The Big Picture, Book 1

The Sum of Man

Chapter 3

Thursday, January 12, 1978

"GET THIS MESS CLEANED UP NOW!!!" shouted a Marine Corps Officer.  Bill panicked as he went to the bathroom to empty the rest of the contents of his stomach in the toilet.  He grabbed a bunch of paper towels and raced back to the counter he'd puked on - the very counter where he was to pick up his paper work that would begin the process of his induction into the Navy.

"SON?  DID YOU COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE JUST TO PUKE ON MY DESK?"  Bill saw the two bars of a lieutenant below the mouth screaming at him.

"No sir," Bill replied.

"DID YOU GET DRUNK LAST NIGHT AND THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO PUKE ON MY DESK?" replied the officer.

"No sir, it was those under-cooked runny eggs for breakfast this morning that made me sick."  Just the thought of the undercooked scrambled eggs caused another wave of nausea to hit him.  Of course he had gotten drunk the night before.  He'd gotten stoned too.  His dad before leaving him with the Navy recruiter Don Menits gave him $20.  Bill also had three joints in his gym bag.  After his recruiter dropped him off at his hotel in Detroit across from the AFEES building Bill found the nearest bar.  The drinking age at that time was 18 in Michigan so getting something to drink wasn't a problem.  Bill had 15 rum and cokes before running out of money.  He went up to his room and found his roommate for the night agreeable to helping Bill smoke the three joints.

Needless to say Bill had one of the worst hangovers of his life and didn't need someone shouting at him.  However it was too late for the no shouting part.  "LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, SON; YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU DIDN'T GET DRUNK LAST NIGHT AND THAT YOU'RE SICK!  YOU SURE DO LOOK HUNG OVER TO ME!"

"I'm very sorry about the mess, sir, but I'm sure I'll be just fine."  Bill told another lie, as he was nowhere near feeling fine.

"This is what I think, son.  You," the Marine lieutenant said, pointing his finger in Bill's face, "got drunk last night and as a result puked on my desk this morning!  According to your paper work you have a full day ahead of you.  If your day goes better than it started you'll be on your way to boot camp tonight.  It's just as easy for me to send you back home as it is to let you complete your day.  NOW TELL ME THE TRUTH!!!  DID YOU GET DRUNK LAST NIGHT?"  The Marine lieutenant had seen many hung-over recruits walk through the doors of the AFEES station.  He felt getting drunk before going to boot camp was a 'right of passage' for young men.  However, this was the first time someone had puked on the counter where all the recruits for all four branches of the service were screened.

"Sir," Bill said, looking as humble as he could with the big puppy dog eyes, "I might have had a few drinks last night but I wasn't drunk."

"Son, you have a lonnnnnnnnnngggggggg day today.  First thing is testing.  Then you have your physical.  Before the day is up you'll be on your way to boot camp.  Do you feel you can handle it?"

"Yes sir."  Bill was given his paperwork and proceeded to start his testing.  Bill knew that he needed to pass the written tests in order to join the Navy.  At that time a high school diploma wasn't required.  The testing lasted about 4 hours.  Bill was miserable.  He had one of the worst headaches of his life and felt that any minute he would throw up again.  The test questions were easy to answer and yet they were hard.  For example, the math part of the test was all simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  But there was no way to answer all the questions in the time allowed.  (It was more a test to determine how fast someone could think.)  Bill found out later that he tested in the top 20% of everyone that had taken the test.  He wondered how he would have performed if he hadn't had the worse hangover of his life.

Next was the physical.  Bill found it to be a waste of time.  The doctors were more interested in finding things wrong that would exclude men from military service.  Back then it wasn't rocket science.  The Doctor listened to your chest and checked reflexes.  Then he looked in ears and noses.  Next the more private parts were examined, (the turn your head and cough) and a check to make sure that no stretching had occurred from homosexual activities. 

After the physical Bill went through a number of interviews.  Most of them were routine.  He had spent a night in jail 6 months before for shoplifting when he was drunk with some friends; so he was given a special interview about that.  It's a good thing the officer doing the interviewing wasn’t the same officer he had gotten yelled at that morning for throwing up.

