It's true, oh it's true! I flunked the army. Well, I didn't get kicked out. I made sharpshooter, I got to be corporal in the days before tech ranks. (I would have made sergeant except for that blankety blank major who correctly assessed that I would have made a lousy non-commissioned officer.) The army didn't say I flunked, but I realize the terrible mistake I made. I resisted. I can hear a chorus of "Yay!'s" out there. Callow youths admiring the rebel. Nuts. (Is that word allowed on the internet?) I lost out on some of the greatest opportunities of my life because I was angry and hostile to the army. I have to say that the army, at least in 1952-3 was not a kindly institution to its inmates, at least not to the lowliest draftees like me. But it wasn't a lot worse than P.E. in high school. I don't regret much in my life, but I can't help thinking what a dope I was to not get the most out of my army experience. Sort of like going to college and not studying if you can imagine such a thing. They offered me OCS. Officer's Candidate School. I could have been a lieutenant and been the first to be shot at Pusan. I told myself I should not accept because I would then be in the reserves forever, but I think the truth was I was scared that I couldn't do it. Don't tell anybody I said that. I had it so good, so easy, I'm almost ashamed. Almost. I was sent to Japan during the Korean action. Nobody seems to want to call it a war. In Japan, my regiment, General Custer's 7th Cavalry, (I was so proud; I can't think why except that we got to wear a yellow ribbon) was in reserve. If there was a need, we would trot, or rather steam right across the straits and go into combat. But I was behind a desk. I didn't have to get muddy every day and all that stuff the real troops were stuck with. Still I was angry and resistant. I had the opportunity to learn to speak Japanese and I frittered my time away doing crossword puzzles. I could have sopped up the Japanese culture, I could have become a family friend, I could have been a contender, I could have been somebody. (In case you are too young to know, that's from "On the Waterfront, Brando). So, if you are going into the army give it your all, learn everything you can and don't be so resistant. Do I sound like a recruiting sergeant? No way, I only made corporal. |
