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On the morning of the 20th of July, mom drove me to the recruiting station in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She started crying before I got out of the car. There were several other Lebanon High classmates enlisting that morning -- Bob Progin, Don Schroff and Fred May -- and Ray Swisher, a friend of Progin's who worked with him at the local Dixie drive-in.
I can still remember the boot camp Company Commander's name just as EMC White promised we would. Chief White's first words to his young putty were: "In the next nine weeks you'll be so damn busy you'll make a cat on a hot tin roof with diarrhea look like a lazy bastard!"
23 July 1960
We finally arrived on the 21st at about 1400 (2:00 pm).
We traveled by plane (not jet) and mostly at nite. Dawn broke a short time
before we saw what I think is the Grand Canyon.
The only thing we did was take a physical, march and wait. We haven't gotten our uniforms yet, so we're still in civies. I'll be here 10 ˝ weeks because our 9 weeks only starts when we get on schedule. Although for not being on schedule, we're doing the same stuff over and over about the same time. We get up at 0400 and march to the galley. Then march and wait and anything else they think of. Next week this will end. It will be worse. For 3 weeks we will (our company) be on Nimitz Island. That is where all the uniformed recruits really become trained.
26 and 28 July 1960
7:40 PM. In 5 minutes I got to go on security watch for our barracks for an hour. Starting tomorrow (4:00) I'll be busy as hell. That's when we get uniforms and go to Nimitz. I don't know how many days from now I'll get a chance to finish this letter. After tonite we will average about 4 hrs sleep, for several days anyhow.
I'm getting used to this life and everything is going fine. I tore my underpants getting out of the top rack for revielle [reveille] at 3:30. Does anyone ask or call for me? Did you see my pictures? I'm glad you can't see me with this haircut…It's now 6PM, the 28th. We are going 20 hours a day! Tuesday I got 4 shots, Wed. 2 shots, a blood test and a vaccination. Some of the guys got sick for a while. Today (Thurs) we got another one.
The strain on us isn't all physical. What makes me jumpy is having to fold or make everything right and exactly in place. We have hardly touched on it so far. But tonite and tomorrow we should get the full indoctrination.
Navy boot camp provided excellent preparation to be a "putz frau" or cleaning lady. To be fair, remember that close quarters on board ship place a premium on cleanliness and personal hygiene. Each recruit spent more time on that huge cement wash rack wearing out scrub brushes than in the rack (bunk). If fanaticism to cleanliness wasn't the primary objective of the Naval Recruit Training Center, it was a close second to discipline, i.e., respect for authority and habits of instantaneous response to commands. Aye, aye, sir! I heard the order, I understand the order and I will obey, Sir!
Certainly, military discipline was a key objective. There was constant continual stress even over petty details - how clothing was folded or how the ubiquitous knots securing the wash to the clothesline were tied in the mandated square knot with matching ends of the clothes stops perfectly draped over each side of the line. Mix with long days of physical activity; it overwhelms the memory. "If it moves, salute it; if it doesn't move, shine it; if it doesn't shine, fuggit!"
Yesterday it finally happened - I got the ice cream plopped in my mashed potatoes!
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31 July 1960
Boy we really were packed into church today. I kind of dread next week - communion. [Presumably church will be more crowded for communion. The recruit from the East coast had never heard of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and was amazed to discover that the Mormons had the largest lines on Sunday mornings. To avoid duty, recruits were enticed to attend religious services and gathered by the sign for their church and marched off to worship- Onward Christian Sailors!] I am getting tired of scrubbing these darn clothes, and I've hardly gotten started on it. We have not had any bag layouts yet, I'm afraid my clothes won't be clean enough. Time. Time. Time. I'm up almost 20 hours a day, and still don't have enough time. We're really steppin in between revielle [sic] and taps, too. But as we get worn in to the groove, things will line up right, and we'll have more time.
This is a conversion center. They must make you a service man dependent on yourself. So you have to do what they say and take it.
Last nite we had a fire drill for 8 companies (660 men). It took 9 ˝ minutes for us to get out, have a muster (roll) and report to the officer. Entirely too long! A little while later they pulled another one. Guys in the shower ran out grabbing blankets. I was shaving and getting ready to shower. Out in a blanket. We made it in 3 minutes this time.
I should be stenciling clothes, shining shoes. (The CO came in and has had us busy until now, it's dinner next day) I just got your letter a few minutes ago. Also a pocket book on the Steps to Christ from Bobby and Pa [maternal grandparents]. They gave me one like it before. It's still at home. I don't even have time to read the title of the book. Besides clothing and other stuff outside of physical drills, I have to learn general orders, the chain of command, and items from the Blue Jackets Manual. That is the sailor's bible. Don't tell them I threw it [The Steps to Christ] out. I'd keep it and bring it back, but I just don't have the space. I threw your letter out too. No space can be wasted at all.
(Evening) Today at personal inspection, I had one point knocked off. After they check all your clothing and posture, they (he) checked my shave. You shave from the top of your ears to your collarbone. Underneath my lip some light hairs were visible in the sunlight. Improper shave - 1 point. (gotta go and help clean the head) Wonder when I can mail this?
10 August 1960
Tell Sondra [sister] the only time I went swimming was for 60 seconds to pass a test. Games are unheard of, and spare (there isn't any) or recreation time is a joke. There is no such thing as entertainment. My entertainment is an evening with the off duty platoon, and no night watch. Just sleep.
