It was January 1955 and I had just arrived at Great Lakes Naval training Center, and it was bitter cold. It was so cold that some recruits were lighting fires inside dumpsters to keep warm. After about a week our Company Commander called us "boots" together and asked if anyone knew how to play a musical instrument. Well, I had played both clarinet and saxophone in high school and said so. Our Navy Chief asked if I'd like to play in the Recruit Band? "Sure", I said.
So from that day on I got to sleep a little later than usual and didn't have to go out and march with the troops in the cold. I got to practice with a Navy issue saxophone in a nice warm Quonset hut. I learned from then on that it helped to "toot your horn" occasionally in the service.

Arnold H. Carlson, Tempe, Ariz.