Chapter 8

           Trainupachildinthewayheshouldgo;andwhenheisoldhewillnotdepartfromit.

           ProverbsXXII:6

           Therewereotherfloggingsbutdarnfew.Hendrickwastheonlymaninourregimenttobefloggedbysentenceofcourt-martial;theotherswereadministrativepunishment,likemine,andforlashesitwasnecessarytogoallthewayuptotheRegimentalCommander—whichasubordinatecommanderfindsdistasteful,toputitfaintly.Eventhen,MajorMalloywasmuchmorelikelytokickthemanout,"UndesirableDischarge,"thantohavethewhippingposterected.Inaway,anadministrativefloggingisthemildestsortofacompliment;itmeansthatyoursuperiorsthinkthatthereisafaintpossibilitythatyoujustmighthavethecharactereventuallytomakeasoldierandacitizen,unlikelyasitseemsatthemoment.

           Iwastheonlyonetogetthemaximumadministrativepunishment;noneoftheothersgotmorethanthreelashes.NobodyelsecameascloseasIdidtoputtingoncivilianclothesbutstillsqueakedby.Thisisasocialdistinctionofsorts.Idon’trecommendit.

           Butwehadanothercase,muchworsethanmineorTedHendrick’s—areallysick-makingone.Oncetheyerectedgallows.

           Now,look,getthisstraight.Thiscasedidn’treallyhaveanythingtodowiththeArmy.Thecrimedidn’ttakeplaceatCampCurrieandtheplacementofficerwhoacceptedthisboyforM.I.shouldturninhissuit.

           Hedeserted,onlytwodaysafterwearrivedatCurrie.