We Were All Just Drunks

Eyes front, focused into infinity!" Our drill sergeant shouted at us, a long line of privates standing in line for morning chow. We stood at parade rest, our hands locked behind us in the small of our backs. Despite the name, it was really no way to rest, and rest was the one thing on all of our minds. I was nineteen years old in Army basic training at Fort Bliss, another Army misnomer.