Good Times Abound for Navy Recruits on Thanksgiving

The unmistakable sounds identified a squad of alpha guys trying to outdo one another, showing off for the girls.

An impromptu push-up contest commenced in an upstairs conference room, a gaggle of Great Lakes recruits egging each other on to show off speed and endurance. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,” they shouted as a pacing routine for each push-up candidate.

All the while the spectacle was witnessed by a half-dozen Chicago Rush dancers on the other side of the room while four of the recruits surfed the Internet on laptops around the conference table.

Earlier:

“Who likes to dance?” said Rush trouper Mekial Singleton. Almost every recruit’s hands shot up.

It was only Thanksgiving morning, the main courses still yet to arrive, yet the U.S. Navy had made , 6144 Dempster St., one of the liveliest places in the Chicago area on the otherwise quiet holiday.

A budding new Morton Grove holiday tradition was in full swing. For the past five years, the American Legion post has hosted 50 freshly-minted sailors in training 25 miles north at Great Lakes who otherwise would spend a dull holiday on base writing letters home, but without Internet or phone access, TV or other forms of entertainment.

The swabbies had all of the above at the post, thanks to the organizing efforts of Legionnaires led by Casey Bachara, businesses and individuals donating food, computers and free long-distance phone calls, as well as the Rush indoor-football team dispatching its dancers.

Sailors scramble quickly to pose with dancers

The women did better than any drill instructor in getting the sailors to act quickly. When asked to pose for a group photo with the dancers, the sailors quickly assembled in formation next to them. And when the dancers checked out the far-away-from home servicemen working the laptops, some quickly displayed their fitness prowess.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said recruit Lee Cleveland, born in Scotland and now hailing from St. Mary’s, GA. “Hang out here, see some football, eat some good food.”

Where’s Cleveland’s native brogue?

“It’s faded, but sometimes I’ll turn it on for the ladies,” he said, figuring Scotsman Sean Connery’s James Bond voice had some success.

The relatively mild weather surprised Justin Evans of Sacramento.

“I was expecting snow,” he said.

The Rush dancers were a sight for sore eyes, but the most crucial individual pulling holiday duty was post member Wally Zawisza of Morton Grove. Like the point man in an infantry squad, if he went down, everyone would be in trouble. Zawisza was in charge of the food. prepared and donated the turkeys, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, and vegetables.

“I’ve been here since 7 a.m. and was here (Wednesday) setting up,” said Zawisza. Granddaughter Stephanie Zawisza was in charge of serving.

Home-baked sweets complement Kappy’s holiday dinner

Individuals pitched in with more modest baking efforts. Kristina Otte of Morton Grove showed up with young daughters Linnea and Kate toting a batch of home-made cookies the trio had prepared the night before.

The Thanksgiving event was a sentimental journey for Dee Dolan of Morton Grove. Her late husband, Tom, served on the U.S.S. Hancock aircraft carrier in World War II before joining Post 134. Grandson Mark Dolan is now a petty officer second class serving on a submarine.

“I’ve come for years, ever since he (Mark Dolan) started in the Navy,” the elder Dolan said. “I’m so thankful for these young men.”

Dolan got to exchange Navy stories with recruit Aaron Johnson, a Tennessee resident, while post member Bob Eichlar chipped in some Air Force stories. They were soon joined at their table by Jeff Marshall, Jr. of Cape Cod, MA. Both Johnson and Marshall will undergo “nuclear training” after Great Lakes, meaning they will be assigned to carriers or subs, both usually nuclear-powered now.

They don’t take just anyone into the Navy anymore due to the economy providing a good labor pool, Marshall said.

“You need to graduate college with at least a 3.7 GPA (for officers training school),” he said. “Even the enlisted ranks are competitive.”

Post 134 commander Matt Ingram, a Morton Grove resident, former Marine and now a structural engineer, credited organizer Bachara for the event, which is the main Thanksgiving off-base program for recruits in the north and northwest suburbs.

“If it wasn’t for Casey, this wouldn’t happen,” said Ingram.

Morton Grove Mayor Dan Staackmann, who stopped by, summed up the good feelings engendered by the holiday soiree.

“It’s a tradition of what Morton Grove is all about,” he said. “Any time there’s need, the village comes together.”