Graduation Day, 1981, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.

I was selected soldier of the cycle by my company, and was preparing for graduation day. During rehearsal, Staff Sgt. Redd was having us move furniture off the stage. One of the items was a piano. As we moved it off of the stage, Redd looks at me and says, "Private Franklin, play the piano."

Well, unbeknownst to him, I do play the piano and had taken lessons right up until I went into the military. So, I sat down and proceeded to play a boogie woogie, and a Scott Joplin piece.

"You didn't tell me you played the piano," he said.

"You didn't ask, sergeant," I said.

Well, after doing push-ups in my dress greens for being a smartass (his words), he found out that I knew how to play the "Pink Panther." Because we were the Cougars, I played for the ceremony. Afterward, the lieutenant came by and said, "Private Franklin, is there something you can't do?"

"Get pregnant," a guy behind me whispered.

"That one, sir," I said.