The Poet : part 3 by thadeusz

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I had now seen what would happen to me after one more year as ECP cadet: I would join Cadet 1st LT Garringer and become officially a 2nd LT in the US ARMY. I was doomed to follow in his footsteps !

During my second year in BMAJC, I worked hard for all my courses and I started to give the necessary orders to my fellow cadets. At the end of this second year in BMAJC, I got my Associate diploma "Cum laude" and I was also commissioned as 2nd LT in the Army. My parents were present for the ceremony and it was my "dear" father who administered to all of us the Oath of Allegiance to the Army.

He wanted to pin my new rank insignia on my shoulders but I considered that, since I had been forced to join this Academy, I could ask a friend to pin my new rank. I thus asked my friend Sam to pin me with LT Kent.

My parents wanted me to go to their place for my short leave, but as before I chose to go to Pinker’s place where, in any case, I could meet again Sam’s sister: Laura, a beautiful girl I first met during one of my short leaves.

My parents had hoped to see me home, but I refused to be with my father, "the Colonel": my argument was that I had to be in my new regiment, in Massachusetts. Mother was deeply sad, but she refused to come and meet me in my new town and father could not leave his garrison.

According to my contract with the Army, I could choose my university and, upon advice of my former English teacher, I applied to Boston University where I wanted to prepare for a degree in English literature. I realized that I had to get additional credits for my move from Applied sciences to English literature, from my initial AD preparing me for a BSC to another AD preparing me for a BA.

I was assigned, as promised by LT Kent, to a regiment close to Boston University where I was now in charge of several platoons as 2nd LT.

I had now exactly 3 years to get the missing credits to have a full BA diploma. I realized that I had to get additional credits for my move from Applied sciences to English literature, from my initial AD preparing me for a BSC to another AD preparing me for a BA.

I was now stationed in Fort Devens Army Base in Massachusetts, not far from Boston and I could register at Boston University. I chose English as my major but my new adviser, Professor Bernstein, told me to keep Mathematics and Logic as minors: these were branches I had already mastered.

My Colonel, COL Bernstein, received me on my third day in his regiment. He then told me:
"Thorndel, you must still get some credits to confirm your promotion to 2nd LT. What major will you choose ? Mathematics or Physics ?"
"Colonel, I discussed this with my former English teacher and I want to get a BA in English literature and then a PhD."
"But you only have an Associate degree in Sciences ?"
"That’s why I have registered at Boston University to get the missing credits, Colonel."
"You only have three years to do that and you must also work as a new 2nd LT !"
"I realise that it will be difficult, Colonel, but I believe I can do it."
"As you want, it is your career. But if you don’t get your Bachelor within 3 years, you will lose your present rank but keep your present contract. Are you aware of that ?"
"Yes Colonel. I have exactly 3 years to get the missing credits and the new ones."
"In that case, go and live dangerously."


I started studying as soon as possible ! I also accomplished my military duty as well as possible. I made it a point of honor to be an excellent officer, and my men liked it. The Colonel also approved my way of training his soldiers.

After one year I had all the necessary credits to complete my Associate Degree in order to start the two last years and get a BA in English. That’s when my commanding officer reminded me that I had to get his BA within the two remaining years. I started to work very hard under the leadership of Professor Bernstein who considered that I worked very well in English literature. Simultaneously, I also took good care of my platoon. My men respected me and obeyed my orders. I studied as much as I could since I only had two years left to complete my BA.

Then came two events I had not expected. First, my father was promoted to General. He was thus as of that moment "General Thorndel" and had a rank higher than that of my Colonel. Secondly, GAL Thorndel sent a direct order to COL Bernstein, my commanding officer, telling him:
"Send 2nd platoon with his officer to my regiment for a period of three months". That was my platoon and thus also me !

I was thus sent for three months, with my men, to a distant location, far from my University and from my advisor and I could no longer study.

At the end of this three month period, I was still missing two credits and my three years "study period" was finished. This meant that I did not get my BA in due time. As soon as we were back in my original regiment, I was called by my CO. This kind officer told me:
"Thorndel, I know that it is not your fault, but you did not get your BA in due time. As a consequence you are automatically demoted. You are longer an officer, but you have to serve the time foreseen in your contract. This means that you have to serve, as of now, 5 years active duty for your initial contract plus 3 years active duty because you chose to serve that long in order to be assigned to my regiment. Unluckily for you, you are now a Private and I should send you immediately to
Basic Training. We both know who is responsible for your failure, but we cannot say it."

I first received a medal for "excellent leadership of his platoon" and I was sent immediately thereafter to Basic Training. I must say that my men did not understand what had happened and I was no longer there to try to explain to them that this was the consequence of a sort of vengeance from my dear father. I learned later that my Colonel told them that this was an automatic consequence of my delay in getting my degree because I had taken too much care of my platoon.

In any case, as soon as I reached Basic Training, I was ordered to put on the usual Basic Training uniform for future Privates and my head was automatically completely shaved like that of all the other recruits.

My men were very sorry when I announced the news:
"I am no longer an officer for reasons you might understand: I did not get my BA in due time. I am as of now a Private like many of you, but I must first go to Basic Training. I hope I will be allowed to come back here as a full fledged Private, after Basic Training."
They wanted to have explanations which I refused to give, using once again (and for the last time according to me) my officer commanding tone. Some of them were desperate: they liked me and my way of commanding. I was not, I knew that this would eventually leave me more time to complete a Bachelor and to start a PhD.

During my second Basic Training, I behaved as well as I could and I think I did it very well: I knew the music and I knew all the ropes. My instructors wanted to promote me immediately to PFC or even to LCPL. But the CO of the Training Camp knew better: he had read my complete file and decided that, in order to punish me for my lack of study and in order to please my father, I should graduate from Basic Training as a Private. I was also sent, as a Private, to my former regiment and even to my former Platoon. That’s where my COL promoted me immediately to LCPL.

After Basic Training, I had a very short leave which I spent with my friend Laura in Pinker’s family. I had to travel in uniform since I had no other clothes with me: I had been shipped to Basic Training without my bags. When I reached the Pinker’s home, Laura kissed me despite the fact that I was now only a LCPL and she asked me to marry her. I promised to do so as soon as I had my two last College credits, and thus my complete BA.

After this leave, I went back to my former regiment where my COL placed me in my former platoon, but no longer as an officer but as a LCPL. There was a SGT for this platoon but no officer.

The men I knew well, and who respected me showed very quickly that they respected the former officer in me because I had been a good leader. I now showed to all that I could be as good a soldier as I had been an officer, showing by my behavior that I could also be as good a comrade and a good fellow, as I had been a rightful man giving the adequate orders. After a few months, my comrades started to wonder why the Army had not given him the little time necessary to complete my studies and I kept repeating : "Army rules, absolute respect of strict uninterpretable rules, that’s what kills our Army contrary to what is happening in other countries where individual initiatives are highly considered." But I was always respectful of the orders given by his chiefs and knew very well that I would not be rapidly promoted.

The men liked me and that helped a lot gaining my two last credits. Three months after I came back from Basic Training, I took my last Undergraduate exams and my Colonel promoted me back to 2nd LT.

I spent all my leaves at Pinker’s house and fell in love with Laura. After two years and more, we got married but we warned my parents only after the marriage. I had decided to leave the Army as soon as possible and become a teacher. In the meantime, and despite the mockeries of my comrades, I started again writing poems, especially for Laura.

I gained a PhD in "English early poetry" and I am now a teacher in a small college. Laura and I have 2 children, 2 boys: Peter and Mark. We want them to decide by themselves what they want for their own future.

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