Written by Yosef Michael on June 7, 2024.

As much as I hate to mention race, I must for this story to make sense, but in a heartfelt, admiring way! It was the first time I saw as great love for a fellow man, and I was awe-struck!

There were few Caucasians in our neighborhood when I was young. For the most part, blacks and whites were friends because we were outnumbered, and together, we were safer!

I grew up in East Side San Jose, California, until I started getting in trouble with the police. At that point, my mom sent me to live with my father in another state just before I turned 13, but I returned at about age 15, but after my father died I move to Tennessee for about a year and a few months until retuning again to California.

After I quit school the second time, at age 17, I joined the Navy because, before my dad and I had a falling out, he made me promise to join the Navy rather than the Army like my brother had done when he quit school at age sixteen and joined because of the Vietnam war.

After my dad died, I felt guilty for hating a dead man! So, I joined the Navy at age 17 because I promised him; plus, I had no idea what I wanted to do other than quit school! However, because I was only 17, my mother had to sign my recruitment papers before the Navy allowed me to join.

When I got to boot camp, I naturally befriended all the black men because of my bonds with the black men in my neighborhood when I was younger.

One day, two of my friends had a slight altercation in line at the mess hall line (the cafeteria where we ate in boot camp), and I witnessed it.

My friend, who was my size, was so offended by our more muscular, massive friend who had pushed him and thrown a warning punch at him in the mess hall line that he confronted our massive friend later that evening when we were taking our nightly showers.

Our massive friend was slightly larger than Mike Tyson in his youth prime days when he knocked out many opponents in less than 97 seconds, while my other friend was my size. I called another friend and let him know what was happening. He was six feet one inch but not as massive, preventing our massive friend from hurting our my-sized friend.

Some other men in our boot camp company reported the incident the following day, and I was called in to testify about what happened in the mess hall with the two involved and the one who prevented the fight in the shower room.

Our company’s Chief Petty Officer, our company commander, demanded I testify about what I saw, but I didn’t want to testify because I didn’t want to lose either as a friend. The Chief kept yelling at me, tell me what you saw now!

I said, “I don’t know what to do; they are both my friends! I suppose the best thing to do is tell the truth!” The Chief yelled, “I don’t care who your friends are; you tell me the truth now!” So, I told him in the fewest words possible! I said, “I saw (his surname) push, and then he threw a punch at (his surname); I didn’t report the incident because I hoped nothing would come of it!’”

The Chief said, “Okay, everyone, come down to the Quarter deck now, and we will talk to the Deck Commander (the Commander was a commissioned Navy Officer)! And we will convene a special court-martial (Captain’s mast / A Naval trial.) right now!”

When we arrived, the Chief ordered us to stand at attention and wait outside the Commander’s office near the door. He took our massive friend inside, closed the door, and accused him before the Deck Commander.

We could hear them yelling at our friend. About 3 minutes later, the door opened, and our Chief ordered us three to return to our company because he had confessed, and we no longer needed to testify.

When I entered the barracks, I saw my massive friend’s best friend, and he asked me what had happened. I told him. He started crying, tears rolling down his cheeks. I was shocked! I had never seen such open affection for a friend as I did right then!

I asked him, “Why are you crying?” He said, “He is my best friend! We grew up together on the gang-infested streets of Chicago. I kept him out of gangs while we grew up, and I convinced him to join the Navy with me to keep him from joining any gangs and getting killed! But now, I don’t know what will happen to him!”

His love and concern for our friend moved me, and I cried with him!

About two years later, I temporarily stayed at the San Diego Navy base at the transitioning barracks. I met with some friends at the Enlisted Man’s Pub, where we had lunch and a beer while we ate and talked.

After, I walked back alone to my temporary post (my temporary job there) and passed a man who looked similar to my massive friend in boot camp, but he was slimmer (still massive, but had he trimmed down some), and I wasn’t sure if it was him. As we passed each other, we glanced at each other.

One or two seconds after passing him, I heard him call out, (my surname), is that you?

I stopped, turned around, looked at him, and said, “Yes, it’s me, I called out (his surname) Is that you? He said, “Yes, it is me!”

He said, “I am glad I saw you today! I have been wanting to tell you something ever since boot camp!” He said, “You were right! I put you in a hard place to choose, and you made the right choice!”

I was relieved! We talked for about ten minutes, and he said, “After I confessed, they decided to let me stay in the Navy, but I got moved back one week and put into another company. I wish we had more time to talk, but I must return to my ship within the next hour! Today is our last day of liberty. We are heading out, and I must get back to be counted before we leave! I am glad I got to see you! Goodbye!”

We looked each other in the eyes and shook hands firmly for much longer than a regular handshake (which, in our generation, was like hugging each other in this generation), and then I watched him walk away towards where the ships were docked in awe of him!