Rupert Tvarsky
Rupert Tvarski was a smart-ass Jewish guy from New Jersey. He was starting basic training for the 3rd time, restarting for the 2nd time in our squadron; so his intentions were obvious….to all of us and to the Air Force. He wanted out and the AF would be damned before that was going to happen. He had enlisted to avoid the draft into the Army or Marines; but, now, he was trying to get out on a different basis that would provide a different draft status when it was all over. He did not seem to care about the type of discharge he was given. That’s what he told us….other new GIs. It was the principle of the thing…you know what I mean….and neither would give.
The first time, he went to the ‘fat boy’ squadron for 38 days. The extra 8 days were a disciplinary measure, according to him. He said he lost over 30 pounds. He was assigned to a different squadron for his 2nd start; but, just 4 days later, he got pretty fresh with some first lieutenant. This time, he went to a disciplinary squadron for 30 days. Here, they used sleep deprivation and irregular sessions of work and/or exercise, always including some harsh indoctrination. Apparently, he took what they had to dish out and seemingly changed his attitude. Now, for his 3rd start, he was in our squadron again and serving the same instructor who was ordered to send him to the disciplinary squadron a month earlier. The instructor expected 'attitude', but was shocked. Rupert did what he was told and did it well. His drill activities were flawless. He seemed to have really taken on a whole new attitude. On two occasions, the instructor cited his area as the standard for the others. Our instructor, a Sergeant (3 striper) had been promised that, if he got our group through without any “setbacks”, he would get his Staff Sergeant’s stripe. Tvarski had certainly done his part in assuring this promotion. He had become a fairly model troop. He had qualified for several highly technical jobs, as well as the foreign language training program.
Three days before we were to graduate, we all received our training orders. I had qualified for several myself, including language (was sure that would be Vietnamese); so I selected the electronics area. Anyway, our instructor had told me the night before that he would not be there first thing in the morning and that I was to let the guys ‘sleep in ‘til 7:30.” He handed me an alarm clock and said, “You sleep in my room.” I know I must have had a look of wonder on my face, when he said, “I know, I know. But it’s okay.” He smiled and left. I did as told. We were all yawning and slowly getting around for only the 2nd time in 6 weeks. They had let us sleep in on Christmas day. Now it's January 13th and unseasonably nice outside. Suddenly, the instructor walked in wearing slacks and a polo-type shirt with a V-neck Izod golf sweater. He was smiling and he didn’t look like the same guy. He told us that after lunch we would be gathering on the lawn with our ‘sister’ squadron that used the other half of the barracks. There would be music, snacks and 2 ‘Texas beers’ for each of us as we celebrated our graduation and his promotion. He humbly spoke of his cross-training aspirations and thanked us for being good troops. He shook hands with everyone….a strong, ‘thank you’ handshake.
Three days later, we were going our way, some to Biloxi, some to Wichita Falls, one or two to Amarillo to be APs. Tvarski, Crawford, Brown and I were all going to the same squadron at Shepherd AFB, Wichita Falls. Others in our group were also going to Shepherd, but to other training squadrons. Our duffels packed, we boarded. Our instructor was there and shook our hands again as we got on the bus. “Do your best.” he said to each of us. The bus driver finally closed the door and started to slowly pull away. Tvarski had made a point of sitting in the rear of the bus. Now, I knew why. He stood up and turned to see the instructor through the rear window as we pulled away. As he lifted “the finger” to the instructor, he slowly said aloud so his lips could be easily read, “F--- You, A—h---e. A few guys laughed about it; when, suddenly, the bus stopped. Our instructor came into the bus and took Tvarski away. Crawford stayed in contact with the instructor, since they were both from around Philadelphia. He told me a couple of years later that Tvarski had finally completed basic on his next try. He had actually meant his actions as a joke, but who knew? Like the boy who cried "Wolf!" too many times. It cost him another 6 weeks. He had very successfully completed his missile maintenance training and had a ‘line number’ for promotion to E4. I heard from Crawford again after I completed my 4 years. He decided he was a ‘lifer’, having made Staff (E5) in just 47 months with a re-enlistment line number for Tech (E6) after just 50 months of service. He said Tvarski had cross trained into Cryptographic Equipment Maintenance and had a line number for Staff. He too had decided to make a career of it.
Who would have ever thought? Strange, the way things happen….the paths we take.
Comments