Yes, that could have happened. But there are stock numbers and labeling packages and so forth that also have to be messed up. The first person to pick them up checks the numbers, etc., the lot numbers, etc. This is not a matter of misplaced and then shipped. It is a matter of incompetence at many different levels.

What spin doctor is working overtime on this mess???

For a government worker that deals with the supply system this is no surprise nor an unusual event. There are many levels in the supply system, the vendors(manufacturers), the order clerks, the receiving and labeling and storage, and the warehouse clerks that pull and fill order requests just to name a few. Supply personnel in government work only with numbers called the NSN (national stock number) and if there is one error in this number on an order or labeling makes a huge difference in its location, identification, and what it is. An item identified by name is meaningless to sypply clerks because there may be millions of items with the same or similar names. Then every item, regardless of size, is individually sealed and packaged and contents can't be visually identified. Items can only be opened by those ordering it to insure security and safety of the contents. The issue is not whether a part ordered is lost, the wrong item NSN was sent to Taiwan. With the billions of parts and supplies in the system they do deserve credit for doing as good a job as they do, unlike commercial cariers that are constantly losing packages and mail.

Don't shoot the Government Worker in this case because DDHU is run by a contractor rather than actual Government civilians. This is an all too common occurance thanks to BRAC & A-76 downsizing and outsourcing.