Major Nuisance

The Story Behind The Name

For the past several years I have constantly chided Capt. Ed Garr about his being my major nemesis while I was with the Battalion.  Ed, a Marine Mustang Officer, spent part of his prior enlisted time as the Company Gunny of Hotel 2/4 while the battalion was still in K-Bay Hawaii.  I myself came to Hotel Company 2/4 in late March or early April of 1964 after being injured while being with B-Recon.

Not a reunion goes by that the guys of Hotel 2/4 don't get together and start with the stories of yesteryear.  Somehow it always turns to the story of an 18 year old PFC that wanted to be 'served' in the bars of Honolulu and Waikiki.  

As the story goes, this young PFC had somehow gained access to the company office and decided to 'borrow' a few blank Military ID Cards.  With the blank cards in hand, along with other types of ID to substantiate his soon to be ID card, he took them to the Honolulu public library on Hotel Street and proceeded to type in the necessary information to make himself that magic age of 20, which was the legal age for alcohol in Hawaii.  After all, what hot young co-ed would go out with an 18 year-old PFC.  During the process, he remembered that in the middle of the Waikiki area, there was an Army Base named Fort DeRussey and that they had a nice EM-Club.  He knew he looked to young to attempt to make himself a S/Sgt so he nixed the S/NCO idea.  Thinking that if the EM-Club was nice that the O-Club had to be even better and there were no restrictions as to the 'beer only' as imposed at the E-3 club.  He also remembered watching the constant flow of young ladies in and out of it so he decided that he might as well make himself a 2nd. Lieutenant.    Heck, they were Army and would never know.  After feeling uncomfortable the first 2 or 3 times and almost getting caught the last time, he started to frequent the main areas of Waikiki were the co-eds were all hanging out.  This arraignment was working out pretty good, that is until one of the young ladies decided to call this 2nd Lieutenant at the base to confirm a date for that Friday night.  Evidently the '2nd. Lt.' had a little to much Cutty Sark one night (he had a penchant for scotch, not beer) and mentioned that he was with Hotel 2/4.  When the call came in and she asked to speak to the Lieutenant, it was passed up the chain of command from L/Cpl Taylor to Sgt Hall, to 1stSgt Reeves (I think Reeves was still there) to the XO and finally to the CO.  I can only imagine the look on Captain Ledin's face as he yelled (maybe now is time for the word screamed) to the 1st Sgt. to tell Gunny Garr to find 'Lieutenant Mazy'...Immediately.

Well, needless to say, I was caught with my hand in the cookie jar.  Gunny Garr and rest of the upper echelon crew were able to make very special arraignments for me to spend some time in another unit for a few months.  Funny, I always thought that the Red Stripe was supposed to go DOWN the outer seam of the Dress Blues trousers...not AROUND the right arm and right trouser leg of the BDU's.

Like I said, not a reunion goes by that this story of '2nd Lieutenant Mazy' doesn't surface.  BrigGen. Bill Weise thought that after 38 years time in grade as a 2nd Lieutenant, that it was time...at the Savannah reunion he, along with Major General Jim Livingston and SgtMajor Charlie Otto approached the stage during the Saturday Evening banquet, told the story to everyone present and promoted the 2nd. Lieutenant to the rank of Major (Nuisance) in the Horse Marines.

That's the story behind Major Nuisance...just thought you'd like to know.  I've heard since the promotion that if this was 38 years ago...the Generals and the Sgt. Major would fail to see the humor in it...wonder why?