Before much longer Bill had raised his right hand and committed himself to the US Navy for the next 6 years (4 years active duty and 2 years reserve.)  He was given a folder with his orders and told not to open it.  He was also given train tickets for his trip to Recruit Training Command - Great Lakes, Illinois.  The train station was only a few blocks away and he was ordered to stick with two other recruits going to Great Lakes.  After the long day of testing Bill lit up a cigarette and very much enjoyed it as he walked to the train station.  The three recruits were able to get on the train as soon as they reached the platform.  They settled into some seats together.

Hi, it's ME!  Your third person again. I need to make some story notes and this is probably as good a place to do it as any.  I don't remember MOST of the names of people from my Navy days.  I've even forgotten the names of some friends.  However, I do remember lots of faces and events.  I'm going to make up names going forward as I don’t want to offend anyone.  Also, when I was in the Navy EVERYONE used vulgar language.  Every third or fourth word was of the offensive type.  I DON'T feel it's necessary to the story line to include all the offensive language.  Even the Navy has changed its policy of using offensive language.  I'm not going to eliminate swearing but I'm going to tone it down or use M*&)#@% F&%$@# to indicate stronger language. Now, let’s get back to the story.

Bill had never been on a real train before.  He'd been on the kind that you find at amusement parks.  He found that the modern AMTRAK was fairly comfortable.  He liked the fact that people could smoke on the train.  The young men started to get to know each other.

"Hi, I'm Greg and this is Dan.  We're from Traverse City and we enlisted on the buddy program."  Greg had long black hair and blue eyes and stood about 5'8" and weighed about 150 pounds.  Dan was close to 6' with long blond hair and weighed around 165 pounds.

"I'm Bill and I'm from Saginaw."

"Are you part of that special company they are forming from the Saginaw area?" asked Greg.

"No, I don't know anything about that.  My recruiter is out of Port Huron."

"Our recruiter told us that the Navy had been planning a company with recruits all coming from the Saginaw area to go through boot camp together - kind of like our buddy program.  Dan and I are supposed to stay together through A school.  After that, we go wherever the Navy decides.  It looks like the only buddy I'm going to have for the next 9 weeks is my right hand!"  This statement shocked Bill.  After all there is this rule: 18-19 year-old Men DON'T talk about pleasuring themselves except very abstractly.  Bill wondered if perhaps that pair were more than just buddies.  Bill, being attracted to some guys, just assumed that most guys experienced the same feeling from time to time.  But he knew it was something that no one talked about.  "I'm going to get some beer; you want one?"

"Actually, I think I'll pass on the beer,” Bill replied.  I got really drunk last night and ended up puking on the desk this morning.  I still feel kind of sick.  I do think I'll try to find out what I can get to eat with these food vouchers."

After getting something to eat Bill settled in and got to know Greg and Dan better.  Neither was the type of person that Bill would make a close friend with but for the moment they had something very much in common.  The train ride from Detroit to Chicago took 5 hours.  Bill tried to sleep but found that it was impossible with the rocking train even though he was tired.  When the train arrived at the main train station in Chicago the three guys went directly to the platform that would take them the rest of the way to Recruit Training Command.

After Bill boarded the elevated train his long day started to catch up with him.  The train pulled out of the station and for the first time Bill noticed snow falling.  The train car was almost empty and no one was any longer in a mood to talk.  They knew that they were only about an hour away from a life changing experience.

Friday, January 13, 1978 = 1+1+3+1+9+7+8=30  3+0=3 Bill's 19^th birthday is nine months 3 days.

It was after midnight when the train stopped at the station at RTC (Recruit Training Command) Great Lakes IL.  Three inches of new snow was on the ground with more coming down.  It was the beginning of the 5^th coldest winter in the Chicago area since weathermen started keeping records.  RTC is located just a few miles from Lake Michigan and there is almost always a strong wind coming off the lake.  Bill, Greg, and Dan walked the short distance between the train platform and the main gate.  They handed their paperwork to the sentry on duty and were told to wait.  Soon someone came by and told them to follow him.  They were led to a barracks and told that they could undress and go to sleep.

