A retired officer (H.F. Hogan) was complaining about the lack of respect that he received at the local Army Hospital in the Letters to the Editor of the local Newspaper.

H.F. Hogan must be very unhappy with nobody standing at attention when he talks to them or not receiving hand salutes and not hearing the word “Sir” uttered by what he perceives as subordinates. When I visit Fort Gordon, my Identification is checked and when returned; I am addressed by rank and told to have a nice day. I have always received professional service during visits to the Pharmacy to at Eisenhower Army Medical Center. The enlisted persons whom I have contact with have been pleasant and respectful. In fact, they usually used the word “Sir”. During my military service when someone (enlisted soldiers) used the word “Sir”, when talking to me I always told the person “I am not a Sir”. I do not do that now, because there is no way for them to know. I am always in civilian clothes. I have met some Officers like H.F. Hogan during my service. He is not the kind of officer that earns respect of others he is one who demands it. Most all of the officers I served with knew that respect was to be earned and returned. When I was on duty as a military policeman at the main gate of Fort Campbell during the late fifties, we were checking everyone for passes before they left the post. A soldier in civilian clothes was asked to produce a pass. He became very irate that I did not call him “Sergeant” and that I was disrespectful. I asked him how I was I to know what rank he was because he was wearing civilian clothes. I checked his identification card and it indicated that he was specialist and not a sergeant. He said that he did not have it changed yet. He made quite a scene at the main entrance of the post. I reported the incident to the Desk Sergeant. Later, I learned that his commander officer was informed of this sergeant’s conduct at the gate. His commanding officer ordered that he”not wear” civilian clothes for thirty days. When you retire, you should wear your rank in your heart not on your shoulder or your sleeve.