So it was gas chamber day, yay! Our Platoon got chosen to go first, so afterwards, they selected five of us to be the clean up detail after everyone else was done. So we got to sit on this hill overlooking the exit of the building and watch as everyone else came out suffering, snot dripping to the ground.

One of the last groups is going through, and if you’ve never had the luxury of experiencing this event, you are instructed to “Walk! Don’t run! Or we’ll make you go back through!” Well the group goes in, we wait for the customary few minutes, the door opens and this one private comes out sprinting, rips the mask off while falling to his knees, going full “Platoon”.

Drill Sergeant walks out, grabs him, walks him to the front and then he spent probably another five minutes in there. He was miserable when he exited. When a drill Sergeant tells you something, it’s best to listen (and certainly don’t say, “Fuck it Drill Sergeant , I’m already sitting!” Another story for another day).

The best part, I got put on weapons guard for the detail. So I sat on my ass while the rest of the detail washed out snot and vomit from a concrete shed.