Welcome to the Dance USN

by GEORGE LICATA

  I was outside making my rounds when a car weaving all over the road stopped at the building. It missed the parking space completely. A lumbering commander stumbled out of the drivers’ seat. As he stood up I saluted him. He didn’t return the salute, he did grumbled something I couldn’t understand. After he staggered through the door I dropped my salute. I could have gotten drunk from the smell of alcohol that rolled off that man, whew.

  I decide to make a few more rounds outside before I went inside. I got about half way around the building, I heard the fire alarm. I ran full speed to the front door. I thought cool, I may get to practice my firefighting skills. Damn, when I got to the door I couldn’t see any sign of smoke.

  The door opened the petty office came out side, he was lighting up a cigarette. “False alarm,” he said nonchalantly. “The fire department will be here shortly. Wait out here for them. Let them know that it’s a false alarm.” He turned and went back inside. The clanging of the alarm was still ringing. Night, day it doesn’t matter crazy crap happens any tome here.

  It wasn’t long before the two fire trucks showed up. I looked for the guy with the most gold scrambled eggs on his hat, that’s the ranking officer. I approached him as he was putting on his overhauls. I saluted. “Sir, I was told to tell you it’s a false alarm.” He returned my salute. “At ease sailor” He stopped what he was doing. He looked over at a chief. “Have the men stand down false alarm.”

  “Aye aye, sir. Was it Harris?” the chief asked the commander.

  The commander smirked. “I warned him, somebody’s head is going to roll this time. I am tired of this bullshit. And I don’t care whose head!” He turned to me and said carry on lad. I had a joint stashed, I decided that this diversion would be a great time for me to go off into the dark and smoke it.

  I smoked it as quickly as I could, I wanted to get back and see fireman commander have it out with drunken commander. Only one fire truck was at the barracks when I came around the corner smoking a cigarette. I butted the smoke and went inside.

  The petty officer looked up at me and looked away quickly. Ensign Silles was at a desk. I saluted him as he stood up. He returned the salute. “The fine commander wants to talk to you in the office, watch.” I knocked on the door.

  “Enter!”

  Because my car and the guys are meeting me for breakfast I’ll make this short, Mr. Journal. The fire commander accused me of pulling the fire alarm. I think the drunk commander did it. He grilled me through the rest of my watch. He dismissed me and said he will be in touch. That was earlier this morning. I see my Metallic blue Volvo coming down the road. Later.

  I must be getting good at welding I finished my project before lunch. The rest of the week we socialize or they let us help each other if we finished. I was getting ready to leave when the master chief ordered me to report to the warren officer. That office was a few blocks away. Moe, Okie, and Garza walked with me.

  I’m getting written up for pulling the fire alarm last night. I told Warren Officer Jepson that it wasn’t me, I was outside. He said it was out of his hands. The night fire commander wrote me up. My captain’s mast is tomorrow at 1000 hours. Later.

  April 4, 1973, Wednesday

  I was still pissed off about the captain’s mast while I was taking my morning swim. I don’t mind facing the music when I get caught for something that I did. But to get accused for something I didn’t do is bull fucking crap. I was still pissed when I once again walked through the double doors to the podium, to face the captain.

  After returning my salute, the captain said, “Mr. Licata, maybe it wasn’t a good idea for a lad from a landlocked state to join the navy. What have you to say for yourself?” he asked from behind his table. “Sir, did you read the part of the report that said I was outside the building. And the part that said the OD was stinking drunk. I told the fire commander all that stuff, sir,” I answered, still miffed that I was even here.

  He looked through the file, he looked up at me. “I do not find anything that remotely says what you just stated. I have sworn statements from a wittiness stating that you were inside the building, one of the wittiness saw you pull the alarm. How do you respond lad?” I was floored, my heart sunk down to my stomach. I stood there with my mouth open for the longest time I didn’t know what to say. “Sir who? Why? I don’t understand?” The captain was looking down at the files. “Ensign Silles states that you were in the vicinity of the alarm. The commander retired to his quarters earlier. Second Class Petty Officer Kob reported seeing you pull the alarm right before you ran outside.” The captain didn’t look up. “You have been charged with false reporting. You are confined to the barracks. You will report at 1600 hours today. You will be released at 1600 hours tomorrow. You are dismissed. You know the drill, Mr. Licata.” We saluted. I did a smart about-face, I walked through those double doors and waited for my paperwork. Later.

