Fifty years ago today I joined the Navy. I remember taking the train up to Chicago and then walking to the Chicago and Northwestern station to take the train up to North Chicago and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I traveled with some other guys that I was in charge of. The next six weeks of my life would suck! Since there was a war going on they had cut boot camp down from twelve weeks to six weeks so there was that. I do remember how cold it was when I got there and how cold the next six weeks was what with the wind blowing off Lake Michigan.

When I got there we were met at the front gate by some recruits doing their Service Week. This was their big chance to order around other boots. “Line up! Nuts to butts! Make the guy in front of you smile. If he laughs, you’re too close.”

That was what passed for boot camp humor.

Since there were so many recruits and not enough space we got to spend the first night sleeping on mattresses on the floor of a drill hall. The next day, we were broken up into companies and assigned a barracks. Then, the fun began. For some strange reason, I guess it was because of my aptitude scores, I was made a petty officer and a squad leader. This entailed some additional responsibilities but got me out of some crap jobs. Plus, I got to wear white spats which looked cooler than the dirty beige spats the grunts wore. It also got me a cooler job during Service Week and more time off during that time to goof off with another squad leader.

Our company commander was a grizzled old E6 Machinist Mate who was also an alcoholic. His morning coffee always had a shot or two of whiskey in it.

Half a century ago. Where has the time gone?