When I went to join the Army we were sent to Los Angeles to take our physical exam. There were about 50 in our group (clad only in our undershorts) and a rumor was circulating that we would go into one room and get a rectal exam.

Midway through the process we were all ushered into a room where a doctor was putting on rubber surgical gloves. I knew this was it. We were all told to turn around, face the wall and drop our shorts. Now I was sure this was it!

The doctor came up behind me first. I felt a tapping on my back so I obediently bent over and 'spread my cheeks' for the dreaded rectal exam. I heard the doctor say, "What the hell are you doing?".

I looked back, as did 49 other recruits, to see the doctor standing behind me with a stethoscope!