the driver of some one of the many ambulances to 'hook up,' and report; the driver 'hooks up' and reports, and there being no one else to be directed, the man is in a fair way of being brought in. In this case, fortunately the man had a strong constitution, and was alive when reached."

 

[jgoodguy]

SS184/LS/SS36-1 June 11, 1942

From: Commanding Officer
To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California

Subject: Toilet Paper

Ref: (a) (4608) USS Holland (5148) USS SKIPJACK req 70-42 of 30 July 1941
(b) SO NYMI cancelled invoice No. 272836

Encl: (1) Sample of cancelled invoice
(2) Sample of material required.

1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK.

2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, canceled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation "Cancelled — cannot identify." This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 10, 1942.

3. During the 11-3/4 months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, USS SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of the subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, particularly during depth-charge attacks by the "back stabbers."

4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired materials provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS SKIPJACK, cannot help but wonder what is being used at Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command.

5. SKIPJACK personnel during this period have become accustomed to the use of "crests," i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus killing two birds with one stone.

6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation "cannot identify" was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the SKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list.

7. In order to cooperate in the war effort at a small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as "War is hell."

J. W. Coe

[/QUOTE]