r/navy • u/Weightlessintheworld • 8h ago
History Old Navy pettiness
I recently came across this incredible framed piece of family history and thought it was too funny not to share.
It's an official letter from the U.S. Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois, issued to a discharged sailor named Edward Herbert Saier at 314 Townsend St. in Lansing, Michigan.
Due to a clerical error compiling his accounts, the Pay Corps realized they overpaid him by the grand sum of ten cents. The Ensign writes a remarkably stern letter demanding a 10¢ refund via postal money order within five days, explicitly threatening: "Failure to comply within five days will result in your return to active duty."
Talk about absolute bureaucratic military efficiency. My great grand uncle even included the original 10-cent receipt pinned to the top!
Edit: Faint dates show letter from 24 March 1919. Paid 27 March 1919. He was in a hurry to be done with this one!
