Chapter 2
I woke up to hear the banging of a trash can lid.
"You have your shut eyes! Wake up!" Sgt. Casburn shouted.
I saw the dog waking up Conroy, before he hopped out of his bed.
"Morning, Conroy." I said.
"Morning, Richardson." he said back to me.
"Ready for our four weeks of pain?" I asked him.
He shook his head and chuckled, as he got out of his bed.
We got up and dressed, before leaving our tent and formed in with our unit, as well the dog joined us. It was the first official day of the four weeks that we're starting our basic training. The sergeant spoke about the routine marches we'll being doing like yesterday, than doing obstacle courses and practicing with the new manufactured M1917 Enfields. We began with our marches in the boot-camp and around it. As we're marching, I noticed that the dog was trying to march along with us and at one point he was all the way behind, as he noticed we were gone. However it didn't take very long for him to catch up with us and he followed us in our marches.
The infantry did our runs around the woods that was beyond the campus's boundaries and done the obstacle course during our run. I used remember my brother and my step-father told me about their experiences of boot-camp that was closely resembling to the ones that I'm doing, including climbing over wood boarded walls, balance walking on logs, and crawling on the dirt underneath barbed wires. Surprisingly, on each of these courses the dog would take led or they would stay by our side, mostly Conroy and myself until we get through each obstacle.
Our next part of our training was firing at targets with our new M1917 Enfield rifles. They were bolt action rifles that after each shot we made, we had to bolt the lever to remove the casing every after each bullets were fired one at a time. It wasn't new with me, as I practiced to fire rifles like these back home in California, even trying out a shooting range in Connecticut. I just remember the practices that my fathers and my brother taught me. It's best to be patient when trying to fire a rifle, that includes firing at a long distant target.
I continued to hear the shots going out. I constantly held my breath for each shot, before pulling the trigger with my eyes open. From each shot, I thought that I caught at least a few shots within the target circle and at least three shots were in the middle. A white flag was waved and we had to stop shooting our rifles, as the dog collected our targets, as he was instructed by the sergeant.
"You both are lucky to have this dog by your side. He's not even afraid of gunshots." the sergeant spoke to me and Conroy.
The dog came back with Conroy's target and mine, and gave it to the sergeant.
"Well done soldier." the sergeant commended.
"Thank you sergeant." Conroy thanked him, as the sergeant looked at our targets.
"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the dog." the sergeant was referring to the dog than Conroy. "And you missed in all of your shots."
I chuckled silently without hurting Conroy's feelings about his failure to shoot at the target, as the dog barked.
The sergeant looked at mine and he was impressed from the shots that I made. "Seems to me that you have a knack on your rifling skills, soldier. Teach Conroy how to fire that rifle."
"Yes Sergeant." I spoke, before the dog was given targets to give to another soldier to set up new targets. I walked to Conroy.
"It's alright. I still remembered my times that I missed those shots like you did. Maybe I could help you, if you want."
"Thank you." Conroy thanked.
I set him in position, as the targets were all set and we're cued to fire our rifles.
"Just relax, keep both your eyes open, take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger." I instructed Conroy.
He was positioned good, he had his eyes opened, took a breath and fired his rifle. I couldn't see the shot going, but I didn't see dirt flying off. He continued to bolt the rifle after his shots, as I resumed mine.
Afterwards, the dog went to collect the targets separately. When he got to Conroy's, he came over and hand us the target and barked. Conroy and myself looked at the shots Conroy made and it was an improvement, as he missed a few this time.
"Just keep practicing and what I taught. Your shots would eventually improve." I told him.
"Thanks."
"Anytime." I said.
Days gone on with the same cycle for two weeks. We got back to boot-camp from our usual long days of training. We marched in our formation, before we are instructed to halt and be at ease. The dog than panted as he was relaxed.
The sergeant looked back us. "Since for the two weeks you men were training and this dog has been here, he has done a lot of training better than you gentlemen."
It was shocking, but the dog was by our side for the whole time. The dog walked over in front us.
"You men could learn something with this dog." the sergeant continued.
