United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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Qufute Uf, Some of us gained the coveted experts ' ribbon— others were content to spend the major part of their time on the third day. But all of us gained experience and confidence in handling small arms. The hot, sweaty days spent at the rifle range were our basic ordnance training— the part we had to get before we could proceed to a consideration of the bigger guns and more complicated equipment. The basic principles were the same— proper aim meant a bullseye, proper safety would allow us to shoot again. One of the finer arts PuU and paste SflO- lti It seemed simple . . . till we got in the water The physical training department they called it, and very apro- pos was the title. We quickly learned the origin of the 46 pushup routine, and in Natatorium drills not a few of us qualified as poten- tial Sub Squad aspirants. Inter-company sports provided the enigma of competition. Softball championships were in the offing on Worden Field, and MacDonough Hall soon vibrated with the cheers of loyal supporters at Tuesday night battalion boxing matches. a uftaiiaiiA Seven times a day, seven days a week the late bell threw its three minute challenge at us. Many there were who faltered in the first round, but with plenty of daily prac- tice we managed to gauge the length of the hundred and eighty seconds from formation to late bell. As we be- came proficient, we found that only the last thirty sec- onds were the vital ones. 25 At least somebody knew where zue were going ' iim ■■■■• ■■ - ■ --v- y - vl . . ' •. - r , f -T ■

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Battleships eventually, but we had to begin some- where. We soon learned deep respect for the lowly cut- ter, that 35-foot wooden structure that harnessed ten men to its medieval methods of propulsion. Coxswain ' s billet was always desirable, but the chiefs had that spot well in hand. Who will ever forget Shorty ' s last minute in- structions as we lowered away together or R.M.B. ' s faith- ful megaphone bellowing orders from the control launch. We learned the hard way, but we learned. Break, break, break O cuii Uf. The tedious hours that came most frequently were those fatiguing infantry drills. Our first period was a training movie, but every other day found us escorting the plebes favorite, if only, drag- Miss Springfield. At first we seemed a ragged group of recruits, but by midsummer we were marching with true precision under the leadership of our own stripers. What do we do in the Navy? We march, we march, we march. Phase A-1; we don ' t have to march like the infantiy A sailor ' s life for me BaiUnCf. Eventually we learned that all Seamo drills did not end up at the cutter shed. Before the summer was over, we were able to get in many happy hours of sailing. It was the first venture on water for many a landlubber, and despite the tangled rigging and upside-down sails, the arguments over the right of way and buoy room, they were still our most enjoyable drills during the summer. 24

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f ,i ' i: 1 A a ULe Uiff da . Navy tradition has it that Hberty is a privilege, not a right. As plebes, we soon learned that it was neither a privilege nor a right. The little blue book, entitled Spe- cial Instructions, Fourth Class Summer made it quite clear that midshipmen of the fourth class were not al- LUCE HALL lowed to leave the Academic limits. At Hrst, overwhelmed with the work and routine, we were content to relax on the weekends. We soon learned of the many recreational possibilities within the walls, and the term Yard and Recreational Liberty took on new meaning. »• ' « ' «» Jilii- ■ ' L-toi j y -fiii0 - ]mm sm» ,- »»!■ k 1 i£ .« Wr »g»Tr