After a long day of travel from Maine and getting to our barracks late at night, about 3 a.m., the lights went on and I awoke to a drill sergeant yelling "Fire drill! Get out of those bunks!" My first thought was "Where am I?" and the second was "Who is the idiot doing all the yelling?" A quick transition from civilian thinking to military adjustments in my thinking. To add to the adjustment, I had foolishly decided that it was best to leave Maine for San Antonio in June through July and into August. Good timing, bright boy! One night it dropped down to 92 degrees and all the fans did for us was blow hot air. The old barracks with open bays and 2-foot fans at each end to "cool us." I think it would be difficult to separate these three, and I just consider it one bad memory.
The best day? After graduation we got a tour of San Antonio, including a zoo where I saw my first live rhino which amazed me because of its size. Then we toured the River Walk, which in 1962 was dirt paths and few restaurants, but the top experience was visiting the Alamo. I found it to be sad and emotional and I do not believe anyone visiting for their first time would not be moved while standing on the site where so many fought and died.

Paul Clark
The Colony, Texas