The recent discussions about a big military parade flashed me back to my Plebe year at West Point and an incident during a parade.

Plebe year picture of the author…..

It was the Saturday of the first football game that year. After morning classes (we went to class 6 days a week), our regiment was scheduled to march in a parade before the football game. As our company was forming, an upperclassman by the name of Pope asked me a casual question. When I answered, I didn’t include the word “sir” for some reason. As a Plebe, you always, and I mean always, use the word “sir” when answering. The upperclassman noticed my omission, and immediately said “HALL! After the parade. My room in Full Dress!”

Crap. This was not good. The parade took place, but all I could think about was reporting to Corporal Pope afterwards. As the parade ended, I double-timed back to my room on the 5th floor, left my rifle, checked out my uniform in the mirror, and then reported to Corporal Pope.

“Sir! Cadet Hall reporting as ordered.”

“Cadet Hall. Do you know why I asked you here?”

“Yes Sir!”

“And?”

“Sir! I didn’t say ‘sir’!”

“That’s right. Now, what should we do about this?”

–silence– from me…..

“Cadet Hall – Recite The Days.”

Now, The Days were an exercise in memorization. You had to tell what the events were for that day, that week, and then how many days there were until significant events for the rest of the year, such as:

– the Army Navy Football game – Christmas Break  – 500th night (500 days until graduation for the juniors) – Ring Weekend –   100th Night (100 days until graduation for the seniors) –  Spring Break – and Graduation itself. Of course the number of days to each of those events reduced by one on a daily basis, so you needed to work that in your head as well.

OK…..this wasn’t so bad, I knew The Days and started:

“Sir! The Days. Today is Saturday, 12 September. Today at 1300 hours, Army will beat Holy Cross in Football. Tonight at 1900 hours…”

“Stop Cadet Hall.  You misunderstood me. I want you to recite The Days, but insert the word ‘Sir’ before each word in The Days.

–What– ??

“Sir, I do not understand.”

“Are you deaf Hall? Say The Days, but use the word ‘Sir’ between each word.”

-crap-
“Sir, the, Sir, days, Sir, today, Sir,  is, Sir, 12 September.”…

“Start over Hall.”

“Sir, the, Sir, days, Sir, today, Sir, is, Sir, 12, Sir, September., Sir, Today, Sir, at, Sir, 1300 hours”…

“Start over Hall”

“Sir, the, Sir, days, Sir, today, Sir, is, Sir, 12, Sir, September., Sir, Today, Sir, at Sir, 1300, Sir, hours, Sir, Army, Sir, will, Sir, beat, Sir, Holy Cross”…

“Start over Hall”….

And on it went. I’m not sure how long I spent with Corporal Pope that day, but it seemed like hours. In reality, it was probably about 1/2 hour. I never did get all the way through The Days. I’d make it maybe half way through, maybe even 3/4 through and then slip up and say two words together without the word “Sir” in between.

Finally, he relented. “Stop….. Now, what did we learn here today Cadet Hall?”  

Many responses went through my brain in that instant, most of which can’t be printed here. The smart part of me said:

“Sir, not to forget to say the word ‘Sir’,”

“Get out of my room, Hall.”

I went back to my room and changed out of Full Dress. The football game was about to start and I left the barracks for the stadium. I went a different way so I didn’t have to pass Pope’s room on the way out…

….

It’s funny what triggers a memory. I haven’t thought of that story in years. It’s pretty funny now, and even at the time, I recognized the ridiculousness of what was happening. Just another bump on the road while going through West Point…