Phillip Long and Me Join the Navy - Buddies Until Abandoned
Note: This story will be written in segments because it will be far too long for one story. I have never told this story to anyone and never planed on telling it until I was asked repeatedly by classmates about Phillip Long and me joining the Navy and what happened over the next eight months that ended up with both of us discharged and a few months later Phillip killed in an accident.
When I wrote "Born Under a Wondering Star" the very first story, I tested myself on how transparent I could be. This story makes me reach even further into a part of me that has always bore at least some responsibility for Phillip's death. I do not think Phillip would have been in Pampa, TX that night except for things that will come out here. To face that responsibility in words to people who knew Phillip and ask you "what happened" is a difficult thing to do. This summer at the reunion I was asked by several including Jay Johnson why Phillip and I got out early and I told Jay the truth, but I only told half the story. The half I didn't tell would have meant reaching into the place where I had to be too open about myself. Then last night Buzzy posts on this blog he would like to know. I realized there was only one person in the world who had the answer. I looked over in the mirror and thought to myself as I saw my eyes peer through my heavily bearded face staring back at me. It was almost like I could see Phillip looking at me and saying 'Webster, If you don't tell both sides of this story I'm going to kick your butt when you get to heaven".
I pulled out my keyboard and began typing. I heard him laugh and say, "Webster, you're crazy."
You will be taken on a journey that sees Phillip abandoned by a his buddy three different times. The first time was in basic training. It wasn't a big deal (it was actually kind of funny), but it really pissed Phillip off. Then you will be taken to a Mexican cantina where I left Phillip behind one night and he was almost killed and left for dead, The final abandonment Phillip never got over until graduation night 1970.
With that established, I will begin this story as David Schaub told me all Navy stories are supposed to begin . . . "This ain't not shit"
(a few weeks before graduation 1969)
It was hard to believe it was really almost here. For 12 years I had been working to graduate. Suddenly is was within grasp. A little hard to believe, but at the same time a reality. To celebrate I had been making plans for the ultimate party. Woodstock. I didn't know how I was going to pull it off. I knew my parents would never give me any money to go to an event like that, but I figured if there was a will there was a way and my will was making big plans.
As I walked down the hall Phillip Long hollered out at me. "Webster, Hold Up". I stopped and waited. He caught up.
"What are you doing for lunch?"
"No plans." I responded.
"I got a guy I want you to meet.. He's a recruiter at the post office downtown. Been in the Navy forever and you have to hear what he has to say."
I agreed to lunch, but the last thing on my mind was joining the Navy. I was trying to decide between majoring in journalism at Texas Tech or University of Texas . . . not shipping out.
The recruiter was a fast talker. He was making promises faster than we could take them in, but one thing we kept hearing over and over was the word "buddy" and how if we went in on the "buddy" plan we would be together through basic training, through advanced training and in all probability be assigned to the same ship where we could see the world as "buddies".
Then the recruiter started talking about how women loved men in uniform and how sailors were known to have women attracted to them like magnets. He was such a liar, but Phillip and I were sitting there like the two small town kids we were just awed by this man who had seen the world and the exotic experiences he was relating one after the other.
"Webster, if we go in together we can see the world together. And we''ll get more (the word Phillip used for sex) than we can shake a stick at."
That did it. I knew Phillip had more than his share of sexual encounters in high school, but I was still a virgin. I had lied about a few, but when that remark came out of his mouth I grabbed the pen and without even talking to my parents or anyone else committed myself to six years of service to Uncle Sam.
We walked out of the recruiters office and I immediately began questioning what I had done. Goodbye Woodstock. Goodbye Texas Tech (or UT). Goodbye to every dream I had ever made.
But then, the wondering star in me was excited by the new dreams the recruiter had created. Phillip and I gave each other a hug. It seemed like the thing two buddies should do. Now the really hard part was going to be to explain this to my parents
We were soon processed and put through physical exams and ordered to report under the "buddy" program to the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego California on a specified date in early July.
Coming next: Basic Training
Posted by Marvin David Webster at Monday, December 07, 2009 8:39 PM 
Categories: Classmates
Tags: abandonment buddies Phillip Long wondering star
Categories: Classmates
Tags: abandonment buddies Phillip Long wondering star
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Friday, February 05, 2010 10:18 PM
Born Under a Wonderng Star wrote:
Phillip Long was fun to be around because he was so care free. His free spirit probably contributed to his death a little over two years after this trip took place. Details of the tragic accident that took Phillip's life are included at the end of this story.
Great start Webstyer, but you missed the story start. Of course, I have only heard it not seen it in writing. Nevertheless, It should be: "This is no shit, BUT..." Then there is a pregnant pause and the story begins. I cant wait for the next installment...like waiting for the next installment of Zorro at the Lenore Theater on Saturday mornings....ah, what a time that was....
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