This story pretty much sums up my entire Army experience. In 1988, I turned 18 and went into the Army. One day I was told to get in a large truck and drive a across the base to deliver some live missiles to the firing range. Oh, and this was to be done at night … with no head lights on … down a dirt road … on a steep hillside … for training. I dutifully did as I was told. Hell, what did I know?
Unfortunately, I missed a turn and rolled the vehicle down a hill several times. Turns out, rocket fuel is considered a hazardous material AND you need a truck drivers license before climbing into the cab and putting it in drive. Who knew?
I was confined to the barracks and had no idea what was going on. A kindly sergeant finally told me the truth. They planned to court marshal me and put me in prison because of the high dollar amount of damage. He recommended I sneak out, call my parents, and ask for help. I was able to get hold of my mother. Approximately 6 hours later, two congressional investigators showed up and started asking questions. Suddenly, the problem disappeared (like magic). Thank you mom for saving my arse again! 🙂