I took United Airlines from SFO to NYC; found Port Authority, & a bus to the Thayer. When I arrived, I did run around with a group of guys who were sooo impressive, patriotic, excited to be at USMA, & ready to serve in Vietnam. I, myself & several others, weren’t exactly prepared for the shock of being screamed & yelled at, starting with the Man in the Red Sash. For naive suburban-ites & my other country-boy friends, that day was a truly life-changing experience.
I was so terrified (from ZERO & I mean absolutely NO prior Military experience), that, here goes: One time, I did well at “tables” & perfectly “saying the days” at a lunch in Washington Hall. Thus, I was “rewarded” with an extra apple & orange. While walking back across the yard toward my quarters, I knew I had to “Salute” an upperclassman. What to do, with an apple in one hand & An orange in the other? Of course, Salute, no matter the fruit! Uh-Huh?! Instant yelling plus 2 more demerits.
Sounds like something that could have happened to any of us. Thanks for sharing, Barry.
Who would think that an apple and an orange back in those days. Under those circumstances would mean so much.
Well, too bad you didn’t have the traditional “banana in your ear” to drown out the yelling. Reason enough for hearing aids now? 🙂
BTW, the story behind the story: Upperclassmen sometimes let plebes take a banana “home” with them after a meal, if only they would hold it up to their ear and reply to upperclassmen confronting them on the way out: “Sir, I can’t hear you, I have a banana in my ear.” 🙂