ENLISTMENT

The police had just arrested the kid for the fourth time for fighting and carrying a firearm in the city limits and now he was standing before the Judge. He was sixteen but looked eighteen and that is what he told everyone. “Son, I know your mother and father and they are fine people. I have no idea where you went wrong but the last time you were here I told you that you already had 3 strikes and the next time you were out. I’m sorry, but I sentence you to the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City for a period of 3 years.”

ENLISTMENT

The kid sagged in his seat and a tear formed in his eye. The judge looked down and said, “Sentence will be suspended IF you bring me a signed contract from one of the military services within the next 24 hours. Maybe they can instill some discipline in you.”

The kid traveled by bus to Kansas City for a quick physical and before he knew it he was in Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri for basic training. It was a tumultuous time. Within 3 days of arrival he had gotten into a mutually agreed to fight with a drill instructor and for the first time in anyone’s memory he had actually won. The fight was broken up by other DI’s before the final conclusion but the outcome was obvious. The kid had many small transgressions and when given a choice of punishments, and there were many, he chose running. He could often be seen running around the training fields at all hours of the day and night.

He was a tall and lanky kid who was quick with his fists and fast with a weapon. At the firing range he could not be beat. To the chagrin of the DI’s he again out shot them all. But the trouble continued. It came to a head when the young recruit refused to salute an officer. His DI’s were all called into the CO’s office and they decided that the kid would have to be dishonorably discharged. He was just too much to handle and he was a disruption to the training of the other recruits.

However, one old DI intervened. “Sir, let me have him in my platoon for two weeks. If he hasn’t squared away by then, I will request his discharge myself.” “I will give you one week sergeant,” the CO said. And if he gets into any trouble, it will fall on your shoulders.” “Yes Sir, the DI responded.”

The kid was transferred into the Old DI’s platoon and the very first evening the DI called the kid outside and asked if he would like to get his ass whooped. The kid got a very small grin on his face and the fight went on for over an hour. When all was said and done the kid lay in the dirt. The DI sat down beside him and said, “You know, I must be getting old. Either that or you’re one tough SOB. Which one do you think it is boy?” The kid sat up with an effort and said, “Sergeant, I really don’t know but in a fair fight I have never been beat.” “Oh yeah?” the DI said. “Wish I could say the same boy. But I can say this. I’ve won a LOT more than I’ve lost.”

“I can believe that sergeant,” the kid said as he rubbed his blackening eye. “Kid, what do you want? I mean I know you don’t want to be here but what do you want out of life? You seem like you have no respect for authority, especially officers, and you’re a loner. So where would you want to be right now if not here?” The kid thought this over for a minute and finally said, “sergeant I really don’t know. You’re right, I don’t respect anyone who has not earned that respect and most officers think they deserve it just because they strut around with brass hung all over them. And I really have no other place to go. I just don’t think I will ever be able to fit into this lifestyle. And yes, I do keep to myself unless I have something to say.”

The old DI took his own minute to respond. “Ok, let me get this straight. Your quiet, reflective, tough and you demand respect. You have nowhere to go but here, you are a natural leader but hate rank. Is that about it boy?” “Uh, well I guess so sergeant but I would not have put it in quite those words.” “Humm,” the old DI mused out loud. He helped the kid to his feet and said, “boy I’ll make a deal with you. You do everything I say and you learn everything about this man’s army that you can until the end of basic training. Then I will see that you go to NCO school. When you get out you will have everything you just said you wanted and it would fit you like a glove. Do you know how I know that boy? Because, you sound just like me. Is it a deal?”

The kid looked at the old DI in amazement. “I don’t know what to say sergeant. I tell you what, I will give it my best.” “That’s all an old man can ask boy,” the DI said as they shook on it. “By the way kid. No bullshit. How old are you?” “The kid looked at his feet and finally said, “almost 17 sergeant.” “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Well don’t worry about it. It will be our secret. By the way, I was 16 when I joined too.”

The old DI went on to mentor the kid and the boy graduated at the top of his class. He also graduated at the top of his class in NCO school and was quickly assigned to the infantry. He corresponded for many years with his mentor until the old DI had volunteered for combat duty and had been killed in action. It had broken the kids heart. But by that time the young sergeant had a platoon of his own and had his own responsibilities. They took the place of his family and he tried to be the kind of leader his mentor had been.

That was many years ago thought the old sergeant as he sat back in his old salvaged office chair. He took another drink of Jack and puffed on his cigar. His mentor had died 20 years ago to the day and every year at this time the old sergeant would raise a glass to his friend. “Here’s to you sergeant. You helped make me the man I am today. God bless.”

The old sergeant series is fictional. Any resemblance to a person, living or dead is unintentional.

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