After working several months part-time with the groundskeeper, Curtis made an escape to join to Marine Corps. But now experiences what others have told him, he could not do. In this chapter, Curtis, with help, finds a way.
It only took Curtis asking a couple of people for directions to the Marine Corps recruiting office. Like most recruiting offices, this one was in a strip mall in a low-income, blue-collar part of town. All three branches of the armed services had an office.
A big smile came over Curtis’ face as he stood outside the one for the Marine Corps. He ignored what the doctors and Pedro had told me about his past preventing him from being a Marine. Curtis stiffened his back and marched right into the office to become a United States Marine.
Gunny Sergeant Fred Pino looked up from his desk. He knew how to paint a picture of being a United States Marine that made high school graduates want to join.
Not used to seeing someone in their late twenties walk through his door, caused Gunny Sergeant Pino ask to ask Curtis, “Are you looking to become a United States Marine, young fellow?”
“Yes, sir, it has been a dream all my life.”
“Have a seat, and we will start by having you fill out some forms.” Expecting this to be the easiest recruit enlistment of the month. The recruiter pulled from his desk a manila folder with all the forms anyone would need to enlist in the Marine Corps. “What’s your name?”
“Cur… Ralph Mathis.” Curtis mid-sentence thought it best to use his brother’s name, since he recently escaped from the mental hospital. Ralph Mathis died shortly after childbirth. So Curtis knew there would be no problem if the Marine Corps did a criminal background check on him.
“Mathis, hmm,” the Gunnery Sergeant became suspicious. He asked about what he had heard on the morning news. “Isn’t that the name of the guy who had escaped from the mental hospital?”
“That may be.” Curtis’ face turned flush, body posture shifted in an attempt to show no emotion. “I don’t pay attention to the news.”
“I need your driver’s license and birth certificate so I can start filling out these forms.”
Curtis’s face tightened as he tried not to show disappointment. He had just hit a wall, he never considered needing a driver’s license or birth certificate. “I’ll have to come back later. I lost my driver’s license the other day. I’ll be back after I go by DMV.” Curtis promptly stood up and walked out.
Several blocks later, Curtis turned into an alley. He stopped, slammed his back against the brick wall, and slid to the ground. Red-faced from embarrassment and heartbroken, Curtis inhaled and exhaled repeatedly, while thinking, “I know I can be a great soldier, but I can’t even get in the door.”
Curtis spent a chilly night in that alley. The entire time he struggled with what to do next. He couldn’t go back to the hospital. He had broken the trust of Pedro and the other staff. What made matters worse, he didn’t have any money or a driver’s license.
With the first light of a new day, Curtis left the alley and wandered up one street and down another, not paying attention to where he was going.
Curtis began to crave the taste of a beer. It had been months since a taste of a brew touched his lips. A quick check in his pocket reminded Curtis that he didn’t even have money for one beer.
The open sign in the window of a local dive bar came on only twenty feet from Curtis. He had always had the talent to get at least one free beer out of any bar he walked in. He prayed he still had the talent. Curtis took a shallow breath and walked inside.
Inside, a young, petite woman had trouble carrying a case of beer.
“Let me help you with that.” Curtis offered as he grabbed it from her. Once behind the bar, he turned to her and asked, “Where do you want me to put it?”
Stunned by the stranger’s action, the woman pointed to a door of the cooler. “Uh, there will be okay.”
“Shall I just put them inside for you?”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
“Okay, just set it along the left wall.”
Seeing two other cases by the door, Curtis didn’t ask; he took them and stacked them on top of the first one. When finished, Curtis parked himself on a bar stool.
“Thank you.” She said as she positioned herself behind the bar. “I hate it when the delivery driver just leaves his delivery inside the front door.”
“It was a good thing I showed up to help.” Curtis shot her a smile.
“I want to thank you by getting you a drink on me.”
“I’ll have a beer with a shot of whiskey.”
“Hmmm. Your morning must have started pretty shitty if you’re in here and asking for a shot of whiskey.”
“Yeah, my plans ran into a wall. I’m at a loss about what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go.”
She poured the beer and whiskey for Curtis and a shot for herself. The two saluted with their shot glasses.
“I’m Crystal. What’s yours?”
“My name is Curtis.”
“Cheer up.” Crystal said. Then the two downed their drinks.
“Does your boss always make you put away the deliveries by yourself?”
“My boss is an asshole. But he pays good. Tell me about what’s got you drinking so early on a weekday morning.”
“I lost my driver’s license and birth certificate. In addition, my last name is the same as the guy who escaped from the mental hospital; I can’t join the Marines.”
“That is the pits. Do you want another round?” Crystal said with a growing smile.
“When I lost my wallet, it had my driver’s license and all my money.”
“Don’t worry. Drinks are on me.”
“Sure, I have nowhere else to go.”
Half way though the second round, a spark shone in Crystal’s eyes. “Do you have to go into the Marine Corps?”
“I’ve always watched those World War II movies. My father was a Marine. In the news, a lot of Marines are going over to Vietnam. That’s where I want to be.”
“My brother is a recruiter for the Army. He is at the Recruitment Office today. Let me call him and see what I can do if I vouch for you.”
“I’m afraid that when I tell him my name, he’ll call the cops.”
“Don’t worry. I know who you really are. You’re too nice of a guy to get locked away. I’ve heard rumors about that place.”
Curtis sat looking at Crystal. He looked around and saw no one but the two of them.
Crystal tilted her head as if she had a great idea. “What if I tell my brother your name is Carl Daniels, would you be willing to go into the Army?”
“I suppose so, but what about birth certificates and ID?”
“I know this guy who doesn’t want to go into the Army. I think he just might be willing to give you his identity so he doesn’t have to go.”
“Why would he do that?”
“A local judge has given him two weeks to join the Army or go to jail. You would be doing him a favor.”
“Why would you do that for me?”
“You helped me out. You seem like a good guy. If you want to go to Vietnam, I know so many young guys who want to stay home and party. I figure it is my duty in a small way to help my country.”
“How are you getting me the necessary papers?”
“Like I said, I know this one guy. He likes to party. The two of you are about the same age and build. His name is Carl Daniels. I’ll explain the situation to him. I’m sure he will be glad to help. Are you game?”
Curtis’ face lit up as he nodded. He couldn’t think of any words to say.
Crystal continued. “Hang tight, I’ve got to make a phone call.” She walked over to the bar’s phone. She came back a few minutes later. “I called my brother and told him that you were down on your luck and wanted to join the Army, but you lost your driver’s license. He said, to have you come on by, and he would put you through the battery of tests. He said a new class is heading for basic training tomorrow. If everything works out, you can be in that class.”
Curtis’ eyes widened along with the smile. It was not the Marine Corps. But the dream of being a soldier and fighting for his country was about to come true. He stood up and started for the door. Halfway to the door, Curtis turned. “Where do I go?”
“Go out the door, turn left for three blocks. Go two doors past the Marine Corps recruiting office. There you will find the Army recruiting office. My brother is there and on duty now.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“My shift ends at six. Come back then. I’ll think of a way.”
