Post by 79thfoot on Mar 1, 2011 3:36:32 GMT -5
An ROTC barracks... somewhere in central Luzon in November 1941.
"Atten - chon!!"
The motley group of Filipino reservists snap to attention. Their platoon commander catches his breath then prepares to give the next command.
"Pre-seent... Arms!"
With a thunderclap echo, the battalion presents arms with their vintage Enfield and Springfield rifles.
"What in the h**l is this disgrace that I see before my eyes? Sweet mother, I thought I'd never see the day when such a miserable, sorry excuse for a fighting unit was listed as part of the United States Army!"
The battalion's new First Sergeant had arrived.
"My name is First Sergeant Arlen Harmey! That's the same as Army, with an H in it. Do you know what the H stands for? It stands for h**l, because right now that's where your sorry sad sacks have landed."
"I will be your mentor and tormentor for the next - six - months! I will make you into something that you never were before - whether you were a plowboy or a playboy, a newsboy or a prettyboy, I don't care - from now on yer gonna be soldiers!!"
"What's your name pipsqueak?"
"Ser, Carlos Capinpin, ser!"
"D***it did you just call me sir?? I work for a living! Sir is reserved for officers and gentleman - from now on you will call me First Sergeant understood??"
"Yes, First Sergeant, ser!"
"D***it Ca-pin-pin are you trying to be amusing? Do you think this is funny?"
"No First Sergeant, ssssrrrr..."
"You're a natural comedian aren't you Ca-pin-pinhead? You're a regular Charlie Chaplin ain't ya? Well you're in Harmey's Army now and you'd better shape up or you will be shipped out, comprende amigo?"
"Yes, Serrr-geant!"
"And wipe that stupid grin off your face!!"
"Tell me somethin' Ca-pin-pin, why are you wearing tennis shoes? Are you planning on spending a relaxing afternoon the country club or drilling till you drop?"
"Drilling, First Sergeant!"
"Then why are you not dressed as pretty as he is? Where the h**l is all your kit?"
"Dis is all dey hab gib me First Sergeant!"
First Sergeant Harmey looks over his recruits for the very first time - Most of the reservists are young men, though some of middle age have joined their ranks as volunteers. Their equipment leaves much to be desired - most still lack adequate webbing equipment and make do with a variety of belts and backpacks. Their uniforms are often locally tailored versions of army chinos, while others even wear blue denim 'work uniforms' and denim 'daisy-mae' hats. Most, however, wear either old pith helmets or a local version made of coconut fiber or guinit. For footwear, the majority have some version of the local tennis shoe El Porvenir, or Elpo for short.
First Sergeant Harmey frowns.
"You men will learn the basics of drill, fire and maneuver. We are not gonna let anything - lack of equipment, ammo or spirit - get in our way. Whenever it is the enemy comes to these shores, you men are gonna be ready and I will make you ready, even if I have to kill you to do it."
"Now, paaaaraaaade - rest!"
"Atten - chon!!"
The motley group of Filipino reservists snap to attention. Their platoon commander catches his breath then prepares to give the next command.
"Pre-seent... Arms!"
With a thunderclap echo, the battalion presents arms with their vintage Enfield and Springfield rifles.
"What in the h**l is this disgrace that I see before my eyes? Sweet mother, I thought I'd never see the day when such a miserable, sorry excuse for a fighting unit was listed as part of the United States Army!"
The battalion's new First Sergeant had arrived.
"My name is First Sergeant Arlen Harmey! That's the same as Army, with an H in it. Do you know what the H stands for? It stands for h**l, because right now that's where your sorry sad sacks have landed."
"I will be your mentor and tormentor for the next - six - months! I will make you into something that you never were before - whether you were a plowboy or a playboy, a newsboy or a prettyboy, I don't care - from now on yer gonna be soldiers!!"
"What's your name pipsqueak?"
"Ser, Carlos Capinpin, ser!"
"D***it did you just call me sir?? I work for a living! Sir is reserved for officers and gentleman - from now on you will call me First Sergeant understood??"
"Yes, First Sergeant, ser!"
"D***it Ca-pin-pin are you trying to be amusing? Do you think this is funny?"
"No First Sergeant, ssssrrrr..."
"You're a natural comedian aren't you Ca-pin-pinhead? You're a regular Charlie Chaplin ain't ya? Well you're in Harmey's Army now and you'd better shape up or you will be shipped out, comprende amigo?"
"Yes, Serrr-geant!"
"And wipe that stupid grin off your face!!"
"Tell me somethin' Ca-pin-pin, why are you wearing tennis shoes? Are you planning on spending a relaxing afternoon the country club or drilling till you drop?"
"Drilling, First Sergeant!"
"Then why are you not dressed as pretty as he is? Where the h**l is all your kit?"
"Dis is all dey hab gib me First Sergeant!"
First Sergeant Harmey looks over his recruits for the very first time - Most of the reservists are young men, though some of middle age have joined their ranks as volunteers. Their equipment leaves much to be desired - most still lack adequate webbing equipment and make do with a variety of belts and backpacks. Their uniforms are often locally tailored versions of army chinos, while others even wear blue denim 'work uniforms' and denim 'daisy-mae' hats. Most, however, wear either old pith helmets or a local version made of coconut fiber or guinit. For footwear, the majority have some version of the local tennis shoe El Porvenir, or Elpo for short.
First Sergeant Harmey frowns.
"You men will learn the basics of drill, fire and maneuver. We are not gonna let anything - lack of equipment, ammo or spirit - get in our way. Whenever it is the enemy comes to these shores, you men are gonna be ready and I will make you ready, even if I have to kill you to do it."
"Now, paaaaraaaade - rest!"