In the late '70's, some guys thought it was 'cool' to 'go commando'. I fell for the hype and went off 'being cool' to Coast Guard basic training at Alameda, California in January 1981.

I found out the first night that it was not a good idea to show up with nothing under my jeans, when we were ordered to strip down to our underwear and socks.

Well, I had no choice. So there I stood in a room with about sixty other guys, the only one in nothing but socks. It only got worse when, one by one, we had to walk to the front of the room to retrieve the coveralls we would wear until receiving our first uniform issue.

It was a humbling experience, a valuable lesson learned, and a heck of a way to start off my years in the military.