U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL

“LT Glassman if this man touches me with that needle I’ll use him for an anchor.” Rickover’s words didn’t help. I thought the corpsman would have a seizure.

His aide bent over to me. “You better draw his blood. He hates needles.”

I avoided his face and performed a painless venipuncture. The electrocardiogram was non-invasive and went well. Rickover glared at me with his aide at attention.

“What’s next Lieutenant?”

I looked at my watch. “You had a clear liquid diet yesterday, fasting last night and the final preparation for your barium enema begins in 15-minutes.”

“You mean I have an asshole nurse coming in.”

Before I spoke LCDR Bomba appeared wheeling an IV pole with four bags of warm soap suds solution for Rickover’s colonic purge.

“Good afternoon Admiral. It’s time for ‘high hot and a hellava-lot’ and look what else I brought for you, compliments of Dr. Glassman.” She held up the Xylocaine jelly tube.

Rickover’s eyes actually brightened. “I remember you. LCDR Bummer right? You really looked after my tush last time.” He looked at me. “You had to write the Xylocaine order, right Lieutenant?”

I nodded in the affirmative as Rickover looked back to the nurse.

“It’s Bomba and the order reads ‘enemas till clear’.” She smiled. “So let’s see what you’re made of, sir.”

I thought I actually saw Rickover grin at her statement. I could have been wrong