We heard licks, and all of us looked down to see it was coming from the dog, as he was... cleaning himself. We all than looked back at the sergeant without making a laugh. However, the sergeant manages to let out a fake laugh that we all than began joining him with a laugh that the dog had no idea.
Later in evening, Conroy decided to give the dog a name. He decided to name him Stubby. It was suiting because the dog was short and thick, as well with his tail short and thick also. Even the dog liked the name, as he was being petted by his new owner. Olsen went on as usual that Stubby won't last until, the colonel would inspect our infantry and the sergeant would call group a division name. Conroy was confident that Stubby would be here long enough and that the colonel would accept the dog for his status as the team's mascot. Now I was more happy that the dog is accepted among us, as group of friends, but the anticipation could be fragile from the colonel's expectations.
Conroy decided to teach Stubby a new trick. In the middle of the night, I woke up to see Conroy was teaching Stubby to do a trick. Being a new owner wasn't easy, even having a first dog. He instructed the dog firmly, but patient as possible the dog raised his right paw slowly, as he was trying to keep his balance. The dog manages to do the trick that Conroy commanded him to salute. It was clever that Conroy told him that if it was a colonel and/or a general, Stubby would salute to the high ranking officers in the Army.
As our second week was near to the end, our unit continued with our marches and drills. The sergeant announced that we're the Yankee Division. The colonel came to inspected our unit, as he spotted the dog without missing a blink. We stand at full attention to the colonel.
"What in Sam hill?!"the colonel exclaimed in question.
Not either one of us in our unit know what to answer from the colonel. Stubby however, just barked and successfully did his trick that Conroy taught him.
The colonel chuckled at the dog, as it salute. "What in tarnation." He looked at Conroy. "You taught this dog this trick?"
"Yes sir, I taught to this trick, sir." Conroy answered.
The colonel chuckled. "The next thing if he's general, he'll be barking up orders."
"Umm... we'd we supposed to do sir?" the sergeant asked the colonel.
"I suppose he could be a use to the unit. As you were sergeant." the colonel stated that Stubby would be able to stay, as he would do great service to the Army.
Later in the day, the sergeant had us marched into the woods, until we stopped at a isolated cabin. Sergeant Casburn pulled out a mask that appears to be something that would be involve with our training. Stubby whimpered out of fear, as he got behind Conroy and me. Until Stubby began to growl at the mask, as if it was the enemy. Everyone in the unit were given a mask, except Stubby, as he would be staying outside.
All of us put on our masks, before we entered the cabin. Stubby continued to whimper, as he was a bit worried of what would happened. The door was shut closed. The sergeant took out what it looks like to be a bar of soap. He dropped it into a bucket of water and the bar of soap dissolved quickly that it started to fill up the room.
"Take off your masks!" the sergeant exclaimed, as all of us were not even sure for the reason why. "Do it! Do it now!"
After he ordered us to remove the masks, the unit removed the mask, except the sergeant. We see it was no harm, but until we sniffed the air. It was started to have us cough and nearly gag. We had to remain inside the cabin for about three minutes, until the sergeant opened the door and ordered us to leave, so the air wouldn't be able to suffocate us that would have us faint. When all of us got outside, the sergeant took off his mask, as the rest of us coughed and try to slow it down so we could be able to breath.
"What you just breathed is tear gas, men. Not like the mustard gas or other gases you will be breathing when you reached towards the trenches. Keep your masks with you at all times! It could save your life." Sergeant Casburn spoke.
Everyone was coughing that nobody would have expected it, however I began to realize it was serious and I remembered when I first read the papers that the German Army invented the very first chemical warfare of mustard gas and other gases that could do harm to any human body. I realized that new modern warfare was beginning to take shape. Later in the day, we had to wore our gas masks, as we got in the habit to wear it, in case a gas attack happens when we're in the Front.
Days goes on to the final and fourth week, we all have been training hard enough that the colonel was impressed, as he came to watch our marches, even impressed with Stubby the Yankee Division mascot marched along with us. After our exercises and drills were finished, the sergeant had us halted and at ease. He spoke of after the four weeks of training, we managed to drill and worked hard enough to be considered as soldiers in arms. Even Stubby was given the compliment as well, when he barked at the sergeant. A bugle sounded off that we're about to be served chow once again, as it was Stubby's best time and moment when he hears the bugle sounding off it means dinner time.
