The first time I read this, I didn't understand how serious striking a superior officer during war was, but I could tell Hendricks was a fool. The officers blaming themselves for letting him break the rule stuck with me, though.
Now, after I've read the Hornblower series, I knew exactly what the potential punishment could have been, and was screaming at the kid to take a hint and shut up.
As for the rest, I like the examination of how boot camp works, showing how it's exactly as hard as it needs to be.
And that's the problem. Zim wasn't where he needed to be mentally. And Frankel is right that if Zim couldn't stay impersonal and professional in this case, then putting him back in ranks would be a mistake.
The first time I read this, I didn't understand how serious striking a superior officer during war was, but I could tell Hendricks was a fool. The officers blaming themselves for letting him break the rule stuck with me, though.
Now, after I've read the Hornblower series, I knew exactly what the potential punishment could have been, and was screaming at the kid to take a hint and shut up.
As for the rest, I like the examination of how boot camp works, showing how it's exactly as hard as it needs to be.
And the fool managed to connect.
And that's the problem. Zim wasn't where he needed to be mentally. And Frankel is right that if Zim couldn't stay impersonal and professional in this case, then putting him back in ranks would be a mistake.