I suppose there is a time in everyone’s lives that stand out as a particularly emotional passing. Perhaps you can remember this time with a smile or maybe you get a tightness in your chest. I never have a hard time remembering times that affected me while I was in the Army.
The earliest memory was when I was stationed in Texas. This was the first time I had been away from my parents during a holiday. My dad, who was from Texas, actually drove my mother and my younger brother for a visit so I could be with that part of my family for Christmas. Both my older brothers were in the Marines and were also away from home. They were both in Okinawa, a small island that is the home to most Marines after they graduate their basic training.
Since my dad had a couple of relatives in Texas, he decided to drive my mom and my younger brother from Wasco to Galveston, so he could make contact with my Aunt Maude. My family picked me up at the bus station as that was easier to find than a sprawling military post. I used a map to direct him to Galveston. It was a great time for me even if it would be the last time I would see many of the folks I trained with.
They dropped me off at the gate to the post a couple of days later and it must have been a windy day because I can remember that my eyes watered a lot. My mom also must have been suffering as she had tears coming down her cheeks. My dad held me pretty tight as he dropped me off outside the military post. He was a great guy, but I had never seen him so sad.
I finished my medical training just after the first of January. When I went to check in, the First Sergeant told me I would be leaving to go to Jump School in two weeks. I had to finish by taking a series of tests, which I am proud to say I passed with flying colors. I never wanted to be a medic, I wanted to be a paratrooper. Not only did I get to jump out of planes, I would get extra monthly pay.
My adventures of attending Jump School are worth a separate column. Jump School was at Fort Benning, Ga. Suffice to say I made it and received my Paratrooper Jump wings.
From Fort Benning, I was transferred to Fort Bragg, N.C., which was and is the largest military post in the Army. I felt so alone, but I was so busy that I hadn’t realized that two months had passed. I was finally allowed to go into the city of Fayetteville, N.C. This is the closest town to Fort Bragg and has a reputation of a town that knows you are only there for the good times.
I was getting paid $72 a month, and the money goes quick if you have a beer or two. One good thing about being broke is that you can quit smoking pretty easily. It was simple: Did I want to eat or did I want to smoke? Especially when I would smell the bacon in the mess hall.
Everything was so big that we held training by simply walking off into the forest and swamps of the post. I was still getting my legs under me. This was all so intimidating to a country boy from Wasco. We would cross over the main road and stay in the woods for a week at a time. The worst thing about that was the chiggers (chiggers are these little red blood suckers that hooked up to your legs and drove you crazy). You had blood dripping for days after returning to the post.
I have written about my time at Fort Bragg before, but I want to tell you again, that I met a real soldier while stationed there and he helped me understand the ARMY. He told me that I should apply to Officer Candidate School. So I did. I have done a lot of things in my life, but that was the best decision I have ever made. (Well, yeah, there is my wife. But you knew that.)
After graduation, I was again assigned to Fort Bragg so as to study small unit training before shipping out for Vietnam. I have written about my assignment to Vietnam, so allow me to tell you what it means to me. I was a couple of years older than the students and they would challenge me everyday. Imagine a college grad thinking they know more than you. Even though they challenged me, it made me a better instructor. I look back at those times and am proud of the men I taught.
Let’s not forget the men and women who are in harm’s way. They won’t be able to sit down with their families during this holiday season. If you think about it, please keep them in your prayers and remember what they sacrifice to keep all of us safe.
God Bless.
