after the navy , in which i , as a petty officer , was taking curt commands from chiefs , ensigns , lieutenants , and occasionally commanders , once even an admiral , and was having to give orders to seamen old enough to be my father , who understandably expressed their resentment by ornamenting their responses to me with such epithets as son of a bitch , bastard , and a certain male body part , i found mitch to be a genial guardian angel .