February 1, 1973, Thursday

I helped Rodger pass the travel papers and orders out to the Company. Those that aren’t going to a school are going to Norfolk Virginia it’s a big base. Tonight is the smokers. We are building up Frenchy’s confidence. The last few days have been relaxed we can even lie on our beds. We couldn’t touch our beds unless we were sleeping before this. Later.

The guy that did the obstacle course came in third. Frenchy got his bell rung. He was knocked out in 40 seconds. I said, Frenchy it looked like you never had a fight in your life. He said he didn’t. “So why the fuck would you get in the ring like that, man?” I asked.

“I wanted to prove that I’m not queer,” he said. “It seems to me there could be an easier way. Other than to get knocked out, you crazy fuck,” I said to him. He said, “I don’t care because after tomorrow I get a two day leave, downtown San Diego here I come.” Flag bearers are part of the recruit officer core, he earned the leave.

It was close to Taps, The CC enters the barracks from the front with four cases of beer. He puts them down and walked back out the door. He comes back with four more cases. He walked out the door. He returns with eight boxes of pizza. He says, “Enjoy it you deserved it. You were the company that went from last to first. We don’t give a fuck about the Texas company, do we, men?”

We yelled in unison, “Sir, no, sir!”

He said, “No, sir, what?”

We said, “No, sir, we don’t give a fuck!”

The CC did the same for 448. We drank our beer and we ate our pizza and smoked cigarettes outside. Later.