Leprosy

Day 8 12 June 02 Wednesday

Last night my whole company got together and said a prayer for our P.T. test and our next few months. Today, I got up at 0345 and took the P.T. test. Push and sit ups were a piece of cake of course so was the mile run but there was a 'pace car' if you will. No one was allowed to run past him. There was one guy who was running ahead of me. I didn't notice him at first but then I smelled him. As I wondered why it smelled so bad, I looked down on his leg and he had, please, I can't think of a better word, crapped his pants. It looked like he had leprosy. I felt so bad for him because he did not qualify. The sergeant took him aside and hosed him down with a garden hose.

We took a bus to "over the hill" or "the hill" to our new barracks and 'met' our drill sergeants. So far, they have told us they are trying a new method of training. They are going to take it easy the first few days so as to let us get acclimated to everything new. At first, I was afraid. Afraid because I was put into a platoon that had no one I knew. But I got a room with a guy named Combs. He and I have gotten to know each other and I think it will be alright. The D.S. informed us about D&C (drill and ceremony), bed making and the likes. We got to bed at about 2300. I have fire guard tonight at 0100. Good night.