The P-Coat

During World War Two, The Navy issued a P-Coat that could be worn by watch standers aboard Destroyers operating on a winter run in the North Atlantic.

Years later, as I completed boot camp and was headed for the fleet, I was issued one of these P-Coats. They were magnificent. Aboard ship, I kept close track of it, stowed safely away when it wasn’t needed.

Upon completing my enlistment, and being Honorably Discharged, I returned home to Detroit. I wanted to return to school. I had left to go out and learn of the world. Now, I needed to improve the intellectual.

My involvements, also developed into the social. Life was good.

On one cold winter’s night, a common occurrence for Detroit winters, that never deter the city’s creative spirit, I had a date for dinner and a movie. I wore my P-Coat. It was warm. It said, I was a sailor, a veteran.

After the movie, and as we walked back to my car, we approached a guy standing on a corner. He was down on his luck. He had no coat. He was freezing.

I began to realize what I needed to do. I started silently swearing. I liked that P-Coat. Many a time it helped keep me warm. I gave him the coat.

His face lit up. I nodded, smiled, and left.

It was a hurried walk to the car. I felt the cold.

I rarely mention the experience. My actions were helping another, not promoting myself. Consider too that many years have passed since that moment, and regardless of where I have happened to be, experiencing a winter’s weather, I have always had a coat. I have always been warm.