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In 1967, I was the acting platoon leader of the recon platoon of the 1/19th Inf (mech), 24th ID in Germany. One day when we were in the field, a helicopter circled our lager site and then landed. Out jumped MG E. L. Rowney (our division commander) and SGM Woolery (later SGM of the Army).
I ran to them from my M114 APC, saluted and introduced myself. General Rowney asked if all of my men knew their basic knowledge for their positions in the platoon. I replied, "Yes, General" and he took a head space/timing guage out of his pocket, walked to the nearest track and threw it to SP4 Coachins. He asked Coachins to show him how to set the head space on the ..50 Caliber on the track. Coachins showed him and the general asked if Coachins platoon sergeant had taught him that skill.
Coachins replied, "No Sir, I learned it in Korea when I was the Battalion Commander of a Quad .50 Battalion". It seems that Coachins had been a Major and had commanded a battalion. After Korea, he was "riffed" to MSG and then had a DWI accident killing a German civilian. He was court martialled and busted to Private E-2. He had soldiered his way back to E-4.
Coachins retired a year later as a Major (highest rank held in those days).
Mike
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