but this past year larry had changed his mind and enlisted in the navy after an uncle 's patriotic harangue at a memorial day barbeque in which he relived the life of a young man free from worry who had made the most of his chance to see the world from sea to shining sea on uncle sam 's dime , and boy were them filipino gals pretty - if he had to do it all again he 'd marry one because americans girls were all nuts .