Back in 1974, I entered the Army at Ft. Dix, New Jersey at the age of 22, on possibly one of the most military dates of the year…the only one with a military command right in it, March 4th.

That day, after we were issued our “new clothes” and were experimenting how to wear them properly, a soldier came from bay to bay collecting for the “Red Cross.”

Being brand new, and after listening to the great benefits that the organization, a large percentage of the new recruits, me included, gave what they could. That soldier was a con man, who had been separated from the Navy but some way managed to enlist in the Army.

After a few weeks, we were all summoned to form a long line of privates in front of a door in the orderly room. This was the Article 31 hearing for the con-man, and we were all witnesses for the prosecution prior to his court martial.

Steady streams of Drills marched up and down the line spouting instruction on what to do once encountering the room. 1) Knock 3 times. 2) Wait to hear the answer to enter. 3) Open the door and advance 3 paces. 4) Execute a left face and salute. 5) Report to the old-man with the following; “Sir, Private <state your name> reports as directed.

All went smoothly for me until the middle of instruction #4. I knocked, heard a reply, went in, walked 3 steps, turned left, and that’s when reason left me.

I numbly started looking across the room for an old man. Boy was my face red when a drill sergeant came to my side and directed me to the 23 year-old sitting at the desk in front of me.

During the new all volunteer Army it was not uncommon to give promising 1st Lieutenants commands in basic training units. I, being new, did not know the army jargon for Company Commander and definitely thought that the old man was exactly what it implied, an old man.

Chip Perretta, Clarksville, TN