Dad’s ship was in the Far-East when his wardroom went ashore to listen to the radio broadcast of the Army-Navy football game. Because of the time difference, the party began about 0200 and ended as Navy tied the game with a last-second touchdown. Dad’s executive officer, Lieutenant Benny Staud (U.S. Naval Academy ’17) had thoroughly enjoyed the game and party and decided to catch few winks at the club before returning to the ship. Coming down for a shave about noon, he was singing that old World War I ditty, “If you want to know where the generals were, I’ll tell you where they were. . . .” Climbing into a chair he poked a towel-covered figure next to him and loudly asked “Are you a general? Because if you are (singing) I’ll tell you where the generals were.’” The figure rose up like a rocket displaying the very red, angry face of Major General Hugh “Ironpants” Johnson, Commanding General Philippines, who took a dim view of the proceedings, and said so at great length.
Navy Yarns
By Captain Roy C. Smith III, U.S. Navy (Retired)