Guest Book

Carlos, I to am not an Army brat, just a brat too. The reason I know of Fort Bennings is because my father as a Recon Marine went to jump school there. As a sailor I think you will appreciate the following story, its a little long but what the heck. It is taken from a letter that a friend of my father's wrote to another of their friends. It tells a little about the comradary between Marines and their rifles and Sailors. The story features Admiral McCain, father of the Senator, my father (Torykian), Colonel Jonas Platt, The Basics School CO, and the entire 3-64 TBS class. In June 1964 after an amphibious landing, the TBS class 3-64 was assmebled in some "war room" waiting for Admiral McCain to address them. It was there that the Navy brass would plot the movements of their fleet, etc. When the Admiral walked into the room, the class thought they had just seen God. Colonel Platt looked like a 2nd LT compared to the Admiral. The Admiral prefaced his comments by asking if anyone had any questions. Only one hand went up, my father's. The class knew this would be trouble as my father was known to be fun loving. He got away with things that most people would be court marshaled for. Colonel Patt knew my father had the ability to end his career in a situation like this, and the Colonel was filled with anxiety. He must have wondered why he didn't warn my father and the rest of the Marines about protocol. In silent prayer, my father's friend's were saying, "No Dick, not now, not here, Please." As expected my father did not disappoint. Standing tall, he boldy told the Admiral he wanted to voice a complaint. They feared the worst. "Sir," he began, "I want to report and ugly incident by the squids on board our troop ship. As we were descending the nets into the landing craft, the squids thought it would be funny to flush the bilge pumps. I was personally offended, when a turd landed just inches from my rifle. Admiral McCain, you must be aware of the relationship between a Marine and his rifle." Colonel Platt must have thought his career was over and the rest of 3-65 was embarrassed and scared. After a few moments the Admiral spoke. "Gentlemen, years ago during WWII, when I was a junior officer on a troop ship in the Pacific, I watched young lieutenants like yourselves climb over the railing and lead their men down the nets into landing craft, which would soon take them to the gates of hell. We all knew and they all knew what awaited them on the beach. I remember the look on their faces and thinking how courageous they were. They had to possess special qualities and have within them an extraordinary spirit.....You don't know how genuinely happy it makes me to see those same qualities and that same spirit alive today." From that moment on my father could do no wrong. Colonel Platt would not leave him alone. According to my father's friend, for the remaining time at TBS my father never had to pay for a beer.