"I CAN'T HEAR YOU !"

The ‘endless summer’ of 1950 came to a screeching halt after Labor Day when Jack walked into his first class at Huntington Prep School. 

He knew the future wasn’t bright when the teacher said, “I hope you all had an enjoyable summer, but now it’s time to forget the past and buckle down to the task ahead.  Open up your minds, and prepare yourselves for a stimulating educational awakening.  There will be times that you may question my methods of instilling the delights of learning into your young minds, but I think in the months ahead, you’ll learn to appreciate these efforts.”

Oh, Jesus, thought Jack, I’m sure this guy is from the ‘Morgenstern School’ and will be asking if we jerked off during the summer.  I hope I have the balls to tell him, “No, my girlfriend did it for me!”

Within a week, Jack knew that he and Huntington Prep would have to part company.  He would much prefer to be up in that 120-degree attic, and he didn’t care what Bob Langer said.

The next month or so did nothing to change his mind, and the reports on the expanding Korean situation seemed like the perfect way out of Huntington Prep.  It wouldn’t be as though he was just quitting – it would be a patriotic move on his part. 

American troops were being sent to Korea, and thousands of guys were joining the service.  World War II had only been over for five years, and kids who were too young to join during that war were now ready to join in what many of them thought would be an exciting time.  For some reason war and the combative side of it always seems glamorous to those who are young and have no idea of what the terror of war really is.  

The morning of November 10^th, 1950 would sign, seal, and deliver Jack Harrington to the United States Marine Corps.  The radio in Jack’s room announced the 175^th birthday of the Marine Corps with the moving words that had been issued by the commandant of the Corps, General Clifton B. Cates.

“On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress.  Since that date many thousands of men have borne the name Marine.  In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.  During 93 years of the 175 years of its existence the Corps has been in action against the nation’s foes. 

“From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne and the Pacific theatre, Marines have won foremost honors in wars, and in the long eras of tranquillity at home, generation after generation of Marines has grown gray in war in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

“In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term ‘Marine’ has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

“This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps.  With it, we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age.

“So long as that spirit continues to flourish, Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as ‘Soldiers of the Sea’ since the founding of the Corps.”

The Boston & Worcester bus slowed as it approached the hallowed halls of Huntington Prep. 

“I’m going to Park Square today,” smiled Jack. 

The driver nodded and hit the gas pedal.