There’s lots to do at the barracks while Vincent’s background check is being processed. He enjoys learning more about electronics and telephone systems, and he becomes more proficient in the work. He figures that someday he might put this education and experience to good use.
Vincent learns that a ticket for the “flicks”—the Army’s name for the movies—costs twenty-five cents. Beer costs a quarter, too. Despite his adventure with Benny, he still has some of his $600. At the end of the month everyone is flat broke, so Vincent starts loaning money at a two-to-one rate—a quarter for a half dollar.
He launches other enterprises as well, including nightly poker games. Soon he puts the first sergeant on his payroll, a necessary expense. He also brings the company commander, a heavy drinker, a case of scotch every month to look the other way.
With his increased earnings, Vincent starts to send money to his mother. She, in turn, writes him often and sends food. Though he tells her he eats pretty well in France, she doesn’t listen, writing, “The stuff is from Papa Tony.” He stops complaining. There is no use.
She writes about the Neighborhood and about Paulie.
Although Paulie writes occasionally, his letters are always filled with encouragement and friendship. He reports that he is doing well in college and still wants to become an FBI agent, to Vincent’s chagrin. But Vincent loves Paulie, and that is that.
Vincent is approaching 19 years old, younger than most of the soldiers in his barrack. Some of the soldiers resent Vincent because of his street ways and his ability to make money. One night two soldiers, after losing heavily at poker, come after him in the shower. As he fights them off, a huge fist flies over his shoulder and slams into the face of one of the attackers, a tall red-headed guy. The soldier falls back into the shower stall, out cold. Seconds later, the other assailant is thrown in after him.
Hovering over the two stands a jet black, gold toothed behemoth—six foot three and 275 pounds of mostly muscle. He extends his large hand to Vincent.
“Billy Ray Taylor,” he says.
Billy is from the south side of Chicago and he fast becomes Vincent’s protector and right-hand man, collecting debts on Vincent’s behalf. Vincent dubs him “Bad Billy.”
Vincent and Billy’s friendship continues for almost a year until they attend a briefing by one of the lieutenants about Vietnam. Vincent asks what the country is like and is told that it is tropical, rains a lot, and has centipedes and snakes. Before the lieutenant’s briefing is finished, Vincent leans over and tells Bad Billy that anyone would be crazy to go there. But after the briefing, Bad Billy and a bunch of other soldiers volunteer for deployment. Vincent tries to dissuade Billy, but his protector and good friend does not listen.
To Vincent’s dismay, Bad Billy dies with the entire group of volunteer soldiers when their transport plane crashes in Algiers on its way to Vietnam. Vincent misses Billy’s friendship, but also misses his friend’s usefulness. Shortly after Billy’s death, a new first sergeant is assigned to the base, followed by a new company commander. Without Billy’s protection, Vincent is out of business for good, although he still loans out money from time to time.
The Army has made a man out of Vincent. It has taught him discipline and encourages honor and loyalty—to his friends and his work, though not necessarily to the United States Armed Military Forces—traits that Vincent will cherish the rest of his life.