Goddammit how I hated guns! That sounds strange coming
from a boy in Tennessee. I hated all guns… especially
M-1 rifles. In the sophomore and junior years of high
school, it was required that all male students take
ROTC. This meant an hour class every day, and the
wearing of wool Army uniforms every Monday and Tuesday,
which meant we had to march or do exercise, mostly
push-ups, no matter what the weather.

From December through March, it was so fucking cold,
your hands could drop off carrying an M-1 in ten degree
temperatures, without gloves. Your platoon leader would…