Over the years I have met all kinds of people in the Army...I mean people from all over the world. Sometimes the people you meet that are from other countries don't speak English all that well. It can lead to some funny situations. I have already mentioned my first First Sergeant whose accent was so thick that when he got mad and started chewing everyone looked at each other and shrugged, no one knew what it was about. I was in a unit once when the operations sergeant was Philippino and he got into an argument with one of the other NCOs, who was Korean. They yelled louder and louder, the rest of us stood around trying not to laugh because nobody knew what they were arguing about or how they would know who won...or when.
My time at the 301st Trans in the 80's was greatly enhanced by the two outstanding squad leaders I had working for me. PWoody was a small unit leader genious, and Ricky was an amazing man. In his 40s, he scored the highest on his PT test (even using the younger men standards), expert rifleman, technically great, and his troops loved him...when they could understand him. One day I was talking to him about trying to be more clear and taking his time when he was talking to his soldiers (and to me, too !). He laughed and told me his English was greatly improved over his first few years in the Army. He grew up in the Philippine Islands and came to basic as a very young, and little, private. At the clothing issue point they handed out the new uniforms and boots and shoes. They had to put the things on and a sergeant would come along and ask you if everything was all right. Ricky put his boots on and when the sergeant came by and asked , "Boots all right?". Ricky answered , "Boots all right". The sergeant then told everyone if they had no problems to move out, if they had to make an exchange to stay put. Ricky stayed put. The sergeant said, "I thought you said the boots were all right." Ricky replied, "Boots All right." "Then what is your problem?" "Boots All right !" Perplexed the sergeant looked down at the boots. He smiled and said, "Yeah...you're right, cruit...yer boots are all right !" Ricky had four right boots, no left boots...boots were all right.