He was my boss --blah blah blah

Remember when your Mom used to tell you if you just tell the truth all of the time you don't have to worry about what you said or lie to cover your lies?  Well, turns out --Mom was right.

And not just about lying but just doing the right thing in general.

So soon after SSG W was appointed the NCOIC of Crim Law he decides to have a little meeting with me.  I wish I could remember exactly what he said because it probably would make for avery entertaining blog post. . . . but you know, who knew about blogs back in the 80's?

The gist of what he was telling me was --he was trying to cover his butt for all those inappropriate comments and advances he made towards me.  This is when it all became clear to me that yes, he really had been interested in a relationship with me.

Talking to me very harsh and sternly, as if I had done something wrong, SSG W began to lay down the rules between us.  He told me he was my boss --blah blah blah --I mean, that's about the extent I was listening to him.  Then he went on to say something like -- Don't even think about trying to bring up any sexual harassment charges on me because its just your word against mine and you have no proof of anything.  I would deny anything you'd say and I'd be believed over you because I have more rank, position and authority and who do you think is going to believe you?

So he just went on and on and I was only half listening.  The only thing I was thinking was how very stupid he was because basically, this was a full confession to sexual harassment!  And my mother's words were ringing true in my head too --because if he didn't have a guilty conscience he wouldn't feel the need for this conversation!  And you know, if you just live a life of truth and honor, you don't ever have to do backtracking like he was doing . . . and abusing his position to intimidate me and in that backdoor kind of way, threaten me.  I mean, he was making it clear to me he could make my life miserable and he fully intended to do so if I tried to cause any trouble.

SSG W being my boss was horrible.  He was as incompetent as anyone could be.  I was always having to do his work --well, me and the rest of our Crim Law team.  When someone would ask him something with an air of arrogance he'd say, "I'm gong to refer you to one of my subordinates, Private Dodge."  He tried to act like he was doing it because the job was beneath him but the truth was, he just didn't know.

There was always tension between the two of us --I imagine he wondered/worried if I was going to report him and I just plain didn't respect him.  Anything he did the rest of Crim Law clerks had to check over before we gave it to our Colonel or attorneys.  It was obvious everyone in the office knew the truth because the Captains and officers would come directly to me or one of the other JAG clerks and completely bypass SSG W --and that's not the way it should have been done or had been done.

I did go to our JAG NCOIC several times and complain and yes, I even told him about the harssment and what he said about it being my word against his --but as usual, nothing was ever done.  The Master Sergeant said to me, "As long as he's not doing it any more we don't need to worry but if it starts back up again you let me know."  Several other times I'd go to our Master Sergeant about SSG W --and poor Newsome --he'd get an ear full of it too.  Each night after work I'd need to vent and I'd lay it all out on Newsome.

And the ever lovely Mrs. W wasn't out of the picture yet either.