I'll give you a ring on Sunday of my 6-5 weekend. Today is our 2-5 day. Saturdays and Sundays don't count, even though you work. Friday is 3-1 day. I hope we don't get setback. The sooner I get out of here the better. It's not too hard, but you're doing something all the time. You can't relax. We also have a lot of hurry up and wait.
16 August 1960
Tomorrow nite we leave Nimitz Island for Advance Training. Before Advanced Training we first serve a week in the galley. There it's late to bed and real damn early to rise (2:30- 3:30).
Don't bother to send me money. I don't need to spend very much, and I have chits ($ coupons) left to spend. Besides I get $15 clear on Friday and $30 clear in another 3 weeks.
A set back means you are pushed back a week or whatever length it is, in training. In other words, a week or so is added to your stay here. Sometimes the whole Co. is set back for being disorderly, low marks, or something. Mass punishment is the vogue. If 25% flunks, the whole Co goes back. Stuff like that. Individuals go back for many more reasons. [One outcast company composed of scrounges and other misfits were pointed out as the perfect bad example - what will happen if you don't get it right. Any one of those scrounges that was gigged a point at inspection was scrubbed in the shower with scrub brushes till they were raw and bleeding. The scrounge company was distinguishable because they marched everywhere holding gleaming metal "shitcans" overhead in lieu of their pieces. Some suicides and attempted suicides resulted. The only escape from that purgatory was through total conformity. Then, you still had to make up the week or weeks you missed by being setback.]
We have "compartment watch" and "patio watch". The latter you walk around the clothesline with a piece (rifle). The other is in the barracks with a billy club. On patio you're responsible for the clothes. You also learn to challenge during nite. [Halt! Who goes there? Superman. Well fly your ass over here and be recognized!] The compartment watch is responsible for the lives of his shipmates. He rouses them for fire drills and during the day protects the valuables, etc. It's all to give you experience for later. Even though it's silly to get up at 2 AM to watch a clothesline, you can get set back for "goofin off" on watch.
27 August 1960
I told the CC [Company Commander] my grandfather was
having an operation, could I call home. He told me to write. Perhaps, I'll call
sometime without permission. If caught it is a week or two setback.
I'll have to close soon, we're marching to chow. We always hurry and leave early. Then we wait at attention or parade rest for an hour or more. I'll show you how to eat when I get home. We get a pretty good variety of foods at each meal, but not much of one thing. Dishes that you like are gone "poof."
We're wearing whites now. They are awfully hard to keep clean. Everything must be kept immaculate. It's terrible. Everything sparkling clean. In lockers they must be clean and folded exactly right. Better if ironed. Everything goes in a certain place and way. Some things are inside out, some have to have the buttons unbuttoned. It's all screwed up. But it must be the Navy way.
30 August 1960
Today we played around with the M-1 Garand. My hand is sore from handling the thing. Tomorrow we travel to Camp Elliot out in the desert amidst snakes and rocks to the firing range. We're going out in a cattle car. I'm glad its only 20 miles.
Every day I see guys in "blues" getting ready to board bus for town and home. I can hardly wait. It seems like my time will never come.
The United Way Fund drive is on here. The company in the battalion that donates the most gets an extra liberty. The low company has to stand the "high" company's watches. The Navy surely has a great system.
9 September 1960
I wish I could have had 2 months of Boot Camp last
summer. Then nothing would have been a barrier to me. It took the Navy to make
me realize how lazy I was, and how much time I wasted as a civilian. They waste
it too, here. But the recruits don't. I could write 50 letters a day in the time
I spend waiting and standing at attention.
I can see myself at home getting up at 4 & making my bunk. Then I dress in the dark and march around the block & stand at attention in the yard. The head will be secured til after inspection. So I grab my piece and go to inspection & drill. I just hope I don't wake up for any of the midwatches! Progin thinks we'll wash our clothes by habit; then tie them to the clothesline with clothesstops. We make jokes about this stuff all the time!
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October 1960! |
18 September 1960
On Friday we participated in our first parade. They call it a parade, but it is a graduation ceremony. It's real sharp, I wish you could see ours. The Chief of Naval Operations of Pakistan was there. They fired a 19 gun salute and the gun was right behind us. WOW. About 3000 recruits took part in it, plus the Drum and Bugle Corps and the Naval Station Band. It is very impressive. The sad part is we have to practice for it every day from now on.
25 September 1960
Friday is our parade. Right after the graduation we
turn in our pieces. If they aren't shining, we have to clean them in our blues
before we leave. By the way, I have 3 pairs of shoes to shine yet this afternoon
too. I just finished washing a while ago.
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The other day we went in the gas chamber. They use 5% tear gas. After we were in we had to take off our masks. Then he made us do facings & other movements before we were allowed out.
28 September 1960
Progin goes to Memphis, Tenn. Shroff to Moffet Field in
San Francisco. Fred May out here in San Diego and Ray Swisher to San Francisco.
I'm the lucky so and so. I got Lakehurst! [The Navy pays his flight home to the
east coast!] Boy I sure hope nothing fouls us up, so we really do leave Monday.
It's getting so close I can taste it.
Our platoon is supposed to go on liberty Sunday but the CC cancelled it so we
can pack our sea bags. I get to read papers once in a while. So far I haven't
missed a Sunday paper. The editorial sections are left alone & I get a
chance to read it. That is when I have time, and that isn't too often. Every
week I read a couple international articles. I also catch a few tidbits on the
radio now & then. We're not completely in the dark. Well lights are going
out.
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Copyright ©: 2000- 2001, Stephen S. Fehr. All rights reserved.
Revised - February 4, 2002