The Power of One

Minneapolis, 2007:

1st Lt. Jon Anderson said he never expected to come home to this: A government refusing to pay education benefits he says he should have earned under the GI bill.

"It's pretty much a slap in the face," Anderson said. "I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers."

Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days.

Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school.

"Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said.

That money would help him pay for his master's degree in public administration. It would help Anderson's fellow platoon leader, John Hobot, pay for a degree in law enforcement.


Chicago, 1919:

Eddie Cicotte: You said if I won 30 games this year there'd be a $10,000 bonus.

Charles Comiskey: So?

Cicotte: I think you owe it to me.

Comiskey: Harry, how many games did Mr. Cicotte win for us this year?

Harry: 29, sir.

Cicotte: You had [Sox manager] Kid [Gleason] bench me for two whole weeks in August. I missed five starts.

Comiskey: We had to rest your arm for the [World] Series.

Cicotte: I would have won at least two of those games -- and you knew that.

Comiskey: I have to keep the best interests of the club in mind, Eddie.

Cicotte: I think you owe me that bonus.

Comiskey: 29 is not 30, Eddie. You will get only the money you deserve. (Pause) Anything else?

Cicotte: No, Mr. Comiskey. That's it.

-Eight Men Out, 1988