Reinforcement Personnel

[DITNER, S.M.]

GENTLEMEN:



A BOOK WRITTEN BY TERRY COPP THAT COVERS "BATTLE EXHAUSTION" IN THE CANADIAN ARMY IN SECOND WAR WOULD APPEAR TO SUGGEST THAT ANY SOLDIER ASSIGNED TO A REINFORCEMENT UNIT RATHER THAN STRAIGHT TO A REGIMENT HAD EITHER FAILED TO COMPLETE A TRAINING COURSE, WAS REGARDED AS SUBSTANDARD, OR WAS A DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM.

CAN ANY OF YOU COMMENT ON THIS. I AM CERTAIN YOU HAVE ALL HEARD MY STORY BEFORE (WORKING ON BIO OF RELATIVE KIA WITH 4PLDG, ITALY - 45). INDIVIDUAL WAS WITH 1 CACRU PRIOR TO BEING SHIPPED TO ALGIERS AS PART OF 1 CBRD. TOTAL TIME IN REINFORCEMENT UNITS WAS ROUGHLY A YEAR.

I AM CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A REASON FOR THIS THAT I CANNOT DETERMINE BY READING HIS RECORDS. HE EVENTUALLY MADE SERGEANT AND I CAN SEE NOTHING TO SUGGEST HE FAILED ANY COURSE.....

IS MR. COPP'S ASSERTION CORRECT?

OBLIGED.