George Stanton Dorman

West Point, 1946

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by William Pastor, Jr., TSgt, USAF, Retired on June 20, 2010:

I first met Major George S. Dorman when I reported for duty at Goose Air Base in April 1955. His counter-signature as Operations Officer was required on my drivers license which allowed me to drive refueling vehicles on the flight line. On August 1, 1955 I was transferred to Frobisher Bay, Baffin. I lived in a tar paper shack in an 8'x12' cubical which was anything but military in appearance. Our Squadron Commander at the time allowed us to live pretty much as we pleased. I don't believe he ever inspected our quarters and if he did, I can only assumed that he didn't care. When Major Dorman replaced him, all that changed. Although these shacks we lived in were very primitive, he demanded that we clean them up and shine the shoes we displayed under our bunks. He only gave us a few days to accomplish this. That Saturday he conducted an inspection. At noon that day, upon entering the Mess Hall, we enlisted personnel had to pass by the table the officers sat at and while passing by Major Dorman stopped me. The first thing that went through my mind was, what did I do now. How relieved I was when he told me that the shine on my shoes were the best he'd ever seen. Coming from a West Pointer I thought that was one fine compliment. I've never forgotten him. Sir, I render you one final salute.

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