@edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs = May 13, 2025

 May 13, 2025 and Friday the 13th is on Tuesday this month (Thank you, Pogo). On this day one hundred and nine years ago in 1896 , Edgar Rice Burroughs enlisted in the United States Army after resigning his post as assistant commandant from the Michigan Military Academy.

After his graduation, from the Michigan Military Academy he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point by a member of the United States House of Representatives, Edgar Wilson, but he failed his entrance examination and did not enter the Academy.

He then went back to the Michigan Military Academy in 1895, and served as assistant commandant for less than a year. He abruptly resigned his position, and with his father’s permission, on May 13, 1896, he enlisted in the US Cavalry at the age of twenty.

He signed up with the U.S. Army as a buck private in the hopes of eventually becoming an officer. Being a natural horseman Ed got his wish and was assigned to the Seventh United States Cavalry (General Custer's old regiment) stationed at Fort Grant, Arizona Territory.

https://www.erbzine.com/mag1/0127.html and

https://www.erbzine.com/mag13/1372.html

The fictional drabble for today is ‘Officer Material,” inspired by Burroughs enlistment in the Army.

The Sergeant said, “Private Burroughs, you had a cushy job at a military academy. In God’s name, why did you resign and enlist?”

“Those who can’t do, teach. I thought I could do. Besides, I’ll be promoted. I should be an officer.”

“Right, and I should be the President.”

“I expect a battlefield promotion.”

“I expect you to peel these potatoes. Battlefield promotions to an officer require that an officer be killed in battle. That’s unlikely these days. After Custer’s Last Stand, officers tend ride their desk rather than their horse. Never saw a captain die from a paper cut.”