Word: troop
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...Only then consider U.S. troop withdrawals...
...failed to watch his own grooming, he was quickly pulled up short: "Once I incautiously pointed out a grease spot on a boy's shirt. He thereupon called attention to an extremely small gravy mark on my own . . . From then on I never dared appear at a troop meeting without first giving my shoes such a gloss that they could have stood sentry-go at Buckingham Palace ... I went further. I began slathering myself with after-shave lotion, gargling with mouthwash, and even polishing my belt buckle before troop meetings...
...Troop meetings were only the beginning. There was also hiking, and "the man in charge of a group of boy hikers has somewhat the same problems that faced Moses in managing the Exodus . . . There is a similar effort involved in keeping up morale and discipline. There is the same need to dispel almost universal fear of death from thirst or privation. There are those brave, tragic figures who collapse by the side of the road and gasp, 'Go on without me. I can't make it.' " Once home, however, the boys soon forget their difficulties...
Over the years Rice Cochran became used to having rocks in his pack. He was badgered by nervous mothers, harassed by peremptory fathers ("Pay attention to me, young man. My boy must be senior patrol leader of your troop! That's my last word"). He was the victim of strange rumors ("The scoutmaster handled our financial campaign very well. He got a new Buick out of it"), was accused of being a Communist (he had taught the boys to sing a college song, Sons of the Stanford...
...news of an afflicted boy," says Cochran, "seems to rouse other boys . . . This first became apparent to me . . . when I met a Scout named Alan Wylie . . . Alan Wylie . . . was blind . . . Yet he was determined to become an Eagle, and the rest of his troop was determined that he should. They took him everywhere. He was a nuisance on hikes, but the troop slowed d.own to his pace, and detoured around the invitingly rugged areas which might have been troublesome...