The instructors guard the doors closed, they have masks. We couldn’t leave if we wanted to, and we wanted to. I have had the gas experience before at antiwar rallies in Denver. Never like this in a closed area. They did this so we can know what it’s like to be gassed. I hope they don’t have the same philosophy when we fight fires. I don’t need to know what it’s like to be burned.
The gas chemicals clung to our clothes. We smelled it all day, my eyes are still burning. Why did it have to stop raining now? Later.
January 20, 1973, Saturday
We passed our test. The CC said that off the record we came in number one again. However we should not expect a flag ceremony. The Texas Company brings with it a whole bunch of political clout. The Senator and the Congressman belong to the same VFW Club, back in Texas. The Club organized this enlistment push. The have a display case. The club doesn’t care how it happens. They want that display case filled with awards, flags, and citations. They’re not interested in second place. No matter what we do the first place awards will go to Texas Company.
All the marching and the precision rifle handling are for a show that we are part of. It’s for the boot camp graduation ceremony. It’s the entertainment part of the graduation; us. Parents, dignitaries, friends, invited guests sit in the bleachers. It’s like a parade. It is a parade. One Company at a time march in front of the main platform that holds the speakers, and the guests. Each Company has a designated spot that they march too after they march in front of the speaker’s podium. When all the Companies are up front we do a routine to “Anchors Away.” More importantly we are on display in front of a crowd. Doug rallied us to be the best and show it at the graduation ceremony. It took some persuading, I think we are all in now. Those political SOBs. We’ll show them which company is the best at marching.
Graduation is the second day of February. On the first day we celebrate an old navy tradition. It’s called the smokers. It’s supposed to settle the argument on which barracks has the toughest fighters. We are part of the war machine. It’s always about the fighting. It is three, three minute rounds of fighting in a ring. The CC is taking volunteers. Over half of the Company wants to fight. An obstacle course contest also got a large number of volunteers. I signed up for both. Later.
January 21, 1973, Sunday
We got some good news for the Company, not so good for me. The weekend after our graduation ceremony, some members will get one or two day passes. The recruit officers get the whole weekend. Checking out on Saturday morning at 0900 hours (9:00 a.m.). Returning on Sunday at 1900 (7:00 p.m.). All other recruits get a day leave. Half the recruits on Saturday, half on Sunday. From 0900 to 1900 hours. Except those recruits that have had two or more working party’s. That was me and a few others. recruit officer are exempt. That was good for Doug. Later.
January 22, 1973, Monday
I was feeling a bit worn out this morning. I decided to not shave. Before the navy I shaved every other day. Now I shave every day. Getting caught with stubble was a big no, no. We just had an appearance inspection two days ago. I decided to take a chance. I was thinking they wouldn’t have another one so soon. Big, big mistake.
After morning chow, that consisted of the usual powered eggs. (I douse them in ketchup, it makes them palatable) all Companies were ordered to this huge asphalt area. These grounds could hold 100,000 men easy. We gathered with the entire base. The boot campers, the schools, the administration, the SP’s the whole base that was military. Lines after line of men and some women. Twice a year the base captain does a surprise inspection. This was one of those. He personally inspects the entire assembly, he and his underlings. It took four hours. After he inspected your unit or company you were dismissed. We boot camper worms were last.
They set the Company’s up in order of point standings. The top company is up front, followed by number two and so forth. The order was; Texas Company, 447, 448, and I have no idea who was next after us.
When the captain finally came down our row I could see him from the corner of my eye. I didn’t dare turn my head, they would have ripped it off. He looked like he could be anybody’s nice older neighbor. Six officers followed him by rank. He didn’t stop too often. But he did look at every sailor, even if it was fleeting. He stopped when he got to me. “What is your name sailor?” He commanded. “Sir, George Licata, sir.” I responded, standing at attention. My eyes frozen in a forward stare. “Did you lose your razor, Mr. Licata?” the captain asked.
