Ummm...errrrr...

Say whut???

On June 11, 1942, disease, and perhaps an increasing desire not to use one’s own hand to wipe one’s nether regions, drove Lt. Cmdr. James Coe of the submarine Skipjack to send an “urgent” message to the powers that be.

Since July 1, 1941, a requisition had been submitted for 150 rolls of toilet paper to replenish the dwindling supply aboard the Skipjack. However, as the boat patrolled the Pacific, no sign of the all-important bathroom item appeared — even as other war materiel came in.

In March 1942, according to the National WWII Museum, Coe took command of the Skipjack and learned of the dire, and no doubt malodorous, situation. To make matters worse, Coe received a canceled invoice for the TP alongside a stamped July 1941 message stating “cancelled-cannot identify.”

Full article, HERE from Military Times.

Actually, this doesn't really surprise me...

The military is REALLY stupid sometimes, as anyone who has served knows. That is why every squadron I was in had at least one 'good' scrounger...

A good scrounger could come up with those supposedly unobtainable items. You just didn't ask 'where' they came from, especially if you were an officer...

In talking to WWII vets, it was apparent there was a LOT of 'trading' equipment, either voluntarily or otherwise, among squadrons, ships, and submarines. When a unit got ready to deploy, the scroungers got a little list... And as long as the unit got out of town before the SPs came calling, it was all good.

I'm betting the Skipjack's crew were pretty good scroungers, and knowing Pearl Harbor, I'm betting the clubs and officers quarters 'mysteriously' ended up short of toilet paper every month... :-)

What do you Vets say???