Bill considered, 'at least getting here is finished; now I just need to stay out of trouble and do what I'm told.'  He looked around him, memorizing everything around him.  The barracks had 20 bunk beds on either side of a main aisle.  Eighty men could sleep in the barracks.  The age and style of the building reminded Bill of the state hospital grounds he’d lived near when he was little.  Bill ended up in the rack closest to the front, and was right next to a small office.  He looked at the clock and noted that it was 1:30 a.m. before he drifted off to sleep.

The next thing Bill knew the lights were on and someone was screaming at him.  "DROP YOUR C$#*@ AND GRAB YOUR SOCKS.  YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO USE THE HEAD (bathroom), GET DRESSED, AND MUSTER ON THE GRINDER, like a courtyard between buildings. I SAID GET UP NOW!!!" the man said as he kicked a metal trash can down the aisle.  Bill looked at the clock and noted that it was 5 in the morning.  He'd slept about three hours.  Bill went into the head and observed a row of sinks and a row of urinals.  The toilets were lined up on the other wall and although they were divided with walls there were no doors on the front - 'So much for privacy!'

Bill had always been a shy person.  At school he would only shower after gym class when he had to.  At summer camp he changed quickly with his back to everyone.  Bill being short, fat, and lacking in the muscle department, didn't feel comfortable showing off his body.  He even wore a T-shirt when he could get away with it while swimming. 

"HURRY UP, GET DRESSED, WE HAVE A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US, LADIES!  AS SOON AS YOU ARE DRESSED, GET OUT ON THE GRINDER, WHICH IS JUST THROUGH THAT DOOR.  YOU WILL STAND OUT THERE AND WAIT FOR THE REST OF US."  Bill went outside and found what looked like a parking lot covered with snow.  When everyone was outside the petty officers introduced themselves.  "I'M CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MASON .  THIS IS 2^ND CLASS PETTY OFFICER QUALLS.  WHEN WE FORM INTO A COMPANY, PROBABLY LATER TODAY, WE WILL BECOME YOUR COMPANY COMMANDERS.  YOU WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A COMPANY COMMANDER FROM THE RED ROPES WE WEAR AROUND OUR ARMS.  IF ANY RED ROPER TELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU WILL RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.  IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"

"Yes sir," a few recruits responded.

"MY 80 YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER CAN RESPOND BETTER THAN THAT!  WHEN YOU RESPOND YOU WILL RESPOND 'SIR, YES SIR' OR 'SIR, NO SIR'!  EVERY RESPONSE TO A COMPANY COMMANDER IS TO START WITH A SIR AND END WITH A SIR!  NOW, IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"

"SIR, YES SIR," everyone responded with much more volume.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

"OKAY, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS TO PUT YOU IN RANKS SO WE CAN MARCH TO THE CHOW HALL.  I WANT YOU TO SORT BY HEIGHTS WITH THE TALLEST ON MY LEFT STARTING HERE."  Chief Petty Officer Mason drew a line in the snow with his foot.  Bill's first reaction to Chief Mason was totally intimidation.  He was tall, (everyone is tall compared to Bill) big as he looked muscular, loud, and black.  This would be Bill's first experience being subordinate to a black man.  After lining up the company the commander lined the recruits up in rows of four.  Because Bill was the shortest recruit in the company he found himself all the way in the back.  He kind of liked this because the yelling mostly happened down the line from him.

"WE AREN'T GOING TO MARCH TO THE CHOW HALL LOOKING LIKE THIS.  WE WILL WAIT UNTIL LUNCH IF WE HAVE TO.  NOW GET IN STEP.  DIG YOUR LEFT HEEL INTO THE GROUND."

Bill thought 'what ground?' as he marched in place on the snow-covered pavement, on three hours sleep, in 15-degree weather, with a 10 mile-per-hour breeze, at 5:30 in the morning, in the dark, under the lights. Bill, who had been in marching band for 2 years, wondered WHY so many recruits were still out of step.  'It's going to be a long day.'  Bill didn't know it yet but it was the start of the longest day of his life up until that point.

A Company marched by the new recruits singing a cadence.  "Look to my right and what do I see?  New recruits at RTC.”  Their company commander yelled at them.  Apparently he didn’t like their cadence.

