pgs. 142-177 Summary

Howard goes to the Officers' Sales Store to buy his new uniforms. The Storekeeper First is very helpful to him and buys his old uniforms. As he leaves, he meets Barbara Cotter the nurse, from the day before. They decide to have lunch at the hospital before Howard is sworn in as a first lieutenant.

Stecker and Lewis are not sending Howard to Quantico for basic school. This means he cannot be assigned to a troop. Howard is having dinner with Brbara Cotter that night and Stecker gives him a key to Pickering's suite at the Coronado Beach Hotel. The key got Howard and Cotter a table immediately when Joe showed it to the maitre d'. Barbara is upset about the key until she hears the story. They find that they receive special treatment because of their association with the Pacific...