Звездный десант

           Jellydidn’tevenpassoutextradutyveryoften;hehadotherwaysofpaddlingus.Hecouldlookyouupanddownatdailyinspectionandsimplysay,"IntheNavyyoumightlookgood.Whydon’tyoutransfer?"—andgetresults,itbeinganarticleoffaithamongusthattheNavycrewmemberssleptintheiruniformsandneverwashedbelowtheircollarlines.

           ButJellydidn’thavetomaintaindisciplineamongprivatesbecausehemaintaineddisciplineamonghisnon-comsandexpectedthemtodolikewise.Mysquadleader,whenIfirstjoined,was"Red"Greene.Afteracoupleofdrops,whenIknewhowgooditwastobeaRoughneck,Igottofeelinggayandabittoobigformyclothes—andtalkedbacktoRed.Hedidn’treportmetoJelly;hejusttookmebacktothewashroomandgavemeamediumsetoflumps,andwegottobeprettygoodfriends.Infact,herecommendedmeforlance,lateron.

           Actuallywedidn’tknowwhetherthecrewmemberssleptintheirclothesornot;wekepttoourpartoftheshipandtheNavymenkepttotheirs,becausetheyweremadetofeelunwelcomeiftheyshowedupinourcountryotherthanonduty—afterall,onehassocialstandardsonemustmaintain,mustn’tone?TheLieutenanthadhisstateroominmaleofficers’country,aNavypartoftheship,butweneverwentthere,either,exceptondutyandrarely.