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To be an officer and a gentle man
I'm not sure I would call my classmates intolerant. But they were sure incredulous when they found out I didn't smoke or drink. Here we were, 20 of us, just out of college, thrown together for Naval officer training. It was a frantic four-month period at the height of the Vietnam conflict—an intense mix of concentrated learning, discipline, and deprivation (plus a dash of humiliation), which the recruitment brochure promised would make us officers and gentlemen.
I found I needed to be as compassionate toward my friends as they ultimately were to me.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
About the author
These days, Norm Bleichman commands video productions instead of Naval vessels, but he does live near an ocean, in Rowley, Massachusetts.
January 28, 2002 issue
View Issue-
Fresh ideas from new voices
Steve Graham
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YOUR LETTERS
with contributions from Leo Crocker Rogers, Marta Greenwood, Barbara Sander, Betty Jane Dittmar
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items of interest
with contributions from Sari Kalin, Sabrina Cooper
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A way will open up . . .
with contributions from Ari Denison, Nichole Denison
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Coming to grips with it all
Suzanne Smedley with contributions from David Gross
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She couldn't block it out
By Dave Hohle Sentinel staff
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My generation—what the world needs from us
Alistair Savides
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Best friends—a Muslim and a Christian
with contributions from Roshan Khan, Onjolee Nair
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Tolerance
By Sean Farrell
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'I decided to just keep going on with it'
By Dave Hohle Sentinel staff
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Kate and Leopold ... and Russell
By Marilyn C. Jones Sentinel staff
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To be an officer and a gentle man
By Norm Bleichman
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So, you want a perfect father?
Marianela Toledo
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Spiritual growth saves tooth
Donald Freas
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Headaches gone, thanks to spiritual understanding
Sarah O'Brien
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Housing arrangements perfectly coordinated
Curt Snider
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No time for boredom
John Selover