  I went back to class and gave the guys the keys to the Volvo. After class I checked in with Chief Wascowski. At least I will have a full day without being accused of killing baby’s. Since I moved to the beach my friends I and get accused of being baby killers every day, sometimes more than once a day.

  We would be hanging out on the boardwalk minding our own business, dressed in our civilian clothes. Sure enough a quarter of the people walking by say those words, “Baby killer.” I don’t even bother trying to explain my self any more. I don’t respond. Barry says its worse when it’s true. That’s one of the reasons that Moe, Saul and Garza live on the base. At least I get to eat dinner with them and smoke a joint before I get locked in for the night.

  The padre heard about my confinement, he came by the barracks. Padre said he believes me, I got shafted on this one. Commander Harris has a reputation for getting drunk and pulling the fire alarm. The captain and the padre are friends. Padre said that because I got one day proved that the captain believed me. I said that’s bullshit, He knows that I told the truth, the commander lied and I get the punishment. Padre said life is full of politics, sometimes you lose sometimes you win. I told him the only problem I have with that analogy is I was forced to play, and I’m not allowed to stop playing. Like I said Padre Bullshit. Later.

  April 5, 1973, Thursday

  When I left the barracks this morning the chief didn’t say a word to me, he didn’t even look at me. I meet up with the guys at morning mess before classes. Garza said I should get myself some black and white striped shirts and matching pants. Later.

  We stayed on the base for dinner chow. The word came down from Nixon, no more seconds starting tomorrow. The other order from the top, steak will be served once a month, only. The older guys were more pissed off than me. It is an old unwritten navy rule. The messes serve steak once a week. These older guys can’t remember when it wasn’t a rule.

  Not only do we get steaks once a month now, also no seconds. When I was at my navy recruiter before I landed here, that is one of the things he boasted about. “All navy mess halls serve steak once a week. Bases or ships, you can have seconds or thirds. It’s an old navy tradition, son,” he said to me in what seems like a long time ago. Now the commander in chief is not honoring the tradition. Nixon says it’s the results of the gas shortage. I’ll bet he eats whatever he wants to eat.

  I spent some time today running practice welding beads. I want to see how long I can go without screwing up. The rest of the guys were killing time pitching quarters. Later.

  April 6, 1973, Friday

  I passed the test with plenty of room to spare on the pounds per square inch scale (PSI). Next week is arc welding. I wanted to get a jump on it and practice. I was finished with my project, I had time to kill, the stuff was in my booth, and it seemed like a good idea.

  I could hang around and smoke and drink coffee this last week. Or I could be ahead of the course. Nope that’s what I would do if I was a civilian. I’m not, I’m a sailor in the navy. The navy does it one way, every time. No exceptions hurry up and wait. When they say wait they want y
ou to wait. Do not pass go, do not jump ahead, wait. Chief says when it’s time for learning it’s time for learning. Now is the time for waiting, now go wait. I know this because I asked if I could get early start. He said no, h seemed surprised that I would ask an asinine question. I will go and wait. Later.

  I’m back home, to the sounds of the surf, the feel of the sand under my feet, the many different people strolling the boardwalk, the freedom to light up a doobie, to the insults from passing hippie’s It was good to be back. I just came back from a swim. Troy and Okie were surfing. Troy is having his party tonight. I need a shower. Later.

  I think its three or four in the morning. About forty people are up and wandering the beach and the boardwalk. We have a huge bomb fire burning. We’re all high on some uncut cocaine. I’m talking to people I have never meet, and I feel like I’ve know them forever, and I want to know them forever. We are all on the same wave length. Troy is giving out the coke freely. He is the beach hero. We have two kegs set up on our small balcony outside of Peter and Okies room. I think we are down to half of the second keg. Later.