“Sir, no, sir,” I replied.
“Tell me, lad, what is your excuses for not shaving?” he calmly asked.
“Sir, I have no excuse. I admit I am wrong, sir,” I responded.
“Where you from, Mr. Licata?” he inquired.
“Sir, Denver, Colorado, sir,” I proudly answered.
“What possessed a lad from a landlocked state to join the navy?” he asked.
“Sir, I wanted to own a navy pea coat. Other than that, I have no idea, sir,” I answered.
He smiled and said, “I appreciate your honesty. It’s rare. Carry on, lad.” As he walked away to continue his inspection, I thought, whew. I avoided the big one. As the last of the captain’s officers passed, he stopped. He handed me a razor and said, “Shave.”
I learned dry shaving hurts and it left a stinging, raspy felling on my face, all day.
We were dismissed. We marched to chow. I was finished eating. I was tossing my trash and putting my tray on the rack. The CC was also finishing up and putting his tray on the tray rack. He said, “Lad, I have been trying to have a word with the captain for three years. He meets you one time, and you have a conversation. How do you do it?”
I answered without thinking. “Sir, it’s a matter of breaking the fucking rules, sir.”
He didn’t appreciate that answer. “You think that we should all break any rule we don’t like, lad?” he asked.
“Sir, no, sir. It’s not a method for everybody. However, there is a way to talk to the captain. I read it on the wall. You are allowed to request a captain’s mast, sir,” I said.
“A captain’s mast is for disciplinary problems lad. You don’t know what you are talking about,” he said, as he was blowing me off.
“No, sir, you are thinking about a normal captain’s mast. This is a requested captain’s mast. Respectfully, it is different, sir,” I said.
“Lad, in all the years that I have been with the navy, I have never heard of a requested captain’s mast,” he said.
I said, “Sir, I can conveniently show you, sir.” I already knew where the UCMJ was posted for this building.
“Lad, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Fall in!”
I did, and so did the company. We marched to a class. Later.
January 23, 1973, Tuesday
Ike was up all night reading the bible. Rodger came and got me this morning; I was getting dressed. He found Ike reading his bible when he went to the office this morning. Ike paid no attention to him he just kept reading. Rodger told him he needed to get dressed and get ready. Ike kept reading.
Ike was sitting at the desk, still in his boxer shorts and t-shirt when I saw him. “Ike!” I said. He didn’t respond. I looked at Rodger, he shrugged. “Ike God says there is a time for all seasons. God says there is a time for love. God says there is a time for him. God says there is a time for you. God says that now is your time to minister to your ship mates. Ike we need you to do what we do, Ok?” He put the book down on the desk. He looked up at Rodger and me. “You are right, you do need me, they need me.” It was like he had a revelation. He stood up and said, “I now know what I must do.” He walked out of the office and got dressed. Rodger and I shook our heads. What can I say, weird. Later.
January 26, 1973, Friday
We spent all week practicing for the parade. We also fit in some new classes. On top of that we did all our retests. We passed the retest and all the re retest. Our CC had to take on our sister company 448. His buddy Pepper is sick, he has cancer.
He puts our company in the hands of Doug and Rodger, and then he spends most of the day with 448 or the bar.
Tomorrows test are the last test we take, we are stoked. The CC selected Frenchy to fight in the “Smokers.” We’re all surprised. CC says he has the perfect smokers’ body. Short, stocky, winded, something to prove. He carries the flag everywhere we go. I think that takes stamina. The recruit selected for the obstacle course I don’t know much about. He’s a wiry Mexican guy. We are rooting for him. Later.
January 28, 1973, Sunday
We passed our last test with flying colors. We didn’t get the flag. We do believe we won the flag.
The CC seemed down this morning. Doug offered to march us to Worm Island. To throw rocks. This time we had our rocks with us. We marched up to the fence. We threw the rocks. Doug wasn’t waiting this time. He yelled, “Run!” We did. It seemed to work. The CC was in a better mood. Later.
