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

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gw9mw HDia' I ever tellyou I was voted :Most Likeb lo Succeed, ai Lafayette in 7938.9', HILE sitting in Demerit's' ofhce under the bench in Morrissey Hall one day, we decided that it might not be a bad idea to give those who are to follow us some idea of what they can expect at Notre Dame. After consulting some of the offi- cers, the following report was submitted and ap- proved. To the Apprentice Seaman of the 2nd Midshipman class, we offer it as conclusive evi- dence that the V-7 course is impossible. We know we couldrft get through it and we are sure that you WOI'1,t be able to do it either. The first lesson you will learn when you get off the train in South Bend, trying to look as military as you can in your gray tweeds, is that it is easy enough to get into the Navy. The Navy trucks will pick up you and your baggage at the depot and will take you out to the station. Ifyou happen Min Ol' f194l to arrive there safely, the fight is half over. We should remind you that the ship,s company who drive the trucks have been recruited from the Wild West shows and Coney Island roller coasters throughout the country, but don't let that bother you. They havenit got driver's licenses so at least the cops can't stop them. ' The first Government Issue that you receive will be your bedding and there are a few things you ought to know about the blankets in the United States Navy. If you ever get the temptation to break regulation number 657 and lounge on your bunk, be sure you put newspapers, your towel or the letters from the girl friend betwixt you and those blankets. They are built to shed lint at the slightest provocation, and no matter what you tell the officer who notices it, there is still the tell-tale

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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.

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. it evidence on your rear flank. And don,t worry about the electricity that comes charging through you in the mornings when you make your bunk. Itis just another part of the toughening-up pro- gram. But if your father was ever scared by an electric chair, you might as well quit now. Soon after arriving youall be assigned to your room. If you are lucky enough to arrive during the daytime it won't be so bad, but if you come in at night it may be days before you can find your way to the quarters. If you do get lost and have to sleep on the golf course all night, don't worry about it. Demerit,' and his cask of sulfanilimide will Hnd you in the morning. The first thing that will impress you will be the lN1ess Hall. They were very nice to us while we Qs. were at Notre Dame. They gave us the same menu every morning so we wouldn't have to play guess- ing games while marching to chow. But we played guessing games after we were through. You'll meet up with the 'fmystery ballsu and if you are able to guess what the ingredients are, you will receive your commission immediately plus the Navy Cross for bravery. After the first time, however, you'l1 agree with us that it isn,t worth it. Before long you will know what it means to muster on-the-double . In running to morning chow formation, you will learn to be careful. Dur- ing our first few weeks we lost quite a few men who, because of the darkness at that time of day, ran into trees thinking they were officers. As your eyes grow accustomed to the 0630 darkness, you will be better able to distinguish officers from the trees. - U-W H951 im,