  April 8, 1973, Sunday

  It’s Sunday evening. I finally feel human. I am not alone. Three guys moved into the apartment down the other side of the building the second floor corner unit. Jeff, Bob and Benny are first year college dropouts from Kalamazoo, Michigan. They heard California calling. They are my age. A beautiful woman lives in apartment on the ground level next to Brian. Her name is Barbra, she looks like a model. Barbra has a little nine year old boy. She is always charming one of us into watching Fred while she goes out. Even when she is home he hangs around our apartment for most of the day. We don’t mind he is a smart good kid. We all keep an eye on him like a little brother. I’m going over to the neighbors’ house. Benny said he will teach me to have an out of the body experience. I live in an out-of-body experience every day; it’s called the USN. Later.

  Benny, Bob, and Jeff are three funny guys. Kalamazoo is the rich suburb of Detroit. These guys grew up together. Their fathers are childhood friends. The dads design tanks for the military at some big contractor company. They are three fun-lovin’ guys, ready for anything.

  Benny’s out of body experience put me to sleep. He has us lay flat on the floor. Benny tells us to concentrate, and see in our minds our body’s hovering overhead. The room was lit by candles. I fell asleep. Benny said he could see me sleep as he was hovering over us near the ceiling. Bob said he saw the same thing, but spent most of his out of body experience back home in Michigan. He wanted to see how his family was doing. Jeff said he never has achieved the experience. Benny told us that the more we try the easier it gets. When Jeff and I were alone he told me that Benny and Bob were full of crap, I agree but it’s no big deal to humor them. Later.

  April 9, 1973, Monday

  Arc welding is going to take some getting used to. Of course I can’t begin to start until tomorrow. Today is full of classroom instructions. The dos and do not’s of arc welding. It does involve high electrical volts, I am paying attention. Later.

  I’m home and the Michiganders are having a party. I should check this out. Later.

  The party was full of high school jocks. Mostly guys and a few girls. Sherry was there with her foxy but bitchy friend Morgan. Troy was in the mix also. I should have eaten some food before I started to drink. Everything was going fine in tell this big jock started talking shit. “Who invited the baby killers?” Or, “Is you’re barber blind?” He had a problem when one of us navy guys was talking to a girl. He would walk up and interrupt the conversation. The girls went with it, they would turn their backs on me and start a conversation with the school jock. I wasn’t going to force a girl to talk to me, I walked away each time.

  I was talking to Sherry. The jock walked up to us and started to talk his shit. Sherry told him she knew his type. High school rich kid, captain of the football team, spoiled. She wasn’t interested. I thought I would keep in the spirit of the peace love thing, I said, “Football, what position?” I was reaching out, we had something in common. “Quarterback, why?” He replied, I thought, good we can have a conversation and he can see I’m not a monster baby killer. “I love football. It was the only sport I wanted to play in high school. I played linebacker.” I replied. He gruffed, he stood up rigidly straight so I could see his large body. “I would have crushed you. I’m twice your size,” he said, looking down at my head. “I don’t care how big you are. It’s all about technique, man. Your coach should have told you that, man.”

  “I would fuck you up,” he answered.

  Sherry said, “Could you be more of a stupid ass, man? You accuse him of killing baby’s, but you would crush him.”

  “I’m not a baby you fat ugly pig,” said the jock as he backed away towards the door. “You’re the kind of girl that gave me blow jobs in my car before school, just to get close to me.” He turned and walked away.

  Sherry was devastated, what an insult to lump this free spirit in with his fantasy. He was in front of the open door. I had finished the can of beer I was holding. “Hey!” I yelled at him. He turned around. “Catch.” I tossed the can at him. He easily caught it. He gave me a smirk, a smirk that turned into fear. I rushed him and made a textbook tackle. Head in the gut, arms wrapped around him, both feet planted on the ground driving forward. I drove him into the second story railing. I heard something crack. I don’t know if it was his ribs or the wooden railing. I backed off and he collapsed on the deck.

