The Crap Game

I had many interesting experiences while I was in the Army, but this one stands out in my memory vividly. I had just arrived at Camp Robinson for induction, along with hundreds of other draftees. There was always a lot of waiting around for roll call, physical exams, uniforms, etc. In the company area there was a small building called the "Day Room". This contained one large pool table and several tables and chairs with a bookcase in the corner where we could read or write letters home while waiting for the next muster and endless roll-call.

There were draftees from all over the country. We were all just waiting for the next orders to do something or other. Right after our monthly payday (Fifty cash dollars), a few of my friends and I strolled down to the day room just to pass a little time. There happened to be a dice game underway on the pool table which was covered by an army blanket.

Naturally we started out just observing the roll of the dice. The game had just started and the bets were only 25 cents. Unbeknown to my mother I had indulged a few times in high school dice games and had been fairly lucky in these games. I searched my pockets and found a dollar which was enough to start with when it came my turn to roll the dice.

I found a place at the table and when my turn came around I started with a 25 cent bet. I rolled the dice and won, and kept the dice as long as I continued to win. I then bet the 50 cents. I rolled the dice and won again. I then bet the $1.00 that was still on the table. I rolled and won again. The game was getting very interesting by that time.

I finally passed the dice to the next soldier and he increased the betting to "no limit". This meant that anyone with the dice may bet as much money as he liked. The "pot" was getting bigger and bigger with each roll of the dice. The crowd of onlooking soldiers increased also.

My winning continued when I would place side bets as others rolled their dice at their turn. When my turn came to roll the dice again I felt real lucky, so I bet $5.00 this time. I rolled the dice and won. Then I bet the $10.00 that was on the table. I rolled the dice and won again. I then bet the $20.00 and won again. I kept going like this for some time, each time betting more and more money and still winning! At one time I had both hands full of money with one and five dollar bills sticking out of each pocket. The excitement of the game kept growing all the time. There must have been over three hundred dollars on the table belonging to me that I had won.

I then decided to bet it all. I shook the dice real well and rolled them on the table. Before they stopped rolling a huge hand and arm came from behind me and grabbed the dice and all the money and thrust it all at me. It was the beloved arm of my good friend, Lance from my home town who had come with me.

Lance was larger than I and somewhat older and wiser. He said, "put all this money in your pocket and come with me". This enraged all the ones who had lost their money to me, and they all wanted to fight me. Big Lance then said to the crowd, "This is my friend and you will have to whip my _ _ _ to get to him and his money". He was well over 6 feet talL And strong as an ox and was ready to defend his friend.

We backed out the door of the day-room while stuffing all those bills into my pocket and headed for the Post Office. I asked Lance, "Why go to the Post Office?" He replied, "You gonna send all this money home to yo' Mama".

Abie never did know where I had gotten all that four hundred dollars.