Excerpt

Dink-Gadink

It was 7:19a.m., or 0719 in military jargon. All Hell would break loose in sixty seconds.

At 0720, and gain at 0725, the Naval Academy's Plebes were responsible for administering "chow calls" to their respective companies prior to a 0730 morning Quarters formation. Thus, at six different chow call stations strategically Quarters formation. Thus, at six different chow call stations strategically positions around the Twenty-Third Company area, six poor Plebes would stand at Attention beneath a clock and yell pertinent data for all of the upper classmen. It sucked being a Plebe.

At the CMOD podium, John Milner rested his chin in the palm of his right hand, about to watch the daily ritual that brought Bancroft Hall to life. He had completed all of the crappy little duties normally assigned to the CMOD, but mentally reviewed the tasks anyway. Yep, he had delivered the newspapers. Yep, he had updated the company information board. Yep, he had cleaned around the mailboxes and his podium.

fifteen feet in front of John's CMOD podium was chow call station one. At exactly 0719 and 50seconds, the door to room 4011 opened and a confident Midshipman Fourth Class Tom Preston emerged to man that station.

"Sir, go Navy, Sir," exclaimed Tom, as he executed the ninety degree left turn in the middle of the hallway.

John's roommate took three steps in his impeccable uniform, and halted at a rigid position of Attention beneath the huge hallway clock. He executed a snappy About Face maneuver to position his body looking down the hallway, and then performed another sharp movement that placed him at the position of Parade Rest. Tom Preston was now merely awaiting the Dink-Gadink for 0720.

Tom was a tall, husky, prior enlisted sailor; thus, he was always squared away and knowledgeable. He performed Plebe tasks flawlessly with a minimum of effort, and always looked sharp in uniform.

Twenty feet to the right of John's CMOD podium was chow call station six. At exactly 0719 and 55 seconds - late by Plebe standards - a harried Midshipman Fourth Class Paul Steigelhorn stumbled out of room 4009.

"Sir, beat Army, Sir," yelled Pail as he turned ninety degrees right in the middle of the hallway.

He took two steps in a slightly wrinkled uniform, and halted at the position of Attention beneath another hallway clock. Paul performed a hasty About Face maneuver to position his body looking down the other hallway to John's right. Like Tom around the corner, Paul was awaiting the next Dink-Gadink.

Paul barely made it to the position of Parade Rest, before the hallway clocks drove him back to -

Dink.

Tom and Paul simultaneously snapped to Attention.

Gadink. It was 0720.