After 12 weeks of pain, humiliation, sleep deprivation, and digging deeper than we thought possible we have arrived at the end of this chapter of our journey. It is September 10, 1999 and it is Graduation Day. We should be higher than we have ever been. But that wouldn't be Platoon 2070's style. We started Basic as the screw-up platoon and by God we will end as the screw-up platoon. Before we leave to march over to the parade deck, our Heavy does a final walk through of the platoon. As he is walking through the racks, he stops and looks both puzzled and confused.
He yells, "This rack smells like piss! Why does this rack smell like piss?!? Whose rack is this?"
It's Hawkins rack. He sounds off "It's my rack SSgt!"
The Heavy replies "Why does it smell like piss?"
Hawkins states "Because I pissed my bed every night SSgt!"
Metaphorically speaking this opened the floodgates! The Heavy went absolutely crazy. He demanded to know who Hawkins rack mate was.
Umoren said "I'm his rackmate SSgt!"
The Heavy stayed on point. "Did you know he was pissing his rack every night?!"
Umoren replied "Yes I did SSgt."
The Heavy screamed "God damn it U-MORON, you're a God damn squad leader!! This should have been reported! Hawkins clearly has a mental issue and this should have caused him to be evaluated and kicked out of the platoon! You were supposed to report this! Why didn't you?!?!?"
Umoron replied "Because we don't leave men behind SSgt!"
The Heavy didn't break stride, "Do you think covering up for someone's deficiency means that you have honor? Marines have honor God damn it!! None of you has any honor! You're all a disgrace!" Then he stormed out of the squad bay.
Did I mention that today is graduation day?
