"Another bomb story (I'm not really a pyromaniac, I just remember these events): Gargantua. Think this was also a '59 story. Notes appeared daily on the Bulletin Boards for about a week advising that "Gargantua was coming," the largest bomb to be set off in Barracks. Ever! The Corps was looking forward to this, but the Commandant, Col. Glover Johns, was not about to let Barracks be destroyed. He published memos requiring the parties to come forth. No response. More memos, this time promising amnesty. No response. Finally, Col. Johns said he would cancel drill, and with proper supervision, allow Gargantua to be detonated on the Parade Ground, and no penalties would be assessed anyone. An Agreement was reached, and on the appropriate day, the perpetrators assembled at the far end of the Parade Ground, an order was given to open all windows on the West side of Barracks, and Gargantua was ignited. Much to the delight of the Corps, only a small cloud of black smoke rose into the air, and a very weak bomb sound was heard in Barracks. At least, we got out of drill! However, late that night the familiar "Bomb in the Courtyard! Bomb in the Courtyard! Sentinel, get out of the box!" was heard. Shortly thereafter, Gargantua went off, waking all, and breaking several Courtyard windows. A Class of '59 success."
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Jim Greathead, VMI Class of 1960, "Gargantua", as quoted in Memories of VMI: Volume I (2001, re-published 2013) by Ursula Maria Mandel, p. 16-17
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Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia. It was founded in 1839 and is the first public Senior Military College in the United States. In keeping with its founding principles and unlike any other Senior Military College in the United States, VMI enrolls cadets only and awards bachelor's degrees exclusively. VMI offers its students, all of whom are cadets, strict military discipline combined with a physically and academically demanding environme
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