There Must Be a Better Way

I walked to the road that would take me back towards Farragut. Imagine my surprise when a small truck picked me up and said he was going to Farragut! What good luck, maybe. I explained what had happened that day and that I had gotten married, but needed to stop and get out short of the sentry station. I also asked him to not say anything. He laughed and said he would help me out by not saying a word He had lived in Colorado also and we talked over the weather. True to his word he let me out about 200 yards from the gate and wished me luck. I got off the road, circled around the sentry station, walked through the trees until I could see the officer quarters and the place I had gotten out. I saw no one in the area and just started walking fast through the area until I reached the fence; placed my peacoat down and slid through under the fence. Got up and walked rapidly towards a barracks, which wasn't mine; pretended to go in, but didn't and walked around this first barracks and went to my own. I walked in just like I normally would and when I came into view of my friends they were shocked! They didn't think I would make it out, let alone come back in the same way. My first question: Did the Chief come and have roll call. When the answer was "No" I relaxed. When I told the story they were lying on the floor laughing like crazy. I said I would never do that again! They persisted, asked where and how I got out? I told them, but advised against it. One week later three or four of them tried to sneak out the same way, but were apprehended and they were given Captain's Mast and restricted to no liberty for the remainder of the time there. It was only two weeks more until we would be graduating and leaving so they wouldn't lose much. It was clear that the Navy knew we all wanted to fight the Japanese and for minor offenses they only restricted liberty for offenders unless it was for assaulting an officer or insubordination. I wast just lucky. I wasn't even mad at the guy who threw the snowball and didn't care or know who had actually hit the Chief in the head.