During the early days of November 1966, I was a member of Recruit Training Company C-5-1 at Fort Bragg, N.C. My drill instructor, Sgt. George Arceneaux, and another drill instructor, a Sgt. Askins, had our company out on a night run over what had been a well worn and familiar trail. Askins was in the lead, when suddenly in the immediate trail ahead Sgt. Askins spied a deep pit that had apparently just been dug running across our intended path. He yelled for us to halt, but we were within feet of the pit and he saved us from plunging into that pit by body blocking the first three rows of us and knocking us down before we could fall into it. Askins was catapulted into the pit himself by our momentum. He sustained several injuries in doing so, including broken ribs and multiple bruises. When he returned to duty, I actually got up nerve enough to approach this hardcore drill instructor and thanked him. I also remember that for a brief moment his shell softened and I could see how really much he cared for us.

I pulled two tours in Vietnam and by God's grace returned, somewhat disabled, but nonetheless alive. God and the excellent training we received in basic and advanced infantry training brought this GI home to his family.

I believe that God couldn't have put us in better hands. Thank you drill instructors past, present and future.