Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-24


King tells Will he's just the man for
KIP and he's sure to like it.-Photo by
permission of the Broadway play mo
Time for Sergeants."
didn't like his squadron, and who on earth
would ever tell him thing like that. and he
listened. smiling. and said. well. we're mighty
glad to have you too. Stockdale. Yessir. we're
mighty glad to have you" And when he left
the place, he was whistling TO himself, so
guess 1t come of all right.
Not Much to KIP
So anyhow that night went on KIP and
there really warnt much to 1t that I didn't
already know. washed good many dishes
and then I helped clear up the tables and
mop the floors. and along toward midnight
they give ME some potatoes to peel, and
there's nothing I care for more than raw
potatoes, so ct q good many of them; and
later on they give me some carrots to take
the heads of of. and that's another thing
I'm pretty partial to. raw carrots, so ct
good many of them too. so by the time it was
daylight, was right full and didn't care for
much breakfast at ALL and only ct little
moren one helping
But had been up all day and night by
that time and was right tired, so felt like
sleeping some, but when / got back TO the
barracks. / met Sergeant King at the door
and he wanted to know how done and all.
and told him without Dragging none: and
then he said he had fixed 1t so / could get
back on for the day shift too. really didn't
care nothing about it. but he stood there slap
ping me on the back and grinning and every
thing, so went on back like he said.
And this time they let me work In the
kitchen where they was having meat loaf and
cabbage for dinner and those are things
always liked. so / didn't mind too much for
q while. and kind Of enjoyed nibblng here
and there. helped myself until ! got tired
Of it, and then went over to help this fellow
cut up some apples, and worked at that for
while. and ct a good many, and was getting
along all right until this cook came running
over yelling. Don't let that fellow get in
them apples!" and made q lot of noise about
it. He said, "Take him out back: cant
afford to have him in here no longer" so
then went out back and didn't get work in
the kitchen no more.
So after that 1t got kind of tiresome
because they put me on the garbage detail
and had to turn these cans upside down
and wipe them out with newspapers, and
then rinse them out with water and stuff
like that; and keeping my head down in those
cans that way kind Of took my appetite away
so didn't eat much dinner at all. And later
on that afternoon when ] started cleaning
them out again. my stomach started hurting.
1t hurt all that afternoon and before 1t was
over. I warnt liking KIP so much, and was
right glad when 1t was time to 60, as was
right tired too was going to lay down and
not even move until the next morning the
way I felt. It was about dark and Just
dragged myself back to the barracks. so to
speak.
Here's the Sergeant
But right after had laid down, not even
taking my shoes of. felt somebody punch
ing me and looked up and there was Sergeant
King again, was just doing of at the time,
and there he was grinning at me and whole
bunch OF them standing around. so it was
something like dream you wake up to.
could hear Sergeant King talking and /
blinked my eyes some trying to rouse but
finally give 1t up as just didn't feel up 1t
at the time no matter what he thought.
So finally just told him to go on and let me
alone. wanted to sleep bit.
But then heered him say something
about wanting me to 60 back on KIP again,
but l really didn't feel up to 1t at the time,
and finally Just turned over and told him
right nat that didn't care thing about It,
He turned around and grinned at the
others and said. you don't huh?"
And1 said, mo, don't care thing about
1t. You get somebody else this time"
But he just stood there shaking his head
at me, and wouldn't listen to word was
saying. So then told him straight out how
felt about things said "You leave me
alone and I'll leave you alone"
'T'll leave you alone all right IL you don't
get up of that bunk"
And said That's good then" and
turned back over on my side and propped my
pillow under my head and started to 60 back
to sleep.
He wouldn't stop, there, though, like he
ought to have. No, he stood there and started
cussing and taking on and said what did ]
think was, and said warnt decent airman
at all, and said. "They bring folks like you
in and pay 'em more money than you could
sell all the hoecakes you ever ct for. and
have to watch out for you" He raved and
ranted and took on real upset that way which
kind Of surprised me because he was so polite
before"
But ! didn't hold 1t against him none
laid back and looked at him as long as I
could keep my eyes open. and then shook
myself wide awake enough to explain to him
how I felt. / said. "As far as that goes. II
they don't want to pay me no money and don't
want me here. they can sho send me back
home II they want to because one thing like
is hOpcakpE anvh0u far that Uoec