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

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Weary seamen obediently went to bed at 2200 and got up at 2300 to study all through the night. The next day they found that the questions on the exam sheets had somehow been overlooked during the period of study. On Thursday, October 28, indoctrination period ended. Each man was issued 348.34 by Ensign Negus, and after-paying the tailor, the laundry and contributing to various and sundry other funds ended up with about 315. The academic board met that day and effectively weeded sheep from goats, though some goats remained for a time longer before receiving the axe. Friday, fourth period, almost one entire hour was taken from class schedule to take the oath of mid- shipman. Forty of theisixty minutes were con- sumed marching to and from the drill hall, fifteen in waiting after we got there and five in becoming midshipmen. That afternoon we went back to classes in seamen,s blues 'as if nothing had' happened. That weekend was the first weekend in dress blues and cameras were in action all over the campus for two days. Every midshipman managed to get into town at some time during the week- end. That was before the days of restricted pro- bation for the bad little boys. . Not so very long afterwards the first Specialist group had final examinations-November 19 and 20-and on November 23 those recommended by the academic board received their commissions. The Generals stayed in their compartments as much as possible that day to escape the humiliation of saluting their former equals. Oh, most happy and sad day! s November 26 next rolled around, a new class of Specialists arrived and built up the ego of the Generals who could look at the plebes and forget that the same mistakes had been made two months previous. More misfitted quniforms, more physi- cals, more executive-oh, what wouldn't we have given for amnesia, not a bad case but one to make us forget it all. The tailor had his day again December 3, re- ceiving the 326.50 still showing on his books. The laundry got 35, 319.50 went for insurance, and Sweeneyls received the balance of 365. More examinations, G's and S's this time, De- cember 9-10 and December 15-16, more cramming, more flunks, more goats got the axe. Oh, for an easy chair, a carton of .Ccensoredj and a bottle of Cdittoj. At least some of the S's got through the bottleneck and reached the lofty estate of midship- men . . . a few reached Great Lakes and eventually wound up in the same place-on a landing barge. The lucky Sis gave away most of their A.S. pay . . . you know, tailors, etc. CWe have forgotten to make an entry for Thanks-

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cf Jlebarfcaiion Tyllge Run A Hours passed into days, backs began to straightef and so did columns of threes. Many things hap- pened in the thirty days while the state of appren- tice seaman lasted. , First, there were physical examinations, x-rays,. blood tests, short arms, eyes, ears, etc., etc., etc. Then came shots, frequent shots, varied shots, hot shots,-cold shots: tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, smallpox. The story is told of one luckless chap who was stuck nine times while he stopped to scratch himself. - Calisthenics came next on the list of unforgeta- bles: 0555 and 1630. Many were the schemes for avoiding the terrible bends 'but none were successf ful. The 0555 grind stopped only when the hands of the lads began freezing to the sidewalk. Executive drill utiliged more time during the weeks of indoctrination than any other part of the concentrated program. Raw civilians had to be molded into sailors who could march in reasonably straight lines for reasonably long intervals. The ensigns and O.P.Ofs were stricter 'an hlw on the man who went to sleep marching but were always willing and eager to help one who tried. Well, mister, just what do you think yozire doing? X Wake up and get those commands, or P11 have you polishing brightwork every Saturday for the rest of your natural lifef' Day dreams faded into nothingness. Watches soon came to be a regular part of the day's routine. Roving, security, mate, assistant mate, MJOOD, AMJOOD, MOOD, Regimental Quartermaster-all had peculiar difficulties to be mastered, and each was'a chance either for a good report or a bad one. The days were to come later when the fire bug started making things hot and watches were doubled. There wasn't a man in the regiment who didn't want to take care of that bug personally. Inspections were a part of the life of the seaman after a couple of weeks and continued with him throughout four months whenever weather per- mitted. Room inspection or personnel inspection either could, and did, add up demerits. 3 After one month, indoctrination came to an end. Each man who stood the test of constant studying, executive, athletics and the thousand other things that were done during those four weeks was ad- vanced one short step to the rank of midshipman. Came October 25 and 27-indoctrination exams.

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giving-as aforesaid we had a good meal that dayj December 17 the Capslan Christmas cards arrived -midshiprnen cursed the editor and began madly scribbling. From that time until the Week after Christmas little studying was done. Besides, what the hi, the assignments have already been sent to Washington. Heard the other day 972, are getting amphib anyway. And thus it went. Christmas Day, 1943, those who could borrow, steal, invent or otherwise find relatives in Chicago got shore leave, the rest Csave the watch squadl ate noon chow in town. And we are told the food was excellent. QAddenda: Middies got ten well-needed dollars on December 230 Laundry bags became too small to hold all the grub and sick bay became too small to hold all the stomach aches. The day after Christmas the thermometer jumped from seven below to about forty above, and cat fever reappeared. 'fGood morning, evening, I beg your pardon, sir, good afternoon, became one long sniffle and sneeze, The middies, bushed by now, began to count the days, then the hours, minutes, seconds, until noon January 20 . . . 20 days, 480 hours, 28,800 minutes, 1,728,000 seconds C59 mealsj . . . oh boy, oh girl, oh mother! January 17-Monday-After another period of cramming, examinations, and mourning, the aca- demic board met to recommend midshipmen for commissions. The rest of the goats deposited books, collected jumpers and railroad tickets. Well, fellas, Officers of the U. S. Navy, today's the day . . . january 20. You've come a long way, youive learned a little D.C., Ord, Nav and Chow We think that enough has been said about chow for this issue-we hope nothing need be said about it next issue. Suffice it to say, like it or not we always ate three meals a day. Sea, a great deal of discipline-let's see what you'll do with it. The last paragraph will be written by you: V Dear Mom, No, I didn't get those fifteen days. fReport immediately', they said. Love, Johnnie? .V N 'Q' S