ear of the war； I discovered a Pfc。 in my squadron who seemed unusually well read。 I found in his 201 file a remarkable civilian and military biography。 His four years of service included two overseas； all meritorious but without heroics。 Had all of his remendations4 for promotion gone through he would have had not only his mission； but probably the rank of captain。 But here he was； still a private first…class—because despite the military emphasis on education； efficiency； loyalty； and all other criteria for determining promotion； accident plays a most important part。 Every time this Pfc。 had been remended for promotion； except once； he had been transferred or e up against tablel of organization limitatious； or a new change in regulations； or a superior officer who had filled out the forms incorrectly or forgotten them in his third right…hand drawer。 And so he had remained a Pfc； and had taken his reward in reading。 The amount he did in the army was prodigious。
I was curious about his method。 And one day； before I asked him。 I found a partial answer。 Every day the enlisted men put in an hour of drill and formations。 During that time at least one fairly long period of rest was called。 Imagine my surprise on my first visit to the drill field when； at the mand “rest！” I saw one man in the whole long line pull out a paper pocket book and begin to read； standing up。
When I talked with him； I found that from boyhood he had developed the habit of carrying a little book