Berkshire Community College - Falconer Yearbook (Pittsfield, MA)

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1113 yeilr found us first donning our blue service uniforms. We started classes, and forgot all the trials and tribulations that had Hxed Plebe Summer in our minds. We soon learned the art of getting into a starched collar in a few second's time. Many are the tales of our first few attempts to fit the right collar buttons in the right holes. And many were the hours spent in removing the lint which clung so tena- ciously to our uniforms. In no time at all we forgot the luxury of wearing white works and even learned to feel comfortable in blues. At formation we were regularly told to brace up, and expected to inform any inquiring first classman of the menu, shows in town, or the name of the Ofhcer of the Watch. Our debut into the academic world also had its high points. Many of the ex-college lads could relax to the envy of the majority, but most of us spent every study hour deep in the realm of confusion. Our early brushes wnflz the acaflemw daparlmcnts showed that three years ' of hard vlorl lay ahead fl! 070'.n',.61 61 ' 2 ,us l J L xfefgzkz, for-211az'2Q,,Z 206 I All-Q I -Z-'.w 'r V -,Tig nh In earlier! if V E i M al'-S IL- 1 , V, I S every Ji,-6,Q7 1 . v vi- W 1 fit r I 5' , 'l ,-, 4, 1.4.4-.vuf1JviL -knn-:ui'inP1 -J-13-4.15, r

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Sailing was one of the few drills we enjoyed plebe summer PLEBE emma- was as indeneztnfimmtinn Kew QE uns will event forges OUR Hrst, and perhaps greatest, shock came every morning at 0615 when reveille rudely interrupted our slumbers. Then began the inexorable routine which kept us on the run until 1630. Infantry drill was usually first on the program. Our first few days on Farragut Field put blisters on our feet while for variety we rowed cutters and returned with blisters on our hands. Our trips across the river to the rifle range were marked by similar agonies, as under the gruelling instruction of unsympathetic marines we learned how to shoot from every position of discomfort imaginable. But we did have our diversions, among which were the sailing drills which we all enjoyed. In the evenings lecturers told us how to become naval officers in a hundred easy lessons. We learned to put a dazzling shine on our formation shoes, to keep our rooms imma- culate, and, above all, we learned to take it. The butts details were the sweat shops of the Rifle Range.

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W1'llin.gly ire double timed from the plebe game to Thompson Stadium 11-here the varsity held its field days. ssmime-aida1nm1EIsass vavaemuse the lnigglhligllilss cum' Eltmle Hiram!! Eielzfnfmm EACH week saw our team, one of the nation's best, rise to new glories on the playing field. We were, by tra- dition, in attendance at the plebe game, but at its con- clusion we ran en 'masse to watch the varsity add the finishing touches to its opponent. During the week we learned the songs of the college we were to meet the fol- lowing Saturday, drew posters which exhorted our men on to greater accomplishments, and waited anxiously for game time to arrive. Friday evening pep rallies in the Mess Hall and on the front terrace reversed the old say- ing that plebcs should be seen and not heard. The band's c'Tiger Rag set the Mess Hall to shaking and cheers rolled from one end to the Iiy the Iighl Qf a bonfire rm Farragut Field uw elmerezl the Icam off to face the Army. The pep rallies on the front Ierraee aeeenfefl our Friday evenings. other. Later the Pep Committee ,, staged its colorful show on the y 54. terrace. Uncle Beanie had not 'ff Q yet returned to lead our Four 4 Nls, but we needed no urg- 'l ' ' ing to express our feelings. J 5 We had a good team and Z , ' we let them know it. i will t',+5'il'Lg'r-gQef?.'3 li I f'w, .'.. 2141 fr - At 09' . 'E .. 5 7 . l I ,I A lii!,5':i f' -. 3.3 ,f f im, L OCTOBER., 1941 . , i A S. REUBEN JAMES FAl,lS VIf?'1'TM 'PU IlNIJECLARlill6 Wilt Tawau-T -' Yee- -grfr - ' , ' Ffa V 'Q1 ',1 R 'R N .tr X. r l ffl-3-' 45+ W-iw . , mn. , 1.