Some years ago one of our sons, just out of high school, was offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. His high school average reflected doubt that he could pass the academy entrance examinations without the help of a preparatory course, so we decided on a prep school and made arrangements for his enrollment. The school required a thorough pre-entrance physical examination, and our son went to a nearby hospital for it.
A few days later my wife received a phone call advising that either she or I should call at the hospital.
My wife did not alert me to this phone call but drove to the hospital alone. There she was told our son had a serious condition—enlargement of the heart, as shown by X rays. They said he would be rated 4-F by any induction board, that he could never pass a physical examination to enter any service academy and would not be fit for service at all. To attest to all this a signed (three signatures) document was handed my wife—the results of the examination. The examining board further enjoined my wife to adhere to a certain limited diet for our son and advised he should avoid strenuous exercises or sports. Very likely no ill effects of this heart condition would manifest itself perhaps for years, they said, but after middle age the effects of this condition would become apparent, and our son would probably be a semi-invalid.
