Liberty Weekend

C077/K051 Feb 21-Apr 25, 1990

Getting down to the end of boot camp. Liberty weekend was here at last. Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday to pretty much do as we wanted. Yes, we did have to be back on base at 11 pm (2300), and there were certain places we could not go, OBT, was the big spot not to go. But, for the most part, we could be on our own.

I do recall being told there would be "eyes" on us as we went out into the area to blow off some steam.

Over the weekend, we could take liberty on 2 of the 3 days. Friday was the short day, I think it started maybe around 1600 for that day. Saturday and Sunday were almost full days off. On our own, we did divide the weekend, and we had enough guys who were happy to take Friday night, so us with families could have the two full days with them.

Friday after lunch, I remember being in the compartment while those heading out on liberty were getting ready. Even though we were going out the next day, we did feel a little jealous of those heading out that night.

It was something totally new for us. We were alone! Our CC's stopped in on Friday afternoon to let us know we had the extra hour of liberty. Still, I do not remember seeing them until Monday morning.

Friday night, the guys took off out into the great unknown of what to do for a few hours in Orlando. Those of us in the compartment had to decide what we were going to do that night. The first thing was we deiced the order for tapes on our boom box. It was a straight forward method, we put them in a bag and pulled them out. I could not believe that two of my all-time favorites were pulled back to back, Led Zeppelin IV and The Wall!

The system worked pretty well too. Guys were swapping spots to bunch up certain music, country, rock, rap, pop. Odd, how we were able to get along so well. 8 weeks prior, I doubt that would have happened. While groups of music were playing, some guys were putting the touches on their uniforms or polishing their shoes.

I remember laying down in the lounge on one of the benches and just listening to Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. It was so relaxing for me. When those two were over, I went out to nitpick my uniform and shoes too. I sat with a guy who I had totally forgotten to talk about, SR Langley.

Langley was a Star Trek nut. He wanted more than anything to get orders to the Enterprise. If I recall, he was going into aviation. I am a minor league fan of the show, but he and I would talk about ti a good deal. One day we started to give one another the Romulan salute. If you watched the show, you know what that is. It was similar to what the Romans would do to salute one another.

He and I got along pretty well. It is strange how we made friends in boto camp but failed to share addresses afterward. I have seen several ladies here mention how they stayed friends with ladies in their companies. I guess most of us figured we would be together in A-school afterward and see one another in the fleet.

OK, back to it. Even though we could hit our racks whenever we wanted, we all stayed up to talk to the guys coming back in from liberty. I think this is when we first started to fabricate our own sea stories. We all hit our racks pretty late that night.

Saturday!

 I was going to Epcot with my mom and fiancee. Up early, shower, shave prep, dress, and off to the USO. Bus to the park and then to eat. Now, I', backing up a bit fro a second. Back when Iw as in high school, I went to Colorado Springs for our Easter Break. My girlfriend's brother was in the Air Force Academy. I was shocked at how much he ate. Every meal we spent with him, he was packing it in. And he was still thin as a rail. Jump forward almost 5 years exactly, I was eating like a pig too.

Breakfast at Epcot, we ate in the restaurant that revolves. I remember what I had to eat for breakfast. French Toast with strawberries, bacon, sausage, scrambles, eggs, milk, juice, and coffee. Plus, I have a feeling I finished off when my mom didn't eat. The rest of the day we spent doing pretty much the same, eating. Well, mostly me, I could not get enough to eat. And I drank a good deal too.

The World Showcase at Epcot is a great way to drink around the world. I did just that. My fiancee and I did go on the rides. We typically sat in the back so we could make out. That is all we could do. We wanted to do ore, but that was difficult with my mom being there. However, it was assumed by the company that I had gotten to enjoy her if you get my meaning. So, I, too, had just had my first sea story.

Yeah, I ate like a pig all day. There were some pictures taken, but those are lost to the ages. I do wish I had taken my mom's camera back with me to the compartment that night. I wanted tog et a couple pictures of me around the place, but I was too worried about getting caught with it.

Back at the hotel, they were staying at, we had dinner at a Pizza hut. I ordered, and the waitress laughed. For me, a large pan pizza with pepperoni and a pitcher of beer. That was after the others ordered. She told me that was pretty much the standard meal for all of the recruits on liberty weekend who came in.

At the hotel, we talked and relaxed. When my mom went outside to have a smoke, there was some more making out. Had we been daring we could have, I know I would have been quick! But, that was for while I was on leave.

The bus taking me back to the base came, and I was off. Although I had time to catch the later bus, I do not want to be late. Nothing was going to make me stay in Orlando any longer than I was scheduled. I met some guys from the company at the USO, we made a group and off to the division. Up the division, sidewalk, and across the quarterdeck.

Again we all stayed up late talking before we hit our racks.

Sunday.

I wanted to see "The Hunt for Red October." I loved the book and wanted to see the movie. Our CC, Senior Chief Engley, had seen it and told us it was excellent. Lucky for us, it was still around. So, we watched that and spent time around town. Again, there was a good deal of eating on my part. I drank a good deal too. I was surprised I did not ever feel drunk or even buzzed. Having not had any booze for 8 weeks, I figured I would feel it, but I do not recall it happening.

Off to the USO one last time. I hugged my mom and kissed my fiancee. I would see my mom on Wednesday evening and my fiancee on Thursday morning. I made that lonely walk from the USO down to Division 4. There was a spring in my step because I now had 3 days left at RTC. Wednesday, we were leaving and getting on a plane to go home.

Bootcamp was still not over, but it was h so close now. Nothing was going to keep me from getting on the plane Wednesday morning. We still had our final PT test, but I was going to ace that bad boy.

I had to use that picture. I found a couple others, but this one seemed pretty funny.