First Day at Howe
March 13, 2007I can still vividly remember looking out the window of my dorm room in Micah Company trying to see my parents’ car as it drove off campus, back North to Michigan. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t … anything. Yet. I must have met somebody, but I don’t remember anyone before my new company commander, a boy even shorter than myself - and with an even bigger chip on his shoulder to compensate for it – charged into my room with one or two other cadets.
I remember this moment as if it were yesterday.
This little Runt-in-Charge began by telling me he didn’t care where I was from or how bad I thought I was, he demanded respect, this was a military school, there was discipline, he could, I would, say goodbye, don’t cry and shut up.
After a good deal of yelling that seemed comical from someone so small he left, leaving behind my new squad leader. He must not have been very popular or well connected because my first real bit of bad news was our “squad duties” were to clean the latrines.
Our Company Commander that year was a guy named Don Roberts, and from what I remember about him, he would say something exactly like you described. He once told us “I don’t care about your little personal problems – this is a military school!” Pete Karas was the XO, Keith Wagner was the 1st Platoon Leader, and Gordon Mills was the 2nd Platoon Leader. (Don’t ask me how in blazes I remember this.) I was a squad leader in 1st Platoon until Musolff relieved me because my military bearing sucked. Pete broke the news to me one morning after I failed a room inspection (he was not sympathetic). So I ended up being a Staff Sergeant in ranks. (See earlier comment under “My Room…” about leaders setting the example.)