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

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iberiy an Liberty-that magic word which sent shivers of anticipation through weary bodies on Saturday afternoon and spatters of memory through weary minds on Sunday night, liberty, the day and a half of frolic each week which compensated for the other five and a half of toil. At 1230 each Saturday the usual bell gave an unusual tinkle- Liberty has been declared-uni- form: dress blues, white shirts, raincoats--Bow- ditch not required. Those not on the watch squad, extra duty, restricted or otherwise caught in the tentacles of Navy Regulations, pitched every- thing pitchable in the center of the room and dashed for the nearest bus, tugging at a leather strap they jostled into town, and scurried in every direction. That was the state of affairs on Saturday after- noon. During the course of the day the crowd changed a little-after two hours the extra-duty men secured to town, four hours later the on-com- ing watch squad and these treed for the week re- turned to the station, and the off-going watch squad quickly left the station. The avocations of the middies over the weekend were many-dancing, eating, drinking, bowling, golfing, and dancing again. The U.S.O. with a

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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

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ilzei . host of beautiful hostesses and entertainment and music galore was the hub from which all parties radiated. Another prominent spot was Sweeney's Shamrock, and the Indiana Club and the Brandy- wine Club cannot be forgotten. Tea dances were held at the U.S.O. Saturday and Sunday afternoons, often featuring the Mid- shipmen Dance Band. Saturday evenings other or- chestras were on hand to handle the entertainment. On the mezzanine was the canteen-free choco- late milk at all times and supper served Saturday night, there also was the Juke Boxf' The music room on the first floor featured light classics for those who liked to sit and listen and relax. Ensign Duda, recreation officer, generally man- aged to fix up some sort of party for each weekend fa trip to Elkhart for Saturday and Sunday, a scavenger hunt, or a special dance at the Bronze- wood. Yes, the meandering of the middies during those one and a half days were many-but, whatever the doing of the day, they all came back at 0059 and 1759, on Saturday and Sunday respectively, with hazy looks in their eyes, sweet nothings in their ears, and memories of fingers in .their hair.