Chapter 34

When I awoke in the morning, to my surprise Norbert was already up starting his day. I hoped this wasn’t the type of thing that went on for a bit and then just stopped like a New Year’s resolution. Only time would tell.

We were surprised after PT when we were told to head to chow and then the platoon would go to the armory. Sgt Le Pesant informed us we were going to begin practicing for annual Rifle Qualification. It appeared our squad had not only scored lowest out of the entire platoon last year, but at the same time our platoon ranked at the bottom of the company as well.

As Sgt Le Pesant and Cpl Rosario kept asserting, that wasn’t going to happen this time, and they were determined that we wouldn’t be the laughingstock of the company anymore. As we sat down, I looked at Norbert and Mutellip.

“So, what’s y’all’s current qual?”

It was Mutellip that spoke up.

“We both qualified Marksman.”

Ah, the dreaded pizza box. I hoped that one of the two might just need some prodding to improve. I figured it would be Norbert, as I mean everyone in Texas learned to shoot at a young age, or so it was said.

“Norbert, have you been fucking off on your rifle qual?”

“I guess.”

“Well, you two are going to get a crash course on how not to fuck off. I’m not going to be part of the losing squad. Both of your scores are going to dramatically increase.”

There was a groan from both of them though I didn’t want to hear it.

“This is a fundamental part of your job as Marines, so, quit your bitching. You’re going to be the best that you can be.”

After breakfast we went down to the armory and were issued our rifles. Cpl Rosario had signed out a HMMWV and we made our way to the rifle range.

As we were unloading, Cpl Rosario started talking about how we were going to get the scores up.

“Corporal, I can only think back to how I got taught by my grandfather and the Marine Corps.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“At this point let them shoot today and evaluate what needs to be addressed. Then figure out how to address those deficiencies”

He just looked at me.

“I don’t have a better idea, so let’s begin. I’ll keep an eye on Mutellip, that leaves you Norbert.”

“Thanks.”

We spent the morning alternating between shooting and watching them shoot. From what I could see from Norbert, he was sloppy as hell, not taking any care or paying attention to what he was doing. I couldn’t see anything that could be improved in, it seemed just starting at the beginning was the best idea. As much as it was going to be a pain in the ass, it was the only way I could see going with.

We locked up the rifles at the range and went to lunch. Rosario looked at me as we were eating.

“So, what do you think?”

“I think that we need to go back to the beginning. If Mutellip is like Norbert and just phoning it in, then we need to go back to the basics and start with reinforcing the fundamentals.”

Norbert was watching us during the conversation and decided to insert himself into the conversation.

“Um, I’m sitting right here.” Rosario looked at him.

“I’m aware, but the adults are talking, so be quiet.”

He just looked at us both, and the rest of lunch was us just bullshitting. Rosario decided we needed an extended break from dealing with the two slackers.

About a half mile from the main gate was a Dairy Queen. Rosario ordered two blizzards, while the two in the back seat complained they didn’t get one. The line was “if you pizza box qual’d you don’t get one”. There was a lot of bitching in the back.

When we got back, we ran a condensed version of “grass” week from boot camp. The were bitching and moaning the whole time. It would stop for a minute or two when they were told they did this to themselves.

We finished out the day and then headed to dinner. When we got back to the barracks Norbert started bitching.

“This is bullshit. I did all this stuff in boot camp and don’t need to do it again.”

“Obviously you do with what you scored on your rifle qual. The fact that you were stinking it up today more than my last turd says otherwise.”

He just sat there pouting while I ignored him.

We spent most of the next morning going over the firing positions and how to do things properly. Just before going to lunch, everyone zeroed their rifles again. I then showed them the “whiteout” trick. They thought it was a good idea.

When we got back, Norbert and Mutellip were run through a Rifle Qual. Both of them improved and got a Marksman score by a few points. Rosario then ran me through a Rifle Qual, and I shot within a point of my score in boot camp. Then it was Rosario’s turn, and he came just shy of shooting Sharpshooter. It seemed the new combined score would be a vast improvement.

I had a good judo class in the evening. Sensei Yasutoki surprised me by advising me that I’d be tested for my White belt in the new year.

Returning to the barracks, I sat down to make a list of the things I needed to get done this month. The list was longer than I thought, and I’d need to get moving on it. My goal was to get everything done by the beginning of December.

Nothing really happened during the Duty Day. However Japanese class in the evening was interesting. Miss Miwako began with the language portion. She deemed that I should be good enough at this point, but we’d keep working.

The majority of the session was spent going over all of the cultural aspects we’d covered so far. It was kind of like a pop quiz and I just barely passed. She pointed out the mistakes and why I probably made them.

I got back to the barracks early enough to get in an ice bath and crashed out early, while the two chuckleheads at least tried to keep it to a dull roar.

After taking a break yesterday, we were back at the range working on things to improve our shooting. My rifle got locked up as we went to lunch as I had my appointment with Gunny Ortega. The three of them were shaking their heads as I left the Mess Hall to go back to the barracks.

Gunny Ortega had the customary scowl on his face that I’d become accustomed to when I got there. Every interaction was now tense and abrupt. It seemed his plan was to push everything they were allowing him to do with me and everything was done to the max that he could get away with.

Last training session I’d noticed that when he was around me that he’d mumble a lot. This time I was trying to see if I could hear what he was mumbling. He came over to check that I hadn’t turned the treadmill speed down and I was able to catch some of what he was mumbling.

This wasn’t his normal ramblings as he was having a full-blown conversation with himself.

“I’m going to enjoy paying this fucker back for disrespecting and embarrassing me.”

“Oh yes I am.”

Then it was. “He’s going to learn that you don’t fuck with Gunny Ortega.”

“Most definitely.”

I’d driven him loopy. Once the session was over, I decided to call it a day, though I’d talk to Gunny Owens about this. After a shower I drove over to the house.

First thing I made a call to the grandparents as I wanted to see if Grandmother had started on the shorts. I told her I’d have something to mail her for one side of the shorts.

Grandfather had gone to Great Lakes Naval Station and was able to get something with the EGA on it for her to start. She told me to just keep it here. It would only take her a day or two to get the shorts completed once she got here.

Grandfather asked me if I knew anything about the other boxers I’d be facing. That set off a million things in my mind. Another thing I’d have to talk to Gunny Owens about in the morning.

Then it was a short walk out to the shop. Sameulu was hard at work forging some decorative stuff that was going to go in some rich guy’s Hawaiian mansion remodel. Looking up, he gave me a greeting that I should have expected.

“What the hell are you doing here? Don’t you have some soldier stuff to do?”

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s Marine. I figured that I’d take some time off to help out an old man.”

“Old man huh?”

I jumped in and started discussing the stuff that I needed to get done before December while I helped out. Turns out he’d already set up the meeting with Lalo and that was going to happen this weekend. Saturday at 1300 we were meeting at Palace Saimin. Then he gave me something I hadn’t been expecting, an option for spending time alone with Kiku.

It seemed Sameulu was in the home remodeling and rental business as well. He had a bungalow in Kūpaua Valley that was near having the renovations finished, and I was being offered to be his first renter. He laughed when I asked if being the first came with a discount. It took me fifteen minutes to convince him that it was deserved. I ended up with a twenty percent discount.