...Oakland Technical HS. Oakland California. My 3rd year, just before graduation. Our Annual All City ROTC Competition at the Oakland Coliseum. May 28, 1969
As a Senior In my third year, Rank Captain, I was a Company Commander. I was in charge of the '3rd Period' of Classes. We were always 'Honor Co.' Based on Merits earned. The Officers took the Corps very Seriously. We earned the respect we Exhibited. Yes, the Officers were saluted. Always give orders while AT Attention! Above ALL, set the Example. Our Credo...'Honour Duty Country'.
The Competiton was made up of 6 High Schools...Tech, Fremont, Castlemont, McClymond's, Skyline, and Oakland High. The 8th Brigade of the East Oakland, Bay Area. Each school was a Battalion of 3 Companies. A company was One Period of Class.
The 'Competiton Platoon'
The 'Comp' Platoon was different from the 'Exabition' Drillteam, where the Routine is Made-up, 'Custom' Designed from the Members and Commander, themselves. I was the 'Guidon' of the Exabition Drillteam...That's another Story!
The Comp Platoon was to Follow and execute a Specific routine of commands of Marching Drill, and Especially 'Manual of Arms', movements and placements of the M1 Garand Rifles. The Commander has 5 Minutes to complete them. 28 cadets in 3 Squads of 9 plus 1 Platoon Sargent.
I was asked by the Instructor Sargents, if I would like to take charge of Commanding the Competition Platoon?? Being I was a member on it, the Last 2 years of competitions, and witnessed the Mistakes that were made by both the Platoon and Commanders in those times...I replied a Most Resounding Yes!! I will give You a First Place! We are in it to win it!
I had 90 Days, 3 Months to Recruit, Sign-up, and Train 28 Cadets, with Rifles...to Drill and perform a 'Marching' Manual of Arms, in Perfected Timing. My Only Demand and Our goal in our training, was, "I Only Want To Hear ONE Rifle!!" On each and every Rifle, We Loosened the 'Gas Cylinder Lock Ring' One Turn. This Loosened Up the Forward Handguard and Caused Amplification of the Rifle to Sound-Off, Loudly with 'Crack', we Called It 'Snap'! Everytime our Hands 'Hit' the Rifle, Hard! Absolutely Awesome, the Loud Cracking Sound of 28 Rifles. all sounding as ONE, While Marching and Stationary in front of the VIP Stage.
For 90 days we Practiced, EVERY Tuesday and Thursday, Uniform Days. Mostly Everyday, after School for 1-1/2 Hours! ALL Members were Sure to Show Up, they wanted this! We worked hard on the Routine. Polished to Perfection! Zero Errors, Heightened Bravado. The Highest Moral. I Never had to give push-Ups for Punishment, Didn't Have too. And we didn't have the Time.
The One Day Before the Competition, on the Advice of our 'Senior Military Instructor', we took The Day OFF!...it worked, We were ready to 'Take the Floor'! We All were 'Chomping at the Bit!'
If you look at the Photo...it was our Tradition to 'Spit and Polish' our boots! We would make a 'Party' of doing so. We 'Bloused ' our Boots to 'Honour' the Rangers and All Special Forces. We were 'Called-Out' on it, as being 'Out of uniform', by members of the Other Competing Teams. The Official 'Verdict' was, "The Commander Sets the guideline for the Uniform". About the Boots...Only 'Shinola' Wax and Human SPIT, Works!! There is No substitute! Only Spit can Harden the Wax into a Polished Mirror Finish!
My Mother was in the audience, along with my older brother Roger...The Medic in Vietnam. We were the very first Event of the Competition, we Opened the 'Show'. We took the Floor Very Loudly, Yelling a Delade Cadence'...there were no 'Boys' in My Platoon. We Owned That Floor, and we're going to Prove It!
We went through our Marching Routine...Columns, Flanks, to the Rear, Close and Open March. Best, Manual of Arms While Marching, the Most Polished. We approached close to the Stage, did our 'Column Right' perfectly spaced and centered in front. Where 2 years earlier the Commander spaced too close and upon commanding the 'Open-Ranks', found himself Jammed into the Stage, itself.
My Commands, Platoon Halt, order arms...Not One Rifle 'Hitting' the Floor, Hard! Silence to Perfection! , left face...'Open ranks March'! Space Excellent! By the routine, I go and 'Check' the alignment of Each Squad...1st squad, by Protocol, the Book... "4th Man Back", he didn't 'Get-It', Once more, while seeing one of 4 Judges at the far end of the Squad, again "4th Man Back". It was cadet Busone, inching back to create a Perfect alignment. I appreciated it, this gave Me the opportunity to exhibit Knowlege of the 'Manual of Arms', The FM 22-5. Onto 2nd squad...PERFECT with a Judge Witnessing, 3rd Squad, PERFECT and with a Judging. I Move to the Right Front Corner, "Ready Front". I March to My Position 'By the Most Direct Route', Centered and Facing. The next command, of Manuel of Arms is the most difficult to perform..."Inspection Arms" the Bolts are all opened with a Glance into the receiver. 28 Rifles as ONE, I could Not be More Proud of My Cadets. Next, "Ready", the thumb must be inserted into the breech and depress the 'follower'. letting the Bolt slide forward, just Minutely! and HOLD IT!! One cadet had 'slight' trouble, positioning the Bolt. I, and 27 Cadets, HELD, until he was set, I held My next command, Then proceeded, "TWO"!! 28 Bolts close, 28 Triggers Pulled, ONE Rifle Heard! Incredible!!
We finished through the rest of our 'Arms'...'Order. Left Shoulder, Right Shoulder, Port Arms, back to order arms, Then the Crescendo, The 'piece-de-resitance'..."Present!..........Arms!!!". Rifle Snapped up from the Order Arms, Perfectly Vertical, Centered, Aligned down the Entire Squad, Bayonet Stud between the eyes, all fingers joined. All Rifles Aligned, as Practiced 100's of Times. The Last Show of a Proud Platoon, Our Team.
I do My 'About face', and execute a Perfected 'Hand Salute', to all VIP's, Fingers straight and at the Tip of the Eyebrow, brim of My 'Saucer' Cap, Thumb Hidden. I said Nothing! We are not here to Greet! We are here to Prove Perfection!! I Heard one Comment, from the Stage...the 'Medal of Honour' recipient said One Astonished, Respectful Compliment..."SHIT!!!". I knew exactly what he was implying. I did Not Smile, I was too busy being amazed with Pride in Our Team. This is What we all worked so Hard, for.
To finish...I Dropped My Salute. About Face, and "Order arms", A 'CRACK' of the Right hand, then a Silence as the Rifles just 'Kiss' the floor, Then "close ranks", "right face", "right shoulder arms", "forward march"...and off the Floor. We are DONE! We Know We Won this!! We Owned that Floor! We're Out Of Here!
We are marching out to the Door and out to the staging area. We passed where My Mother was sitting up higher. I did not see her, but heard My Brother Roger, yell-out what would go down in History, "They Can't Be Touched!!".
My Mother, GOD Bless Her, later commented "Those Cadets Loved You".
I was later told, "the Judges never wrote anything Down!" The Commander was Judged at 100%.
There was No Advantage to being the First Platoon 'on the floor', because Judges will hold back from giving the Platoon 100%...Just in case, another Platoon 'Might' perform with a Higher Scoring.
We Took the Trophy for 'First Place'!