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What is the significance of the Leper Colony?

posted 19 years ago by JeffD1382982
57 replies | jump to latest

[–] polsixe 14 years ago

Reaming Gately out in private and putting him on written notice would be appropriate but putting such a senior officer down in front of the whole group was a little over the top, sending the message to everyone that Gately was a loser wouldn't help to maintain respect within the ranks. Military units do always try to weed out the weakest links and can seem to be cruel doing so but in this case with Majors and above things would be more subtle.

[–] wildgoose419 14 years ago

There are times some people need a swift kick in the ass to bring out the best in them. I think the Leper Colony achieved it, in this story for these characters.

[–] bluesman-20 12 years ago

Savage was angry at Gately for failing to do his duty. When he told him he failed to assume Command ofthe Squadron After Davanport left and the squadron was tempairily left without a commanding officer.
Gately Left the base during a war to go get drunk.
Savage could've court martialed him for abandoning his post.
If anything Savage went easy on him. keeping him as a commanding officer of a bomber.
Despite the fact it's the worst bomber plane in the 918th and everyone and his brother would know what "Leper Colony" Meant.
Men who are not good enough or fit enough to be with regular pilots or Bomber crews.

I Hate Rude behavior in a man. I Won't tolerate it.-Captain Woodrow F. Call.

[–] rwsmith29456 11 years ago

No one wanted to be on the plane full of losers so it was incentive to do a better job. Savage knew they were shirkers, but knew that they had it in them to do better.

[–] nickm2 11 years ago

No one wanted to be on the plane full of losers so it was incentive to do a better job

That of course, assumes that 'Leper Colony' doesn't get blasted to oblivion in the meantime.

[–] Fred-333 11 years ago

Lepers have the disease Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) and being sick and contagious were kept isolated - goes back to Biblical times. They were considered "untouchables".