Late 1961, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Fort Lost in the Woods, Misery)

We were lined up outside supply waiting to receive our duffel bags and everything that went in them. The guy I was standing next to noticed a small bench up by the entrance. We thought it would be a good idea to walk up there and sit down, as things were moving slowly, so we did. A sergeant came out and asked us if we were tired of standing in line and could he help? We said we were good.

"No, you guys look tired, so come on in," he said. He then proceeded to put us behind a very long counter and for the rest of the day we stood and helped hand out boots, fatigues, gloves and so on to everyone else. A lesson learned early in basic.