April through June of 1968, I was at Fort Dix, N.J. One of my most vivid memories of my training occurred when a member of my unit was accused of "killing his duffel bag" by burning a hole in it with a cigarette ash. The drill sergeant made the individual dig a grave for his duffel bag the length and width of the bag and several feet deep. Fortunately Fort Dix is a very sandy part of the country, and digging was a little easier. While we watched, he spent a couple hours digging this grave. When complete, we had a funeral for the duffel bag, followed by the burial, which once more took some time.

When all was complete, the drill sergeant told the individual that what he just buried was government property and he couldn't leave it in the ground! We were dismissed, but the very tired soldier was there into the dark of night retrieving his duffel bag.