In 1986, I was at Cape May, N.J., for Coast Guard basic. Early one morning, around 3 a.m., I had to make a nature call.

The last rack next to the head belonged to our recruit company commander. I noticed he was lying in his rack with his face in his pillow. Not the most unusual position, but he was at the position of attention. As I started to pass his rack he yelled, yes yelled, "Companyyyy, halt!"

I guess he was under a lot of stress.