Hillbilly Elegy

(Rick Simeone) #1

folks. It assumes that no one taught you
anything about physical fitness, personal
hygiene, or personal finances. I took
mandatory classes about balancing a
checkbook, saving, and investing. When
I came home from boot camp with my
fifteen-hundred-dollar earnings
deposited in a mediocre regional bank, a
senior enlisted marine drove me to Navy
Federal—a respected credit union—and
had me open an account. When I caught
strep throat and tried to tough it out, my
commanding officer noticed and ordered
me to the doctor.
We used to complain constantly
about the biggest perceived difference
between our jobs and civilian jobs: In

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