After an hour of marching around the grinder the Chief decided that the company was marching good enough to march to the chow hall.  The chow hall was a half-mile away.  Bill did the math in his head.  'It takes 30 minutes to march to the chow hall.  That's three hours a day just to eat, and three miles of marching.'  Bill fell twice on ice and snow.  Most everyone else fell at some point too.  As soon as they arrived at the mess hall the company commanders lined the recruits up.  This was the first contact with other boot camp recruits.

"Look at those raisins.  I hope you like your hair because it will be gone shortly.  You're going to love winter at Great Lakes!"  Bill and the rest of the company were still in the same clothes that they had worn the day before.  He felt out of place and couldn't wait until he looked like the rest of the recruits.  "OKAY, ENOUGH OF THAT B*%$ S%$&!"  The company commander of the recruits teasing the new recruits spoke up.

"TIGHTEN UP THAT LINE," Chief Mason bellowed out.  "NUTS TO BUTT, MAKE THE MAN IN FRONT OF YOU SMILE."  As they were still outside and had been outside for almost 2 hours, moving closer to someone sounded like a good idea.  It took 45 minutes of standing in line before Bill finally approached the serving area.  "LISTEN UP!  TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU WILL EAT.  YOU WILL ONLY HAVE TEN MINUTES TO EAT.  THERE WILL BE NO TALKING AS YOU DON'T HAVE TIME.  WE WILL SIT AS A COMPANY, WE WILL EAT AS A COMPANY, AND WE WILL LEAVE AS A COMPANY."

Bill loaded up on food, as it had been a long day already.  He found that the food was better than the day before but not as good as he was used to.  Even though 10 minutes wasn't long it was long enough.  Once again the 80 or so recruits in Bill's company found themselves marching in place outside the chow hall.  After about 10 minutes of practice they were led to their next stop, the barbershop.  While they waited for their haircut the recruits got to know each other quietly.  "Hi, I'm Bill from Saginaw Michigan."

"I'm Phil and I'm from Milwaukee WI."

"THERE WILL BE NO TALKING IN THIS LINE, YOU, THERE, GIVE ME 20 PUSH-UPS.  THAT IS IF YOU CAN DO 20 PUSH-UPS!"

Bill got down on his chest on the snow-covered sidewalk leading to the barbershop.  With great effort, he managed 15 push-ups.  The company commander forcefully explained there was to be no more talking.  One by one the recruits walked out of the barbershop rubbing their heads.  It didn't take long before it was Bill's turn in the barber chair.  The haircut took all of about one minute and a year’s worth of hair was on the floor.  Now it was Bill's turn to rub his head.

After visiting the barbershop the company was marched to the uniform issue building.  Through a process developed over many years the 80 recruits were issued all the clothing they could possibly need, from boots, to rain gear, socks, and coats.  Everything was placed in a duffel bag and then the company marched back to the barracks.

Upon arriving back at the barracks the company commander made an announcement.  "LISTEN UP EVERYONE!  WE HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A COMPANY NUMBER.  FROM NOW ON WE ARE COMPANY 013.  WE ARE THE 13TH COMPANY TO BE FORMED THIS YEAR.  IN A FEW MINUTES WE WILL BE MOVING OUT OF THIS HOLDING BARRACKS AND INTO OUR PERMANENT BARRACKS.  YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES TO USE THE HEAD OR SMOKE BEFORE WE LEAVE.  THE SMOKING ROOM IS THE ROOM BETWEEN THE TWO BARRACKS ALL THE WAY DOWN AT THE END OF THE BUILDING.  FOR YOU SMOKERS IT'S A GOOD TIME TO QUIT AS YOU WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO SMOKE A FEW TIMES A DAY.  YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES AND NO LONGER!"

About 25 of the 80 recruits went into the smoking room.  It was a very small room with no ventilation and in no time there wasn’t any fresh air left to breathe.  The 10 minutes was up and the company was once again marching with full duffel bags.  Bill was glad that at least the company was going to a barracks closer to the chow hall.  As it was, he reasoned that they would have to march 1.5 miles a day just to go to chow.  After arriving in their new barracks the recruits were instructed to strip.  All their clothes and personal affects were placed in a plastic bag to be sent home.  Then the new recruits dressed in the 'uniform of the day' which consisted of socks, boots, underwear, (briefs, tee-shirt) blue cotton pants, shirts, and finally a watch cap which was a wool knit cap.

