Evening star., 1943-03-28
INSTALLMENT V,

I tiptoed into the squadroom so
the sergeant wouldn't notice that I
was wearing fatigue clothes. His
voice rang out to me as I passed his
door and I skunk in guiltily.
The sergeant's face showed that he
was hurt. You were on K. P again
today. weren't you. Hargrove?"
lowered my eyes and scuf1ed my
toe against the floor Yes, sir"
"Oh. I get so discouraged some
times" the sergeant said. II try
so hard to make something of you.
and what good does it do? Every
time I go through the kitchen I see
you in there scrubbing the sink!
How many times have you been on
K. P. this week."
only three times, SIR" I said,
avoiding his eyes.
ITS disgusting and discouraging,
he said. It's more than one poor
sergeant should have to bear. Does
Mlhalakakos get on K. P. three
times week? Does Droschnicoop?
Does even Cookie Shumate? No
What was it today?"
TT was all the corporal's fault,
sir said, looking around to make
sure that the corporal wasn't there
to defend himself. Just because
right faced a few times when 1 was
supposed to left face and l zigged
when I should have Jagged and be-
cause l forgot and smoked in ranks
and few other things like that"
And said the sergeant, shaking
his head sadly, you just turned
around casually every time he or
dered 'about-face.' And YOU kept
watching your feet all through the
drill. And you stayed out of step all
morning and you took those plow-
hand strides of yours and walked all
over the man in front of you. And
you sassed the drillmaster three
times. And you generally spoiled
the whole morning drill Why can't
you be a good boy and learn the
drills?'
Advice on Etiquette.
L don't mean to be bad, sir" I
said.
And that's another thing" the
sergeant moaned why must you
say sir to the noncommissioned
officers and forget to salute the COM
mlssioned ones?" He mopped his
1orehead wearily. DO you know
what the top sergeant told me to-
day?H
mo, sir" I said, twisting nv cap
and awaiting the worst.
He said-and don't sir me-that
when the battery commander had
you on the carpet yesterday YOU
stood there leaning on the table, and
you shifted your feet eight times.
And you saluted four times during
his falkland when you saluted you
gave a European heel-click and
bowed. And when the captain dis
missed you, you told him. Thank
you. sergeant and forgot to salute
when you left"
Il remembered it on the way back
to the barracks, sir I explained
Then went all the way back to the
orderly room and saluted him prop
erly.'
Holy jumping Jehoshaphat, i"
moaned the sergeant.
Was there anything else, sir?" !
asked in whisper.
That's all, Hargrove. he said
Wiping great drops of perspiration
from his forehead
Thank you, sir said. I saluted
clicking my heels. and turned to 60
"Hargrove,' the tired voice said
You're not supposed to salute q
noncommissioned- Never mind
Hargrove. Just 60 to bed"
COntortionists at Work.
Just look at me-" the exercise
sergeant roars In a voice that would
go four miles against the wind
Just look! weigh two hundred
and eight pounds and I'm in the
worst physical condition I've ever
been in! I ought to be busted for
the way I've allowed myself To get
fat and f1abby! I'm ashamed!"
You look at the exercise sergeant
and wonder what he's leading up to
To you he looks like the after tax
ing part of matted yeast adver-
tisement. He could probably lick
his weight In police dogs.
His next statsnant explains every.
thing. Nov I'm gang b Ghew you