On graduation day, Grandpa attended the ceremony. Visiting family members gathered into an auditorium where we sang the cadences proudly, loudly, giving loved ones the impression that we always sang that way. I was full of pride and made sharp turns, crisp turns, praying that Grandpa could see me. He smiled at me. I didn't smile back, maintaining discipline.
The ceremony took about an hour. During the ceremony, a medley of patriotic country music songs reminded us of the important war effort, reminded us of justice yet to be delivered in the form of daisycutter bombs. The music played over a series of PowerPoint slide shows, showing tanks in the sun, the World Trade Center, sandy Iraq, helicopters at sunset, a soldier helping a wounded Iraqi lad, an eagle soaring, a child holding a U.S. flag, ground zero in New York, Iraqi tank in flames, the Pentagon, soldier in sandy dune, our president and vice president, Humvee in Iraq, sunlight through the remaining beams of the World Trade Center, a jet, a ship, and lastly a heavily armed U.S. soldier reaching down to pet an Iraqi cat. A country singer crooned "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Flies."
Then the moment came when I would walk on stage in front of Grandpa and receive my certificate of successful completion of Basic Training. Drill Sergeant Pfeffer greeted me on the hardwood, smiling at me, almost laughing out loud as he handed me an envelope.
"Congratulations, Sprungli," he said. "See you downrange. See you real soon."
"You think so, Drill Sergeant?" I said.
He chuckled and pulled me past him with his ultra-grip Ranger handshake.
Marching to the end of the stage, I waved at Grandpa, who stood up and raised a shaky fist into the air.
The Drill Sergeants dismissed us to greet our families. At the call of "Fall Out," Grandpa hobbled toward me, putting his cane out and then following it, putting it out again, and then following it.
"It's good to see you, Paul!" he said, hugging me. "My goodness, you look terrific. You are a changed man. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I don't know what to say."
I was so proud of myself for graduating that I could hardly hide my joy. That is, until I noticed Shipman watching me.