December 7th, 1979 was the day I shipped out. I rode to MEP's with a Chief Petty Officer - I don't remember his rate or really what he looked like even. I do remember the wisdom he shared with me that day. A useful bit of information that set the stage for the next 15 years of my life.
"Kid" he said one hand on the wheel and the other grabbing something out of a cooler that sat on the floor between us "The Navy doesn't sail on the seven seas it sails on a six pack". He pulled a can of Budweiser from the cooler, a can opener (yes this was pre-pop top) appeared as if by magic and he opened the can with one hand, not missing a beat, drank the entire contents of the can of beer. He performed this amazing feat 5 more times, finishing the entire six pack before we reached MEP's, a forty five minute drive. He seemed none the worse for it. I myself did not think too much about it, I was focused on the adventure I was about to begin!! The thrill of unlimited possibilities was intoxicating enough for me!!
We arrived at MEP's, I passed the final physical, raised my hand and agreed with 30 other folks that I would give the next four years of my life to the United States Navy. And the adventure began.
I was given 8 packets of paperwork & told that I was responsible for getting those packets to RTC Orlando Florida. I did but it seemed I was also supposed to get the folks that went along with the packets to Orlando too. 8 packets and 6 sailors made it to Recruit Training Command Orlando, Florida. They should have been more specific......
The trip from MEPs to the airport was uneventful, not much of an adventure. Things got a little more interesting once we landed in Orlando. Again we were herded onto an ancient bus (I wonder if there are many old buses or just one that gets pulled out of the prop locker when the script calls for transportation of questionable integrity....) The bus driver was a cheerful sort who entertained us with sea stories. He engaged each of us, building a camaraderie that would have taken years to establish in another venue. So here we are laughing and joking and thinking life is grand. All of a sudden the bus comes to a screeching halt. The once jovial bus driver stands up and points at a water tower just inside the gate. What came next set the tone for the next 15 years of my life....
"Do you see that water tower over there" he said in a booming voice that may well have come from the bowels of the earth or some other horrid place with bowels. "That is not a water tower!!!!! It is the DOOR KNOB to HELL and you are about to enter it's gates". What happened next resembled a bad Post Apocalyptic Made for TV SCi-Fi movie - screaming, crying, yelling, praying, wailing, folks trying to jump out of the bus windows. Not utter chaos but pretty darn close. The Navy has a sense of humor.
I must have been one of the crying, wailing and praying folks. But our bus stopped at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot, San Diego beforer it went on to the Navy Recruit Training Command next door. To see those Marine recruits get pulled off the bus by their D.I's would put the fear of god into anyone.
ReplyDeleteOne question though. Why the Brooklyn Bridge? Word Verification is outfoo - as in get outfoo before I kick your behind.