The position carried a lot of weight figuratively ( he had to be his commander 's shadow ) and literally ( the radio weighed 30 pounds ) .
In December ' 66 , Ripley made Goggin , by then a corporal , a platoon radio operator .
The position carried a lot of weight figuratively ( Goggin had to be Goggin 's commander 's shadow ) and literally ( the radio weighed 30 pounds ) .
In December ' 66 , Ripley made Goggin , by then a corporal , a platoon radio operator .