Had to do a lot of growing up in there and really quick
I can only tell you that being the only Jewish guy in my bootcamp platoon was "interesting". I'll just give you one example:
It was nearing the end of boot camp, and we were getting ready for the "Big" inspection that was going to be handled by our Officers. You know the one where you are at "present arms" and the Officer is going to snatch that M-14 out of your hands for inspection?
While preparing for that inspection I was in the "office" cleaning all the DI's gear, since I was the "house mouse" (Company Clerk in case they had quit using that term when you were in). One of the other platoons Head DI didn't like me and called out my name, which was "The Irishman" (given to me because they weren't allowed to call me a dirty Jew, but that's another story).
The entire group of DIs fell silent, and this Sergeant walked over to me and asked - "Where were you when Hitler was around?"
I said to myself, be military be smart and be winner, so I answered:
"Sir, the Private was smarter than Hitler and fought a delaying action by waiting until after the war before he was born - Sir". The Quonset hut holding all the DIs from all four competing platoons broke out in laughter. I thought - wow, I just dodged that bullet, then I saw that DI, Seargent King, coming at me. His face was beet red, and I knew I was going to be in deep doo-doo in a few seconds.
My DI got between me and Sargent King and said, "You asked him, and he told you, now you leave my TURD alone!" (TURD, an anacronym for Troop Under Recruit Discipline, or so we were told) - LOL
Then a week later I messed up some paperwork and my DI "Cold ****ed" me. I guess he really didn't play favorites. - LOL
As I re-read this post, I realized that it may provide some insight as to why some of my post come out the way they do. - LOL