The march to the chow hall for lunch was much easier than the march for breakfast.  First of all Bill was closer.  Second, the snow and ice had been cleaned up on all the walkways so people quit falling down.  And the company was finally getting the hang of keeping in step and turning.  The company also looked like the other recruits instead of a bunch of civilians. 

Even though it was Bill's first day of boot camp he was already starting to understand the purpose of the training.  He understood the training was designed to take away their self-identity by dressing them all alike.  After being reprimanded by the company commander Bill decided he would do everything he could to stay out of trouble.  After lunch the company went over to the Navy exchange, a store recruit-training command has for recruits to buy personal items.

"LISTEN CLOSELY.  WE ARE HERE FOR YOUR DITTY BAG ISSUE.  YOUR DITTY BAG WILL CONSIST OF MOSTLY PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS.  YOU WILL ALSO BE ISSUED NAVY EXCHANGE MONEY WHICH WILL COME OUT OF YOUR FIRST PAYCHECK.  YOU MAY PURCHASE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU NEED WHILE WE ARE HERE.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU NEED SOME STATIONARY TO WRITE LETTERS YOU MANY BUY IT HERE.  OR IF YOU NEED CIGARETTES YOU MAY BUY THEM HERE.  YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY ARE CHEAPER THAN YOU ARE USED TO PAYING.  YOU ARE NOT TO BUY ANY CANDY!  NOW YOU ONLY HAVE 20 MINUTES TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED AS YOU HAVE MANY MORE THINGS TO DO TODAY."

The recruits one at a time gave their names and Social Security numbers to a clerk who handed them a mesh bag that contained toothbrushes and holders, shaving cream and Bic shavers, soap, soap holders, shampoo, fingernail clippers, mouthwash, and other personal hygiene products.  Bill bought some cigarettes (Camel non-filtered) and some cartoon postcards.  When they were gathered outside Bill asked one of the guys, "What are you eating?"

"Candy."

"I though that we were told not to buy any candy."

"I didn't buy it, I stole it."

The recruit with the candy took another bite and the company commander noticed him chewing.

"WHAT THE $%&# DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING.  YOU WERE TOLD NO CANDY.  WHY DO YOU HAVE IT?"

"I was hungry," the recruit answered.

"FINE, I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR HUNGER RIGHT NOW.  YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY HOME.  PETTY OFFICER QUALLS, ESCORT HIM OUT OF HERE!  GET HIM OUT OF MY SIGHT NOW!  ARE THERE ANY OTHERS HERE THAT ARE MAN ENOUGH TO ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T BELONG HERE?  IF YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE HERE I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT NOW.  WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR RECRUITS THAT DON'T FOLLOW ORDERS.  ANYONE READY TO GO HOME TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD!"

"VERY WELL THEN, AS NONE OF YOU STEPPED FORWARD I ASSUME THAT YOU ALL WANT TO BE HERE.  WHEN I TELL YOU TO JUMP YOU'LL ASK HOW HIGH!  YOUR MOTHER ISN'T HERE TO WIPE YOUR NOSES!  YOUR FATHER ISN'T HERE TO BAIL YOU OUT.  I AM YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER AND YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!  NOW WE WILL LINE UP INTO RANKS AGAIN AND WE WILL GO TO THE PHONE EXCHANGE SO YOU CAN CALL HOME AND LET YOUR LOVED ONES KNOW THAT YOU ARRIVED HERE IN ONE PIECE.  YOU WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS AND NO LONGER.  YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE RESULTS OF NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS."

Everyone was shocked at seeing someone sent home.  Bill realized that this was just more head games designed to make a point.  He got in line for the phone and called home collect to let his parents know he'd arrived at boot camp safely.  By the time the company got back to the barracks and stowed the bagged items in their lockers it was time for dinner.  All day long the recruits had been constantly going inside and outside.  Inside the temperature was 70 degrees with 5% humidity and outside it was below freezing with a very high moisture level.  After dinner the company marched back to the barracks.

