I was sent to boot camp in San Diego just fresh out of high school.
After several weeks of training, my unit lined up for our first liberty inspection. The inspecting officer stopped in front of me and asked if I ever shaved. I replied in the negative. He said the next time I stood inspection he wanted to see that fuzz removed from my face. I responded with the courteous, “Yes Sir." I was delighted, as it meant I had suddenly become a man.
My company, 44-395, won the “Red Rooster” flag 3 weeks in a row, a feat never accomplished previously or since. We were excellent marchers. On the third week, our company commander gave us the wrong command but we did the correct maneuver anyway. This was obviously a feather in his cap that earned him a commendation award.