by Ursula Maria Mandel

The memories of the pranks, woes, and joys collected in this small volume were drawn from cadet life at The Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Here's a sampling:

Snow Job by Charles Banning, '74

Buzzy Northen, '77, was a star on the diving team, but I think he may be more famous for the day he almost quit VMI.

One day, Buzzy was packed and departing through Jackson Arch. The Commandant, Col Buchanan, '50B, spotted Buzzy, bags packed and on his way out of barracks.

'Mr. Northen, what do you think you are doing?'

'I'm quitting. I'm going home.'

'Please step into my office.'

Col Buchanan convinced Buzzy to reconsider. As Buzzy was departing Col Buchanan's office to return his civilian clothes into storage and to rejoin the Corps, Col Buchanan ordered him to place himself on report for wearing civilian clothes in barracks.

Rat Conductor by Pat Morgan, '54

When I was a Rat, Dabney Coleman, the movie star, Class of '53, would get a crowd of us Rats in his room and make each make like a musical instrument when he put on classical music, and then he'd direct us. He had one hell of an imagination.

All the proceeds of this book are donated to the VMI Museum.