"Everyone, gather around up here by my office," Chief Petty Office Mason ordered.  “Everyone sit and get comfortable.  It's been a long, hard day and I need to explain something to you and we need to get to know each other better.  I have been in the Navy for 15 years and a company commander for over a year.  I'm a third degree black belt and I would be senior chief petty officer if it weren't for the fact that someone decided to try me.  Should any of you like to try me just let me know.  I want to go around and have every one of you introduce yourself.  Tell us your name, where you are from, how old you are, and why you joined the Navy.  There are several reasons for this introduction but one of them that I need to stress is the need to make buddies.  You'll need to work together in order to survive your Navy experience.  None of you is good at everything.  Jones might be great at tests but not at drilling.  Smith may be good at drilling but bad at tests.  You'll have to work together in order to do your best.  This becomes even more important when you leave boot camp.  Now I have already introduced myself so now it's your turn."

"I'm Second Class Petty Officer Qualls and I've been in the Navy 5 years.  I'm new as an assistant company commander and this is my second company.  I'm 25 years old and I joined the Navy after a failed year at college to see the world."  For the next half-hour everyone introduced themselves.  Bill noticed that most of the recruits were his age with a few 17 year-olds and quite a few 19 and 20 year-olds.  The oldest man in the company was Dan Jackson at 29.  Two of the recruits had prior military experience.  Most of the company was white with 13 blacks and a few Hispanics.

After the introductions Petty Officer Mason had the new recruits stand at attention at the end of their racks.  “THERE ARE SEVERAL RULES WE NEED TO GO OVER.  YOU WILL GO NOWHERE BY YOURSELF.  YOU MUST HAVE A BUDDY WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO.  AND YOU MUST HAVE A PASS TO LEAVE THE BARRACKS.  IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY HERE COME SEE ME AND WE’LL SEE ABOUT SENDING YOU HOME.  SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO RUN AWAY ON YOUR OWN YOU’LL SEE THAT THERE IS A FENCE SURROUNDING THE CAMP.  IT’S NOT THERE TO KEEP YOU IN BUT TO KEEP OTHERS OUT.  HOWEVER, SHOULD YOU JUMP THE FENCE YOU’LL FIND YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.  AND YOU’RE GOING TO STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB DRESSED IN A UNIFORM.  THE LOCALS MAKE 50 DOLLARS ON EVERYONE OF YOU FOUND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE SO YOU CAN BET IF A POLICE OFFICER FINDS YOU HE’LL ARREST YOU.

“YOU WILL SHOWER EVERYDAY BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.  EVERY MORNING YOU WILL SHAVE WHETHER YOU NEED TO OR NOT.”  The Chief shouted about 5 inches away from Bill’s face.  “YOU WILL BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND YOU WILL USE DEODORANT.  WHILE YOU ARE IN THIS COMPANY YOU WILL BE CLEAN.  YOU WILL ALSO KEEP THIS BARRACKS AND YOUR PERSONAL AREAS CLEAN.  STARTING TOMORROW YOU WILL BE STANDING WATCHES.  THERE WILL BE THREE OF YOU STANDING WATCHES AT ANY ONE TIME AND YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT LOGBOOKS.  THERE ARE OTHER KINDS OF WATCHES AND DETAILS.  IF YOU VOLUNTEER FOR SNOW WATCH YOU’LL BE SHOVELING SHOW.  YOU’LL ALSO BE ASSIGNED TO CLEANING DETAILS.  IN THIRTY MINUTES IT’S LIGHTS OUT.  FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE TO SMOKE YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES.  AFTER LIGHTS OUT. THERE IS NO TALKING.  NOW FALL OUT.”

It had been the longest day of Bill’s life.  He went along with some others to smoke his second cigarette of the day.  Phil came up to Bill while he was smoking.  “You want to be buddies and help each other out?”  Phil asked.

“That sounds great to me.  When we graduate we can get drunk together and help carry each other back to camp.”  Bill responded.  “It’s always a good idea to have a friend.”  And Bill and Phil shook hands.

After his five-minute smoke break he showered quickly, and by the time the lights went out he was already asleep.