The 'Manual of Arms'...A Competition of Precision.
A Drill-Down of perfection with the positioning of the M1 Rifle, while being Judged.
ROTC was a tradition in my family. Roger was in it 2 years earlier. Yes, he was a officer. Before he was drafted at age 20. He practiced the 'Manual'. Even carved a Garrand Rifle out of wood so he could practice at home. I was in Junior high school when I witnessed his ROTC Competition, in the 'Oakland Auditorium', back in 1966. He was the senior Cadet in the Manual of Arms drill down for Tech High. He was the Best!...but was, Disqualified by a Judge that checked his left-rear UNbuttoned Pocket!!! This is a cheap shot, as you'll read later. 'Dismissed', Roger, while leaving the floor...Angrily THROWS His Rifle across the Floor!! Blast out through the swinging doors, where Castlemonts' Band was staged ready to perform next. Knocking the First 3 Rows of the Band Flat to the floor. Must have been some broken teeth there. It Broke My Heart!
Fast forward to 1969.
For the 1968 Competition, I wanted to perform the M.O.A. to Honour My Brother, He was serving in Vietnam, a Medic, at this time. I was passed over for another cadet, the Instructor thought was a Better candidate. I even got a 'Military' Haircut to Impress. All I got was "what did You do, Lose a Fight with a Lawn-Mower?"
Later 1968 to 1969
NOW, It's My Turn. I am a Senior Cadet Captain. Now, I go to Work!!
For an Entire Year...EVERY Morning, every Lunch Hour, Every (After-School, (not tues. and thurs. as I was training a Platoon)) I would check out My M1 Rifle, take it into the Armory and Practice in Front of the Mirror, there! I would Polish to Perfection. Perform with My Eyes closed and then open and check in the Mirror until Perfect, every time! Lower the rifle to 'Order Arms', the Rifle MUST Be 'Flush' with the toe of the BOOT, Every Time. For a Year.
A Month before the Competition, Tech High was selected to host a 'Pass in Review' on our Football field. Where all 6 schools would Parade past a Dignitary, to Honour a Retiring 4 Star General. A 'Pass-in Review'. Serious Right!? It went very well. The Brigade parades past and performs a 'Eyes Right". It starts with the Brigade Commander Sounding Off..."Sound Adjutants' Call!!" The Marching Band Begins to Play, a Trumpet Sounds!
I don't remember who the General was, but He had a Serious Interest in the Exhibition of the 'Manual of Arms'. He had asked the Senior Instructor to have a Demonstration. "I want to see Your Best Cadet for the Manual of arms". I was ordered to report to the Instructor. I was told the General would like you to do a demonstrate. I go to report to the General standing outside the Armory. In passing by the Senior Instructor, he whispers a reminder..."Present Arms".
With the Entire Brigade as witness, I March up to the General, centered in front and spaced the Regulation 2 Feet. Come to Order arms at Attention and then Crack a Sharp Present Arms! My rifle has been 'Loosened', also. It Sounds Off!! I say Nothing, No Greeting! No Speaking under Present Arms.
The General Returns a Hand Salute, when he drops his, I return to Order arms. And the demonstration begins. With the Instructor Sargent standing to my Right, his commands begin, always with 'Inspection Arms'! The weapon is First, Cleared and Safe, Bolt Opened and then Closed, Trigger Pulled. Onward through 'the Book', the 'Manual of Arms' of rifle maneuvers, ending in Order arms. A second Salute is not necessary, I am Dismissed. One step back, and about face, go to Port arms and Move out. No response from the audience, none expected.
I was informed Later that day, from the Senior Military Instructor, when all was said and done. "The 4 Star General told Me", "In all My 40 Years in 'This Mans' ARMY", That Cadet is the Best I have Ever Seen!"
I was well Practiced! I was Ready!! Perfection! And after, I finished Training 28 Cadets to be Just as Precise!
May 28, 1969 8:30 PM the ROTC Competition at the Oakland Coliseum
...Leaving the staging room, walking down the corridor of the Oakland Coliseum, Making My way to the Next event, The 'Manual of Arms Drill-Down'. I am with a an-tirage of my fellow cadets, as we run into a Group of cadets from 'Castlemont High'. They present themselves as 'helpers' to 'Check' Me out in Preparation for the upcoming competition. They are all around Me, I'am Not Having It! so my friends and I Push on to the Staging area, we're up Next!
We Are just ready to March out onto the Floor as Groups of 6 from each school. Freshmen, Juniors and seniors! When My Big Brother Roger, Shows up, with not much time, He Inspects Me...and sure as Hell, he finds My Right-Rear Pocket was UNButtoned!!! And He Fixes It. I had been checked-out by My Cadets, before we Left our dressing room! It was those Bastards from CastleMont! I realized, one of them HAD Fiddled with that same pocket, exclaiming "You're Good". Remember Castlemont NO HONOUR!!
We Marched out onto the Floor, the competition began. Eliminations followed. The Judges were advised about Me. Standing Directly in front of Me, yes! Feel the Shock! CRACK!! One Foot in Front of Your Face! The Judge Looks Me straight in the Eyes, My Eyes are focused Straight Ahead, Over his Head! I gave it All I Had. I'am the Best there Is!! A Year of practice for these few Minutes. I could Hear the Crack of My Rifle Echo off the Far Upper wall of the Coliseum. Yes! The Judge DID Check My Pocket, ALL My Pockets! NOT 'This Time', SIR!! When Facing the Line I see another cadet dismissed, from HIS Pocket being unbuttoned. They eliminate you with large numbered cards Counting down from 6 to 1, so the Audience can see who's Loosing and Winning. I was on the Far Left position in the Line up. The Last thing I saw, facing forward, out of corner of my eye...was the number 3 Cadet being dismissed, leaving only Me and the Senior Cadet from, guess where, Castlemont. The next and Last Command was 'Left Face'. I started My Left Face as I Glimpsed, the Other Cadet do a 'Right Face'. I'am thinking "Your Other Left, You Idiot!!" My back towards all, the Judge comes up and Hands Me Card #1. I had Won!! The Other Cadet...That's what You get for Representing Cheaters! There is Justice in GODs' Universe!
I was called up Front and Center, 4 times, to be presented with a medal, pinned on My Chest by the Medal of Honour recipient. For Shooting, Drill and M.O.A. By all of the Points earned...The Over all competition was a Tie, Tech High with Fremont HS! Because They had placed Higher on the 'Military Science' Exam, they won the Tie, and the over all Trophy. On the Exam, I came in 13th all city, of approximately 1800 Cadets. For all of My contributions in the ROTC...The Next Day, Our Military Instructors Awarded to Me, the Coveted Medal of 'Superior Cadet' for Seniors. A Great way to Complete 3 Years in High School and the R.O.T.C
Graduation was the Next Week, June 6th. Interesting! The Anniversary of 'D' Day!
To Be Continued 'The Rifleteam'