  The guys gathered quickly, so did his. The Michiganders, told them to get the hell out of here and take him too. They picked him up, they carried him down the stairs and left. To his credit he held on to the can of beer.

  Sherry said she was grateful that I didn’t make him apologize to her. It would have been so male chauvinistic piggish. She would have been embarrassed. She didn’t want to be the reason for the fight. I told her I knew that about her. I said it had nothing to do with her. I wanted to prove him right by attacking a baby. Sherry and I spent the night together. Later.

  April 10, 1073, Tuesday

  This arc welding is a different animal. I keep getting the rods stuck to the metal. This is supposed to be quicker and easier. So far for me it’s not true. Later.

  Arc welding consist of a metal rod attached to an electric currant. A clamp is clasped to the metal being welded, this creates a continued electrical circuit when the rod touches the metal. The trick is to keep the melding rod close enough to the weld while moving it, but not to close as to let the rod stick to the weld.

  I wear the large welding helmet. The window plate is black. Without the blaze of the arc welder my vision looking out is zero. I have to strike the ark to the metal then lower my helmet. When I flip my head to lower my helmet I jerk my hand and the rod gets stuck.

  When the rod gets stuck I can turn off the currant. If I leave it stuck, it super heats the whole rod; it turns brilliant red and starts to melt. At this point it becomes pliable and bendy. I have taken to making metal rod sculptors to pass the time. Later.

  Barbra brought Fred by this evening. She is dressed to kill, she has a big date. That was five hours ago. Everybody went to bed. I have Fred sleeping on the couch. I’ll wait for his mom. What else can I do, Mr. Journal? Later.

  April 11, 1973, Wednesday

  Barbra didn’t show up in tell 5 in the morning. What can I say? I took a swim, as usual I jumped the boardwalk wall and run to the serf. I was in my usual routine, a long swim out and a long swim in. I swam out and turned to swim back. I thought I was dead. I went three times the distance that I normally go. It was early and few people were on the beach, they were so far away they looked like tiny toys, too far to hear me.

  I am a river rafter so I started to dig in and swim hard. I was exhausted when I looked up. My heart almost leaped out of my throat, I was further out. I floated on my back to get some rest. I started to slowly swim parallel to the beach. I angled my swim so that I was slightly headed to the shore. I must have bee
n in the water for over an hour when I finally came to the beach. I was three miles down the beach.

  By the time I walked back to the apartment the guys were ready to go to school. We were going to be late if I didn’t hurry. They said, wow man you should have read those warning signs. I looked over to the beach. Spaced out at every one hundred feet are big warning signs. SWIMMING IS PROHIBITED. WARNING STRONG RIP TIDE. STAY OUT OF THE WATER. “Oh,” I said. “I ran past it.”

  I took a quick shower. We made it to class on time. I spent the day making art out of welding rods in my booth. I haven’t mastered arc welding. I will, I hope. Twelve guys have been transferred so far. It’s my little brother’s birthday. Happy birthday, Rock. Later.

  April 12, 1973, Thursday

  It’s afternoon, I got it. I use my left hand to keep my right hand steadier when I start a weld. Arc welding is quicker and it is easier. Where is that coin tossing game? Later.

  April 13, 1973 Friday

  The first thing I saw when I looked in the mirror was Jerry’s zit puss. I swear I want to kill that guy. For the hundredth time I drag his ass in the bathroom and make him clean it. He gets right up on the mirror to pop those zits. His glasses are as thick as pop bottles, he needs to get close. I said fine you blind bastard just clean the fucking mirror, ok? Sometimes he forgets and I have to remind him. Later.

  I passed the test. Next week we are going to make flushing systems, using the welds we have learned. Peter and I are going to the padre’s tonight. We are going to spend the night so we can move the padre to a new apartment tomorrow. He rented a truck for tomorrow. He bought some steaks for tonight. Jerry is hanging with his old shipmates. Okie is surfing. He is getting pretty good at surfing. Later.