[oldfartrr]

feb.'65,, dropped out of tech school, new my # was coming soon (actually got my draft notice in bootcamp). but I showed them i enlisted in the NAVY and cheated those army basxxxxx.
knew i was gonna show them about PI, had been working construction and thought i was in pretty good shape, 6.2-207lbs. with a 28 inch waist. LOLOLOL started in top 10% of company physical competions. also found i had muscles where i didnt know there was supposed to be any. half way thru boot they decided we need more education then physical training (our company 099 was the last company to start the old style of boot camp) so we started sitting in more classes and less time on the grinder. after being called every name in the book and a few had never heard of we learned to educate ourselves in the ways of military importance. how to dive for cover (with out the co cammander seeing) to dodge to low level bombing runs the seagulls strategically planned on every group that was found to be in formation. one even got 4 guys with one drop (even tho it was a bit larger then normal) dixie cups can be used to things off your heads,, and they were great at their marksmanship. being from the midwest was raised on eggs n tatters,,but mom never cooked like the navy (thank god). we had a pretty good CO, even got himself on report for coming in a bit tite and with ( a '61 studebaker lark with a hemi) burned rubber the length of the barracks + right in front of the OOD.
well graduation day finally arrived clothes now fit even if a bit on the tite side,, seems i had lost weight 178lbs with a 34 inch waist ??? how the hell did that happen...and had to take final PI tests (2 tries) with the fat boys
but it sure did make a responsible adult (sort of) out of me. and learned to take orders without backtalk. (a few late nite adventures in the headquarters lobby doing jumping jacks with not 1 but 2 M1's tied together) usually had company so i didnt feel lonely. then another yr of A and B schools before i got assigned to a squadron. could probably write a book about the rest but let some other guys show their writeing skills.. it was an adventure and looking back it was something would not trade for the life lessons it taught me.