Following in the old man’s footprints:
(At) a town hall meeting this past summer in New Hampshire, (Senator McCain) was quoted by a local newspaper as saying, “You know, my son Jack attends the Naval Academy, where he has zero demerits. I got so concerned; I had DNA tests run just to make sure he was my son.”
Well, Senator McCain can stop worrying about his son not living up to his legacy – Jack’s gotten himself into trouble, or has gotten “fried” as midshipmen call it, while at the Academy.
“The [chain of command seems to] know I have been doing something so they hammer me whenever they can,” says a spirited Jack McCain. “I have been fried for wearing flip-flops outside. I got 60 demerits and was restricted to the Academy for that. I also received several demerits last year when I forgot to shave.”
“So far, that’s it,” McCain says as he glances around Dahlgren Hall during our interview. “That’s what I have gotten caught for.”
60 demos? He’s lucky.
In my day we had it rough: We had to get up in the morning at ten o’clock at night half an hour before we went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down Mitchner, and pay the prof for permission to come to class. And, when we got back to our rooms, our company officer and the ‘Dant would kill us and dance about on our graves singing “Hallelujah.”
Sixty demerits, pah! Shoot, in the old days I could (and did) rack up 75 demerits in a single afternoon. Good times.
Guess he never took “trunk leave”. 60 demerits in a month at a real military college and I guarantee you, you were going to be walking tours-lots of em.
Hells bells…you southern goobers had it easy…in my time one demerit earned you a one hour punishment tour on the upper parade with M-1…and surprise of surprises smart mouth me walked a bunch. Those central Vermont winters did focus the mind a bit and it was up hill both ways. Grand times…indeed. Best
And in the snow when your rifle arm goes numb in hour number 2 and you look like a forkin moving grey penis wearing that stupid black watch cap in grey over grey. And some G.O. walks up in the snow storm to chew on you for your drill. Where’s the dang round when you really need one? (-*
It is funny how McCain has downplayed his son at the Academy… He must be 2nd class by now as my son was in charge of him 2 years ago and got to hear about his “daddy’s” sports car collection…
Say Lex, wasn’t it Rickover where you had to work 29 hours a day? It was the last time you told this story…
http://www.neptunuslex.com/2007/09/03/there-was-no-plan-for-after/#more-2817
Erm, isn’t it considered Bad Form to voice peevish natterings about consistency and version control in re: Sea Stories? I thought they were supposed to accrete new and interesting details, like barnacles.
Snake,
I didn’t know you went to Middlebury. Explains a lot.
N
feh, sixty hours… a mere trifle of time.
(but at least it shows the young lad has some spirit)
(although a flip-flop violation story won’t be getting him any free beverages)
(come back with an “Instant Century Man” slug of 100 hours and i’ll buy the first round)
anyone else here get amnesty granted by a head of state?
(mine was from Ronald Reagan)
Luxury! I had so many demerits Plebe Year that they used to put me in charge of the ED squad, marching back and forth on Red Beach. I think I had about 350 1st semester, and no single chit more than 10.
Never got another until returning from Xmas leave 1st class year. My room had been burglarized and ransacked while we were gone, and they fried all 3 of us for the untidy room. Doh!
Shipmates,
Why hasn’t anyone brought up The Nightingale’s Song? I can’t find my copy, but I do remember a certain Midshipman McCain not having any ‘grease’ at Canoe U.
Recommend to those who haven’t read McCain’s auto-bio. Read it now before it disapears off’n your libraries shelves. I’m gonna re-read it myself seeing how he is the presumptive nominee. Amazing he graduated on time. What he did was a unique accomplishment unto itself. He actually went out of his way to earn his mediocrity as a midshipman. Humanity on display vice, Ivy Barrack/hillary. Ironic, but I like him for that. But you have to read it to get the details from his perspective. 2nd to last is actually hard to acheieve ain’t it Lex! I’m sure his son will finish much, much higher and rub it in to the old man! I would.
O’course it always helps to have 4 stars in the family tree to even gain admittance. My son, even IF he applies, will never have that advantage. Legacies ain’t just at Harvard. I really respect those CanoeU grads who are the first in their family ever to even consider an academy. Shows a maturity beyond their years.
b2
Nose, I nose you nose I didn’t go to Middlebury … not smart enough…crappy SATs… a fortuitious occurance in retrospect. Best
MajMike,
No, but I did have a statewide APB out on me.
Demos, Shmemos!
Bruce! well done. i’d spot ya a cold sudsy one just to hear that story.
Dunno if it’s as impressive as flipping a Jaguar XME, but it does stick in one’s mind.
I was in high school and had just come home from a statewide competition. My folks were still traveling back, and my sister and I decided to head up to the school with some friends for some afternoon football. Problem was, we forgot to leave a note telling our folks where we were.
My dad drove around the high school but never spotted us. Strike two, and this was before Amber alerts. Even back then, the cops knew that if you don’t find the kids within 24 hours, you don’t find them, so don’t bother with strike three.
We got pulled over on the way back, escorted home, at which point we were duly instructed in the error of our ways. Honestly can’t remember what punishment we received, seeing what we put them through seemed to be enough.
So, how did you come to the President’s attention?
TomG, I feel your pain even now…query..are you referring to your time at the Wick or at Hudson High ? Best
I was granted amnesty by HRH Prince Charles. Which was timely in that I had just been “awarded” 10 confinments.
Yes, but did they make you shave the upper part of your torso so your ‘chest hairs’ would not be visible in the triangle where your shirt collar meets your neckduring plebe summer?
And I thought the NFL was suspect :p
*cough*
FWIW, my husband is no more hirstute than the next guy, though he did look a bit more mature than your average plebe.
Hmm, seems like I started something with my “home” remarks in the other thread. Methinks these sailors doth protest too much.
Snork!
Hey, guys, it’s just light-hearted teasing, and that was my point in the other thread, that NIS was either mean or/and dumb enough to mistake light-hearted teasing for “OHNOES!! Homo Lurve Triangle!!!11″
Dammit, I meant to write “homo.” I’ll go home now.