Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-23
The COMPLETE BEST SELLER
No Time for Sergeants


went over and said, Look, Ben, that baby
really Climbs don't it," and made on over
it q good bit like the others were doing.
I throwed in lot Of Rogers and Wilcos and
things, and then seen this other one come
over and said, Look, Ben. that baby sho
flies fast. don't it?"
But he only looked kind Of disguised and
said, Fast? That's cub and It couldn't go no
moren ninety miles an hour II 1t wanted to!"
And I said. Ben. how on earth did you
ever learn so much about planes?" and took
on good bit about that too. but he just set
there on his barracks bag and wouldn't even
look at them no more.
Anyhow. We finally got on this truck and
headed out for the field, and 1t was as pretty
town as ever seen. We rode down along
this street next to the water that is called the
Gulf and everybody was laying around in
bathing suits in the sun, and swimming and
everything, and we had barrel Of fun all the
way through. We rode along and yelled at all
the girls, and everybody whistled and took on
and made lot Of funny remarks like: tn
take that one for Christmas" and Buy that
one for me- and all sorts Of things that
would tickle you. only 1t didn't tickle the girls
much, only one of them who smiled back kind
Of sour and said "Battle-weary recruits"
which was right funny when you come to
think Of it as we hadn't been in no battle at
all. So got big kick out of that one and
laughed over it q good bit, but the rest Of
them didn't: they only kind Of mumbled to
themselves and quit yelling ct everybody.
Planes All Over
Anyhow, when we got inside the field and
stopped. there was planes all over the place.
coming down low past the buildings, taking
of and landing; and you coild hear them
down on the runway. roaring and blasting,
unIf araA sob
to taking on about them again. said, LOCKER
yonder. Ben. that bahys doing chanden."
which had heered one Of them say. and some
stun like that and finally got him interested
little bit. And Just as he was hopping down
onk the truck. plane come roaring over the
top of one Of the buildings with its wheels
down. so low that you could see the pilots
head sticking up in it. and yelled out. How'd
you like to fly that thing. Ben? That would
really be Roger. wouldn't it," and he kind Of
nodded his head, watching 1t. and said,
YEAH so that took good bit longer about
1t. / said 1t wouldn't be long before he was
looming all over the sky himself in one Of
them. saying Roger and Wilco and everything
like that and patted him on the back. and
begun to feel right good thinking about 1t my
self. could just see Ben setting up there in
one OF them planes with his scrawny little
head In one Of them helmets. with caps and
goggles and all. and was just on the verge
OF saying something casual about how you
couldn't fly no planes in the Infantry, when I
heered this fellow calling out, "Will Stock
dale. Which one Of you is win Stockdale?"
We was lined UP by then and this fellow
was standing out In front Of US with q piece
OF paper in his hand with two or three others
looking on He called 1t out again and some
OF them looked at me. and come back with:
That's me you calling when you call that
name. which thought UP right OF the bat
like that.
you WIN stockdale?"
Then ] ripped of one heered Pa tell
one time that went:
That's what my Ma called me and I
never knowed her to lie!" and everybody got
real big kick out of 1t and laughed and took
on. only the fellow with the paper, he didn't;
he only looked at me kind of sickly and said,
All right All right. II you're VIII Stockdale
you 90 with this fellow here. The rest of
you stay lined up there"
Anyhow, didn't know quite what was
going on for few seconds after that. I was
standing there holding my bag and didn't
move out OF the line. But then the fellow
started yelling at me, Didn't you hear me?
/ said for you to 60 with this fellow here"
and then this other fellow started coming
over. motionir1g to me to come with him
Ready to March
But Ben and them was ready to march
OF about that time. so I shook my head at
him and stayed in line. But then this fellow
come on over to me. saying something
couldn't make out, so ! tried to explain to
MIN how planned to 60 on with Ben and .
them. I said. IF it's all the same to you, I'll
Just go on with them. If you don't mind" and
acted real polite about 1t. but he stood there
1abhertng at me and then grabbed onto my
bag. and then this other one come over jab-
bering too, and the first thing knowed, there
was Ben and them marching away. So
turned to go with them. only this fellow was
still holding my bag, and 1t looked like was
going to have to knock his head of to make
him let go; but about that time seen Ben
waving at me as they was going of and re-
membered how he felt about things like that.
so didn't hit him or nothing. just give him
q little lab In the ribs with my elbow so that
he kind Of gasped and turned blue in the
face and staggered around little bit. But
he still held onto the bag somehow. and when
looked back around, Ben and them had got
out OF sight around a building somewhere,
and didn't even know which way they went.
so didn't do nothing then. Just stood
there and listened to them jabber for while
until one Of them said, Look. fellow, lets
don't start nothing now. I tell you what to
do. You tell the Captain about IT. He told
me you were to be assigned down there; 1t
warnt my idea
So said, well, where Is he then and
III tell him" and the fellow said. "You just
go with Ringo here and he'll explain the
whole thing to you How about 1t now? No
trouble. huh?" which was foolish as warnt
wanting no trouble with nobody and had
been just as polite as knowed how.
Anyhow. they kept talking about It and
we stood around bit while they kept pound
ing the fellow who had grabbed my bag on
the back, trying to get the breath back into
him. and the one called Ringo said Com
avn" or something like that, so finally went
along with him. And while we was walking
along. he tried to tell me what 1t was all about
and was right nice about It, but found out
soon enough he couldn't explain anything
much and don't guess he talked more than
minute like that before fingered out that
the trouble with him uas that ha mn. a