Some attitudes can have a lasting effect.

————

“...than three years.” Jay Jay blushed when he heard the Lieutenant introduce him. He joined the team immediately after graduating from post-basic training at Oakhurst. Now, less than three years later, he was receiving a medal for outstanding performance of duty after saving the life of a fellow sailor.

It was his opinion, he only performed the duties assigned him. Officer Marcus was careless. Saving the officer was his obligation. How many times must personnel be warned; arresting cables represent an impending danger on the flight deck? he thought with an uncontrolled expression.

“What cha’ thinkin’?” Sean asked. As always he knew when his friend was troubled.

“I was thinking; why am I being rewarded because an officer was stupid. Why not reprimand the officer rather than reward the squid?”

Sean thought about the question before responding. “Guess they don’t want anyone to know how dumb an officer can be,” he explained.

“Bull shit,” Billy Jackson, a hard ass South Carolinian interjected. “The reason they praised you was because of your skin color.”

“Don’t believe that,” Sean exploded. “Flight deck safety is taught and taught. We hear it every day. You saving another sailor’s life, not necessarily an officer’s, is worthy of praise. On the deck you can’t tell the color of anyone’s skin anyway ... everyone is too covered up.”

"They may not say so, but I bet there is a quota required for praising black guys. Do you think a white guy would get a medal for the same thing?” Jackson asked as he threw back his shoulders in defiance.

“You done good,” Sean reinforced his earlier comment.

“Bull shit,” Jackson, who would not back down walked away.

Note: Racism is not tolerated in the modern Navy. This is a fictitious piece; it is not an actual accounting.

By Robert L. Scarry

From: United States

Twitter: USNavy1990bob

Facebook URL: https://www.Facebook.com/Robert.Scarry.3