What Does That Have To Do With Army Business

So things between SSG and I were strained but for the most part, our daily operations didn't suffer.  I always jumped him in my chain of command and he never said anything.  Anything I needed or wanted I'd go to the JAG NCOIC, our Master Sergeant.

Every once in a while SSG W's family would come into the office and they would go around to everyone and say hello and make it a point to completely ignore me.  It was so obvious that it wasn't as much about wanting to speak to others as it was wanting to make it a point to ignore me.  It was also obvious SSG W and his wife talked about me at home because their daughters treated me this same way and every now and then one of the girls or Mrs. W would shoot me a glance like, "Do you notice us ignoring you?"  I found it immature and more drama than I wished to deal with so I never let it bother me.  I think they wanted me to make a big deal out of it which is all the more reason I did not.  It was like the more I ignored the situation, the louder and friendlier they'd get with other people in the office.

My second Christmas in Germany SSG had a stack of Christmas cards on his desk and plates of home made cookies.  He passed them out to everyone in the office . . except for me.  Very loudly he'd say, "Merry Christmas!  This is just a little something from me and my family!"  Like his family had done, he'd shoot me a quick glance as if to say, "Do you see me ignoring you?"  I didn't say anything.  I knew he didn't have one for me and it didn't bother me.  Well, it did bother me that he tried his best to get me to say something or be hurt or jealous but I wasn't.

And this went on over a couple of days and finally he couldn't take it any more.  One day while no one else was around SSG W said to me, "I just wanted to let you know my family didn't want to give you a card or cookies so you know, I have to respect what they want."  I know he wanted me to ask him why or get upset or offended but all I said was something like, "That's okay SSG W, you don't have to explain."  I think that bothered him all the more.

In fact, I know it did because from that point on he was unbearable towards me.  He tried to throw his rank around, he abused his power and position.  I knew it was something I needed to deal with on my own because I'd just come off sounding like a cry baby or tattletale if I went to my Master Sergeant and you know, real soldiers aren't cry babies.  I really didn't need to tell any way, it was obvious to everyone in the office.  Sometimes one of the officers would say to me, "What's SSG W's deal with you?  Did you do something to make him mad?"  I'd just say, "His wife hates me."  They'd give me a puzzled look like, "What does that have to do with Army business?"

Exactly!