January 29, 1973, Monday
The CC needs to have an interview with all us recruits before we leave boot camp. Once again he starts the long process, it takes a couple days. One by one he takes us in his office. The recruits say he has a list of questions he asked, then he wants to know if there is anything you want to say. I asked the guys what they said. Not one of them said anything. They just wanted to get away, he scared most of them. They didn’t know what to expect from him.
We spent most of the time today practicing the parade routine. We are going to be the sharpest company on the Tarmac. Later.
January 31, 1973, Wednesday
They found Ike wandering the Tarmac early this morning. He was reciting bible verses in his T-shirt and underwear, wandering around aimlessly. They said he went peacefully, believing the men in the white suits were sent special for him. He asked them if Licata sent them. They said, “Sure, Licata sent us. Let’s go. He’s waiting for you.” Poor guy.
It was my turn to have my interview. I walked into the CC’s office. I saluted him smartly. He returned the salute and said. At ease lad.” I relaxed to parade rest. “Would you say you were treated fairly lad?” I didn’t expect that question. “Sir, yes, sir, under the circumstance, sir,” I answered, bewildered.
“Would you say that I personally did you no harm?”
Again I couldn’t figure out where this was going. “Sir, you personally did not do me any harm, sir.”
He smiled and said, “Very well. You’re dismissed.”
I did an about-face. I exited the office and headed down the hall back to the main barracks. Rodger was waiting for me. I said, “Whose next?” He said, “You’re the last. How did it go?”
“Ok I guess. It was shorter than the other guys, a lot shorter. Why do you ask?” I inquire. “Nothing I was just curious. What did he say?” Rodger asked. “He wanted to know if he harmed me,” I said. Rodger laughed.
“Okay, dick wad, what’s so funny? You know something I don’t know. Out with it.” I demanded. Rodger took me off to a quiet corner.
He began, “When the CC took over the company and after the dust settled he had me show him everybody’s file. Your file was the thickest. Chris had it out for you, he wrote it down if you picked your nose. The CC wanted to send you back. He thought you were one of the problems. I tried to explain to him that most of the chits were bullshit. The CC wasn’t buying it. He asked me why the old CC didn’t get rid of you I told him you were in the Mafia and the CC didn’t want the trouble that comes with pissing them off.”
“Wait the fuck up, let me stop you there!” I interrupted. “You told him I was in the mafia. What were you thinking, man?”
Rodger said, “I was thinking of saving your ass. It looked bad for you. I blurted it out. I wasn’t thinking. He asked me if I knew anything about it. I told him the Licata mafia family is well known in the USA and Canada. By the way, it worked.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I walked away, shaking my head. Does it get any crazier? Later.
February 1, 1973, Thursday
I helped Rodger pass the travel papers and orders out to the Company. Those that aren’t going to a school are going to Norfolk Virginia it’s a big base. Tonight is the smokers. We are building up Frenchy’s confidence. The last few days have been relaxed we can even lie on our beds. We couldn’t touch our beds unless we were sleeping before this. Later.
The guy that did the obstacle course came in third. Frenchy got his bell rung. He was knocked out in 40 seconds. I said, Frenchy it looked like you never had a fight in your life. He said he didn’t. “So why the fuck would you get in the ring like that, man?” I asked.
“I wanted to prove that I’m not queer,” he said. “It seems to me there could be an easier way. Other than to get knocked out, you crazy fuck,” I said to him. He said, “I don’t care because after tomorrow I get a two day leave, downtown San Diego here I come.” Flag bearers are part of the recruit officer core, he earned the leave.
It was close to Taps, The CC enters the barracks from the front with four cases of beer. He puts them down and walked back out the door. He comes back with four more cases. He walked out the door. He returns with eight boxes of pizza. He says, “Enjoy it you deserved it. You were the company that went from last to first. We don’t give a fuck about the Texas company, do we, men?”
