US Naval Reserve Midshipmens School - Capstan Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

Page 196 text:

r ,U QS OMEHOW we never could keep in step with the fellow in front of us, or the platoon leader at our side with his hup, two, three, four, hup-hup ..... H Maybe it was because the man behind us was always stepping on the heels of our newly polished shoes or maybe it was because we were accustomed to asserting our individuality. Then, one day, we got a drummer to assure a more even cadence. lt was a swell idea-except each suc- cessive drummer had his own notions about the correct beat and several of them thought they were Gene Krupas at the skins and pounded out cannabalistic tempos. Somehow we'd manage to hold an even pace for a few minutes but then we'd see the platoon ahead keeping a different one and the CPO would bark, 'iGet in step with the platoon aheadln YVe hadnlt varied one bit, but there we were, out of step again. Someday someone will take time out to analyze this thing and ascertain how 25 men can get out of step as a unit, and proffer a remedy. But until then, we,ll just have to keep changin, step or get stepped on . . . L1921 rf 'va ff' K ,. . V mg-rf, Y ,,:gi,g V E QNQY' K M M FT, , ua. K, rv. N 'Y -.w

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ESPITE the burdening weight of his academic programg aching, tired musclesg tremendous homework assignments due on the morrow and apprehensions about imminent watch duties, the Blidshipman always reserved some time for the daily ritual of writing letters home. He knew well that continued correspondence re- quired mutual cooperation and, unless he had built a permanent nest in the Htreew, he enjoyed these few minutes of relaxation from his rigid routine. Mail delivery was an anxiously anticipated morn- ing feature and if that lWate of the Deck passed without leaving anything, the Middie's spirits dropped like a wallflower7s heart at ajunior Prom. Nostalgia crept around villainously and when- ever the pace slackened enough, providing time to reminisce, it struck its deadening claw. Nothing transformed gloom into gayety quicker than a heartening word from home .... I191l

Page 197 text:

ECORDS prove that a Naval Officer is the most marrying and Umarria- ble', ohicer of all the services. It may be the uniform or it may be some incompre- hensible superiority of personality. But then again it may be because he is so com- pletely domesticated and so very eligible for family life. Trained intensively from the beginning of his Naval career, he stands head and shoulders above the field even when the most frivolous of women is making the de- cision. But in most cases, he is so besieged by clamoring females that he is free to sat- isfy all his whims in making a selection. When they learn about the things Mid- shipmen are taught, they affect the expres- sion ofthe beautiful maiden in magazine advertisements, yearning for a home,and family. And then they chatter about the frailty of femininity and how frightfully unprotected women are against the cruel- ties of civilization. H931 We made our beds, swept and swabbed the decks, cleaned the windows, polished the brightwork, washed bulkheads, re- paired electric lights and sewed buttons on mangled trousers. And then, when the laundry began to use fulminate of mercury as a cleaner, we washed socks and skivvies and darned during study hours. But the midshipmen became quite proud of their domestic achievements. It was nothing unusual for one to pause during the morning room cleanup and confide to his roommate: 'fYou know, when llm married I'm going to show my wife a thing or two about making beds. And he probably will, too! It was a versatility reminiscent of the Rennaissance. But we shall never deprive the ladies of the pleasure they obtain from fastening stiffened collars to unconquera- ble buttons . . . and thatls for sure.