March 23, 1970 through June 23, 1970
A Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Fort Lewis, WA

My fondest memory from Basic Training was when our Drill Sergeant started on the third floor of our three story barracks bringing the troops to the push-up position, but on our elbows instead of the standard push-up position.
Being on the first floor with my platoon, we recieved word of what was happening upstairs and coming down. Remembering that the last time we had to do this was not very pleasant and having a few minutes to think, I went to my foot locker and pulled out an extra pair of boot socks and stuffed them down my fatique shirt sleeves to protect my elbows. My buddies that saw what I was doing and said, "You better hope you don't get caught." and I said "Me too!" Well sure enought, here comes the D.I., and for whatever reason he had us come to the push-up position on our elbows. Within a few minutes everybody was moaning and groaning. I was not hurting at all but soon realized that if I wasn't doing the same I would possibly stand out, so I started moaning and groaning also. The good news is it worked. When the D.I. left the barracks all my buddies around me commented on how they thought that was a pretty brave idea, and all I could say was my elbows don't hurt, how about yours?

Chuck Burgmeier