When we got in the mess hall's tent, everyone seemed to be acquainted with each other better, even the chief. He even personally came to our table and gave Stubby his bowl to eat some soup. Conroy watched Stubby eat, as Olsen joked as always, I couldn't be able to help noticed that Schroeder was quiet and didn't touched his food.
"Schroeder, are you alright?" I asked.
He looked back and nodded his head.
"Schroeder, you didn't even tell us where you from?" Conroy asked.
"Yeah, you're a German aren't you?" Olsen questioned.
"Yes, I am. Do you have any idea how Germans are being treated these days?" Schroeder answered, as he felt that he was victim of being fault as a German that I could understand how he feels.
"Being a scapegoat, I bet." I said.
They turned towards me, even Schroeder. "How do you know?" he asked.
"For instance, two years back when I came back to the states, everyone knew that I was part German from my father's roots. It made my family a living nightmare because German-Americans were targeted for bigotry from ships that carries passengers and eventually Americans were sunk by German U-Boats. It would not be until I decided to draft myself into the Army to prove them that I have always been American, even since the day I was born." I said.
Conroy and Olsen understood the reason how German-Americans were discriminated from being scapegoats from the story I had to share, Stubby warmly barked as he understood, and Schroeder felt the same way, except he could only envy if he was born American like I was since he was from Germany.
"Besides from being a German, you're suppose to fight or you're a smacker." Schroeder said.
"A what?" Olsen was confused.
"Schweinchen." Schroeder said in German, which it means the person is a pig, baby pig, or a swine. "I only wanted to join to prove that I am an American."
"Schroeder, you're an American in my book." Conroy said as a true friend that lightened Schroeder.
"Of course your an American. When you're serving your country here, you're an American. If you ended up living here and becoming a citizen, you're still American in the Army or not. Also importantly, you should never be ashamed of who you're and only believing what is right." I added that Schroeder felt much better that he shouldn't have to worry about his German heritage and giving him self-confidence.
After our meal time, the sergeant had us in formation at ease, as the colonel announced that we're to be shipped to France tomorrow early morning on Monday. We're given our choice to write to our loved ones a goodbye, before we set sail. He even commended the whole division, including Stubby. The downside that sadden Conroy was that Stubby would be left behind to look after the next group that comes in after our division departs for France.
When we got back in our tents, I wrote a farewell letter to my family that our division is being deployed to France's trenches. It was hard for me to put my final words of goodbye, if I wasn't going to return home in case I was killed in action. However, I try to have some optimism that I would try to write constantly to let them know that I'm alright. At one point of the writing, our ship may even sail over where the Titanic sank that I may have my moment to reflect of my father, even when we're near Europe's waters would have my moment to reflect also of my brother also as he perished in the sinking of Lusitania.
I watched Conroy packing, as I was already packed, Stubby was trying to comfort Conroy, although he wanted to join with his new owner. To cheer Stubby up, Conroy gave Stubby a gift of a new collar, before he took him to the chief to keep an eye on Stubby, while we're gone. When I was alone, I took off my crucifix necklace and a prayer for strength and comfort for my journey, as well for keeping watch over my family while I'm gone.
"Richardson." I heard Schroeder calling me, as I was still in prayer. I continued to pray until I was finished. "Are you ready?"
I stood up and securely put my necklace around my neck and tucked it in my shirt. "I'm ready."
The two of us joined Olsen, before Conroy caught up with us, as he said his final goodbye to Stubby. We hopped into the back of a truck that would take us to the train station, from there we boarded a train at the New Haven Train Station. When we're seated at our seats, everyone was silent and not a single person talked to one another. I only looked outside from my window seat and looked at the night skies and the stars gaze it's white light gleam.
It would about few minutes until we arrived at another station and we're transported by trucks, we than arrived at the docks where we're to aboard on a battleship. I slightly shivered because I was going to sail again. I never thought I was going to set sail across once again that I forbid myself to be on board of a ship and sail across sea. When I boarded on the battleship, we're sent to our quarters and there we fall asleep for the night, as we set sail to the night for France.
