I went off to Boot Camp right after graduation at the innocent age of 17.
After my first airplane ride and many strange faces and people yelling at me to do this, do that, go here, go there, they assigned us a two story barracks and a bunk and some of us were lucky enough to draw Fire Watch duty!(that is where you roam around the barracks and log in at different areas at given times)

I drew the graveyard shift and after two plus days of stopping at every airport between Boise and San Diego and all those strange people I mentioned before, I was finally able to get to sleep only to be woke up at 11:30 PM (2330 hrs) for my LUCKY "Fire Watch".

I was given a helmet, a flashlight and a Watch Clock which I had to use at each location where there was a key that I had to insert in the clock.

After about a half an hour, I heard some commotion in the shower area. When I went to check it out, one of the new recruits that had come in when I did attempted to slit his wrists, I got a hold of the on duty Drill Instructor who got a hold of the Corpsman and got him taken to the Dispensary.

The next morning at muster our Company Commander informed us of the nights events and described to us the proper procedure for slitting ones wrists, so as to not bother doctors who were needed for people in real need and not someone wanting attention or to get out of the service.

My thoughts were "what have I gotten myself into, Mamma can't help me now".