From: "settummanque, the blackeagle" (Mike Walton)
Via: Scouts-L Youth Programs Discussion List

(From "Patches and Pins" (or "The Quest for the Silver Beaver...."), by Mike Walton (c) 1988)

One of the most endearing promises I've made to myself was to "keep the Scout Promise". I have always called it the "Scout Promise", although it is the "Scout Oath (or Promise)" as listed in the official BSA books and manuals over the years. For those that are not aware of this statement of fact, which that's what the Scout Oath....Promise...is, here's the official text:

       On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country 
       and to obey the Scout Law;
       To help other people at all times;  (and)
       To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

But I'll be honest with you. I have problems with that "To help other people at all times" line. It has really gotten me into a lot of trouble.

I know that the intent of that part of the Promise is to remind you every day of your sincere obligation to serve and be of service to others. To tell your mind that there's lots of ways that you can assist and "be useful". But no matter what I do to make myself feel that I'm doing the right thing, it still gets me into trouble with somebody out there that doesn't understand that

"I've got to do it. I've promised!"

And the worst of it is, you're *really not supposed to tell anyone* what you've done to of be of help to someone else...so, there's a lot of "I was just late starting", a convienent lie but not the truth.

Like this morning, for instance. I was late for formation before class. I know that I must get into my van, drive across a small connector road to Walton Way, go down two blocks and make a right onto the connector to the expressway, drive down the expressway three exits to Gordon Highway, and then drive down Gordon Highway to Gate Five and two blocks over to the 552nd Signal Battalion (Training)'s Headquarters. Get out of the car, walk over to the backside of the building and stand there until everyone's there and accounted for before going into the classroom.

A fourty-five minute drive under "regular driving conditions" for Augusta, Georgia. Longer if it's like this morning, rainy and wet and nasty.

I am attending the Army's Signal Officer Advanced Course, the "qualifying course" to my future as an Army Signal Officer. Those that don't complete the course, don't move onward to become the Army's leaders in communications, electronics or automation. They end up leaving the service alltogether and end up working at Bi-Low (a grocery chain) or for the city or something. I don't know.

I don't want to even think about that; I am very close to joining them because I can't "be there on time".

I was too busy "helping other people". Like the time that I stood in the rain for twenty- three minutes changing a tire for a family from Ohio. I noticed the license plate as I passed -- no, zipped -- by them trying to do it themselves. I got off the Bobby Jones at the next exit, backtracked, and pulled up a safe distance away to keep my vehicle from bumping theirs.

They had the wrong kind of jack to take the lugnuts off, so I had to fish for mine. They made me late.

They also made me smile, as the mother, trying to figure out how they were going to get back, was conforted by the fact that "a Armyman is going to change our tire", according to her oldest child, five.

And no matter how I "prettied it up", when I stood in front of Major Weems, my course evaluator/coach, it all sounded lame. I guess I wasn't as good as "pumping up the truth" as I should have been. After all, others got away with going to "Hotlanta" or the beach for less!

"You want to be a Company Commander?", Major Weems looked into my eyes. "I've already been a Commander, sir", I responded.

"You want to REMAIN in the Army? I can make it really easy for you, Mike!" That hurt. "Yes sir," I replied.

"You will have to do something about this tardiness. I realize that you're doing all of this stuff for others, but you're going to have to forget that Scout stuff and concentrate on what you're here for!".

"I will, sir", I said as he waved his hand for me to leave his office.

So, on the way in this morning, with WBBM on the radio, with my windshield wipers running, and with my lights on, I started out *even earlier*, to show everyone including Major Weems, that I can get there *on time* and even earlier.

I didn't get very far. I first noticed the car, with its headend in the ditch when I passed it by. The engine was still running. The wipers were still moving, but it looked as if someone kicked it in a fit of rage into that deep ravine.

I slowed down to see if anyone else would stop and help. No red brake lamps lit as I moved onward down the road, moving a little slower. "It's not your problem, Mike", I said aloud to myself, "Someone will help them." I then noticed that in my zeal to get out of the door and to the van and to the post, that I had left my physical training gear behind on the front porch.

I turned around at the intersection with Walton Way, one of the major east-west roads in Augusta (and which has nothing to do with my family) and trolled back toward the house. Passing the car, I then saw something that frightened me.

There was someone in that car!

I pulled off the two lane road into the driveway of someone's home, took out my citizens band portable, and plugged it into the cigarette lighter. I then called for help on Channel nine, the universal "emergency channel". I then ran back to my apartment, grabbed my gear and two additional towels, and ran back to that car (I got my physical training in for the day for sure!). I yelled into the car "Are you Alright?? I've called for the Police!"

"Can you help me get out of here?" was the weak response. Then the door opened, and I found myself looking at a crying Wilma, shaking from head to toe. "I don't know what happened! I was turning the channel on the radio.....and NOBODY came by even to see if I was alright. Nobody!!" With her assistance, I got Wilma out of her car, had her to stand beside the car and then turned the car's engine off. It kept going for another few momments before it finally stopped.

The police came, took her report, and in the middle of asking where Wilma worked, I interrupted.

"Officer, I know you're not supposed to do this, but can you PLEASE call my unit up and tell them what's going on. If I'm late for work one more time, I'll get drummed out of this course!"

The officer looked at me, then at the woman still shaking even under the woolen blanket I had provided her and the cup of coffee the policeman offered her, and replied "I don't have a problem doing that. Write down the number and the name of your CO and I'll call them personally."

He did what he said, and I took Wilma to her work at the Travelers' Insurance Company's field office ("At least you've got good insurance!", I tried to kid her with; she didn't get it I guess) and then I drove to work. Two weeks later, Wilma called me at home and thanked me for what I did for her. "I hope I didn't get you into any trouble with your Army people", she said.

"I had to do it", I told her, my Amanda leaning against my leg as she had moved herself to the kitchen and her daddy on the "downstairs phone". "I'm a Boy Scout leader, and we're supposed to help other people all of the time, not just when we feel like it. I'm just glad you were okay... your car was a mess!" She laughed and replied, "A Boy Scout rescued me."

"Yep. I'm not a Scoutmaster or something, just a volunteer...but that's something that I don't mess around with."

It's been times like that one that people fail to understand: The promise I made to myself, and that I continually raise my hand in the Scout Sign and repeatly promise, doesn't say "When I feel like it". I'm saying that I will "help other people at all times".

Even if it gets me into trouble or cause me to be late. What makes a Scout a Scout is the fact that he or she tries to be of service and to provide that example to others. You can't try to do something if you don't attempt it.

Someone told me "You'll get yourself killed one of these days, helping someone". I replied "I don't know of anyone that has been shot for making an emergency phone call for someone else, broken down on the roadway."

*****

Settummanque!