II. Runaway accomplished. Now What?


Seattle is a big city for a country boy. After living in a hotel for a few days Specialops8013 rented a room in an individual house. He is a seaman who goes to Alaska once or twice a month working on a boat. Specialops 8013 and he strike up a friendship. He called a friend who worked in a hardware store and managed to get Specialops8013 a job. He not only knew that he needed money, but did not want him roaming the streets. This worked out very well for 8013. The job was fulltime stocking, pricing and cleanup. The man's name who helped was Jeb. Jeb's girlfriend came over to do some cooking and cleaning while Jeb was gone. This made everything very pleasant for 8013. He did not know how lucky he was.

As time went on Jeb encourged 8013 to join the military. He was ex-navy. He was afraid that young people like 8013 would meet the wrong people and get into trouble. His brother was paratrooper and loved it. 8013 was not so sure he wanted to jump out of planes. Jen encouaged 8013 to go to the draft board and say it is his birthday and where does he sign up. 8013's birthsay was coming up soon. They made plans that if the board wanted to call him to use his number. He would answer as though he was 8013's dad. Jeb advised that when 8013 goes to the board office to act kind of scared.

The birthday came and 8013 went to the board and declared that it was his birthday today, Hr completed tons of paper work. He did clall Jeb and he explained that he was seperated from 8013's mother. He promised to get a birth certificate and take it in. Well, it was an anxious 8-9 days before a letter came for 8013. He was to report for a physical. Then after another 8-9 days he received orders to report to nearby Fort Lewis. Wow! no turning back now. There a bus schudule for Fort Lewis. Goodbys to Jeb and Angel, his girl friend.

Fort Lewis is very large but everyone was escorted as they got off the bus. A very hectic 5 days and off to Camp Roberts in Calfornia. Oh! in uniform. Camp Roberts is a very large basic training camp in Central California near the coast. The parade ground was a square mile black topped. All of the marches were across the parade field. Lots of marches, drill, KP. bayonet training, weapons firing, exercise drill every morning at 6 AM. The weeks went by. 8013 went to Los Angeles with a friend who lived there. Now that is a big city.

8013 was 18 years old in the eyes of the Army so he was careful to act mature. He went of and practiced drills and stuff. Even went down to the obstacle course at night instead of drinking beer with other basics. It was dark and dangerious. However, it did help. One drill sergerant, who was a paratrooper toughened 8013 up. 8013 respected him and decided to be a paratrooper. The Sgt. said he would never make it.