Having graduated from Bowling Green State University in the spring of 1962, I was draft eligible—unmarried—and jobs were scarce in the recession. I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in November. Basic training was at Cape May, N.J. I had the usual experiences of hair cut, issued uniform, assigned to Company "C" and sleeping in cold barracks. Early morning training was getting up, cleaning up, forming up and marching to the training center.

There we had to do the exercises and physical training. One exercise was climbing a rope to the top of the center. After a few days, at the top of the rope, I thought—here I am—a college graduate, and I am hanging from a rope at the ceiling of building in cold Cape May.

Obviously, I have never forgotten the experience.

Sam Gomer
USCGR
Ottawa, OH 45875