We yelled in unison, “Sir, no, sir!”
He said, “No, sir, what?”
We said, “No, sir, we don’t give a fuck!”
The CC did the same for 448. We drank our beer and we ate our pizza and smoked cigarettes outside. Later.
February 2, 1973, Friday
We all saw it this morning, all of us on the main floor. Sam and Frenchy were in the rack together. They were tightly wrapped around each other. It took them a while to wake up and realize what position they were in. We were speechless. Doug was the first to speak up. “Hell I thought ya all were having a group masturbation session and I missed it. Thank God it was only you two.”
They were on the top rack. Sam slipped off the rack, he was naked. I tossed him the towel I was getting ready to use. He raped it around himself, he ran up the stairs. The barracks blew up quickly with the news. Most of the guys wanted to kick the shit out of both of them. I am torn. I like both of them. For once I don’t know what side to take. Doug decided for me. “What if one of them was your brother?” he asked. I took the side of we have a parade waiting for us. We don’t have time for this, I said. When anybody asked me, I said, “If any of you were harmed physically by this, then take the first punch. And hurt pride doesn’t count as a hurt.” Nobody took that first punch.
It finally died down. We marched to morning chow. The CC joined us to get ready. Pepper joined up with 448. He looks skinny and gaunt, very sickly. We were wearing our dress blues. They have been put away since Christmas. They have winkles. The CC shows us how to iron with our plastic soap holder. It is all about friction. Lay the cloths on the bed and rub like crazy with our plastic soap holders. The friction eventually smoothed out the wrinkles. Its parade time. Later.
The parade lasted seven hours. It was the largest Naval graduating class in history. It took the longest time ever in history, I’m sure. Over a thousand people attended. The speeches were unending and winded. The spectators were mostly from Texas. When the Texas Company passed by the stands the guests exploded with applause. When we walked by nothing. During the ceremony it was noted that the Texas Company was far superior to the rest of us. The proof, they won all the awards. They were number one in everything. None of us could hold a candle to them. This was mentioned in speech after speech to the loud applause of the crowd. In fact the company’s flag and the 12 by 12 award flags are going to be displayed back home in Texas. At the VFW club. All eight of them. They made sure we knew it. Big deal.
On the way back from the parade, Doug had us halt; we did. “Company, forward skip.” It didn’t register at first, when it did I started skipping. We all started skipping. After some time we were skipping in unison. Company’s passing us laughed, even some of the CCs
laughed. What could they do to us now? Besides I don’t think a navy company has ever skipped in unison, it looked good. It’s night. The one and two day passes start tomorrow. Everybody is excited the end is in sight. Later.
February 3, 1973, Saturday
The officer recruits have gone off on their two day passes. Half of the company is on a one day pass. We are free to go where we want to. There is one stipulation. We have to march where ever we go. It has to be in groups of two or more. Somebody has to march, somebody has to give the marching orders. Adams and I went to lunch mess. I was the marcher going to mess. I was the order giver on the way back. Later.
As the guys start to return from day leave the story’s get around. Jim is a country boy from Kansas. He could have stepped out of a Norman Rockwell Painting, freckles and all. Jim told me he paid for a hooker. I asked him how it was. He said it was like fucking his girlfriend. I told him it doesn’t say much for his girlfriend. Randy said, “Or does it?” The barracks had a long conversation about that one.
I couldn’t sleep I was tossing and turning and then it dawned on me. The entire Texas Company was given a two day leave. On account that they were number one. The SOBs. I woke up and got down from my rack. I snuck over to the Texas Company barracks, in the dark. Just as I thought, the Barracks was empty. Having spent some time on night working party’s I knew where and when the night watches go. It was easy to avoid them.
All the Company’s put the flags in the same place I walked to them and easily tore off the award flags. I tucked them in my shirt and snuck my way back to the barracks. I hid them and went to sleep. Later.
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