Paul Peterson was driving the jeep at the begining?
After the meeting with the general in the begining the major goes over to what looked like a captain he refers to as Jack or John who is sitting in a jeep asking for a light from the driver. Isn't that driver Paul Peterson, the son from the Donna Reed show?
If so, its almost comical the way the camera is set so as to not show his face again. Any subsequest shots, especially the one where they argue with the Lt. about taking point, only the back of his head can be seen right in the middle of the frame.
Perhaps they didn't want a recognizable TV personality in a movie inhabited by actors only known for their work in movies?