USN

 September 22, 1972. Graduated RTC Great Lakes Illinois. Boot Camp. That was 52 years ago today. Where did that time go?

Before the quest began

The beginning: 

Bob reported to enlist in the US Navy on a hot Monday morning. He traveled to an armed forces enlistment center where they do this kind of thing . Newark New Jersey July 31, 1972. Cocky, scared, acting tough like the 80 or so  other new recruits who had chosen that day to enlist. They were all so full of it. Bob had just graduated high school in  Jersey. Turned 18 3 months earlier. He pretended to know it all, while knowing nothing. They flew the new gang of Navy larva to Chicago for basic training. The day which had started early morning, found them herded through the terminal building at Ohare. It was after 11pm. Waiting busses whisked the new Navy “boots” to the Recruit Training Center at Great Lakes. The first shock of many to come , they shut the gates behind the busses. This was real now.

 It was after midnight before they stopped yelling and screaming at Bob and his fellow life travelers. And he fell asleep in a bunk that was too small , too thin and really was a terrible end to the first day. 

Bob did not realize at the time but that first day in so many ways was the first day of his young innocent life. Many days, months and years were to follow. But this was the beginning. It was a beginning like many beginnings and then it passed and it was no longer a beginning. It became  real life.

Bob … A month before the quest began 

Fin