a look at “C,” does that look familiar?” You guessed it! Everyone raced their pencil to the letter “C” on question number four.
Watching with amusement, the 1st Class BT said: “Now don’t all of you mark the same, miss a few every now and then, so we won’t get into trouble.” I was thankful for not having to fail the test. But I was not amused, as I realized what this could mean to me later. I could see myself being in the belly of a ship, and having someone shout the order to me: “Quick turn the “K” valve or we’re going to explode!” My reply, as I’m running for my life would be, “Guess what, I have no idea what a “K” valve is or looks like – Run! We’re going to explode!”
You can be sure I absolutely had no great desire to be a Fireman in the Navy. I looked at it this way, if abandon ship were ever to be sounded, it was unbelievable all you had to do to try and save your life. You would first have to climb up several ladders, as fast as you could, without falling if someone climbed over top of you. Then you had to run to the side of the ship, just so you could jump off. After doing that, you had to be able to hold your breath, while you attempted to float. Floating is something I’ve never been able to do to this day. Things were looking pretty bleak for me. The Navy Reserves did not seem to care.
This was a weakness I found in the Navy Reserve. They were more interested in getting points for sending people off as third class petty officers, than sending people properly trained to actually be third class petty officers. I hope by now that has been corrected.
But it is now time to really have some “fun,” as we go on to:
BOOT CAMP ADVENTURES at the Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois.
Chapter Three
BOOT CAMP ADVENTURES
Warning, this chapter contains some shocking revelations. There are humorous events, as well as those which can make you angry.
Do such things still go on today? Perhaps they do. Once you are in the military, especially during the draft, you become know as a “government issue” soldier, a G.I. No longer is there anyone to complain about how just or unjust you are being treated, they simply don’t care!
I held off for as long as I could, but on the 1st-14th of May I was finally attending the Great Lakes Training Center outside Chicago.
I had been warned it would still be cold up there. Most of those from Florida who went there during winter came back with bad colds or pneumonia. Not wishing this to happen to me, I decided to take up the Theodore Roosevelt method of building up my resistance. Sickly as a child, Teddy believed in testing his body by exposure to harsh elements of nature through hiking, mountain climbing, etc. This had the desired effect, as he grew stronger in health.
So, although it was cold in Florida that winter, with temperatures sometimes dipping into the thirty’s, I would venture outside wearing just a sweater, repeatedly telling myself I was not really cold. I was attending Junior College then, and you can imagine the kinds of looks I drew. You could almost read their minds. “This College must have poor standards, letting someone with such an obviously low IQ in here. I bet he must be some rich kid.” As my teeth were chattering, and I was trying to convince myself they were not; I kind of believed the same thing the others must be thinking about me. But my intention was to build up my resistance to the cold, and it worked.
This was my first ride on a jet, so I was looking forward to this new adventure. Unfortunately I let the lady sitting beside me know this was my first jet plane ride. She would not stop talking; trying to reassure me everything would be alright. She told me about what a seasoned air traveler she was. I knew everything was going to be O.K. because I had prayed, asking God to let me have a safe trip. But wouldn’t you know it? As we neared Chicago we hit some really turbulent weather. The plane bounced up and down, continuing to do so even after we had climbed higher. Outside, the wings were flapping up and down. Seeing this, the lady sitting next to me began to panic. “This is the worst I have ever seen! I’ve never seen the wings flapping like that! I hope they stay on!” I wound up having to reassure and calm her down. But the worst was yet to come.
At O’Hare Airport we were all loaded into a bus going to the base. Guys from all over the country filled that bus. One of the first things was getting more uniforms issued, including the important “P” coat. That was the absolute BEST wool coat for keeping warm I have ever had! Next up, came the dreaded haircut. I watched as the speed barbers made my fellow sailors bald. It was almost as if they were in a racing contest with one another. It reminded me of the time when I had once gotten my haircut at Webb’s City.
This recollection saved my hair. You see, Webb’s City was called the World’s Most Unusual Drug Store. It boasted of its low prices. The barber shop had approximately 50 chairs in a U shape.
50 cent haircuts were considered a bargain, in the days of one dollar haircuts. I went there once and watched as the customer sat down in the chair. Barely did they get it warm, when the barber helped push them out, shouting, “Next!” This same kind of action was happening here at Boot Camp.
Fortunately, I got a barber who had visited St. Petersburg. Not knowing this, I said to him as I sat down in the chair: “This reminds me of Webb’s City back home.” “How is old Doc Webb?” was his reply. “A-ha,” I said, “You used to work for him didn’t you?” Laughing, he said, “No, but I’ve been there, and I know what you mean. He then asked me, how would you like your hair cut?” “Could you leave me a little to part?” “Sure can!” When it was over, many of the other guys in my company asked me, “how come you still have hair?” I just said, “The barber was a friend from back home.”
FIGHTING THE ENEMY KNOWN AS FIRE
First up was the experience of having to go through a simulated compartment filled with smoke. This consisted of a metal building, about 100 feet long, having a narrow path and raised area with railing on each side, where smoldering, burning rubber tires were used to created plumes of dark black smoke. We had been given goulashes and fireman’s coats to wear. We were instructed to hold on to the coat tail of the person in front of us, to keep from getting lost in the dense smoke. The hatch (doorways) both front and back required turning a round metal wheel, then levering the door open.
We had been warned not to panic or shout, both of which would cause us to inhale large quantities of smoke. I thought this was a wise move, so I listened to the advice. However a piece of advice I believed to be unwise was, don’t risk getting caught taking a deep breath. That did not make sense to me at all, so I chose to disobey that one. Was I glad I did!
I had been actively involved in skin diving, and not being a smoker, had very good lungs. So right before we were to go inside, I took three deep breaths, holding the last one just before entering the hatch. Had I been caught, I would have been in serious trouble. But I took the chance, because I thought it was worth the try.
I was probably the fifth guy entering on the right side. We went in by columns of two, but had to exit the narrower hatch door at the other end individually. I held on to the coat tail of the guy in front of me. It was pitch dark in there. Yet you could see the red burning embers of the tires, and the curling dark smoke.
The guys at the front, arriving at the exit hatch door, had to feel around in the dark to find the wheel, turn a lever, release and open the door so we could get out. Naturally, this took some time. While those in front were trying to get the hatch door open, tempers began to flare. The group of around twenty guys came to an abrupt stop. Some began to yell at the top of their voice, “Get that damn
