I was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps. At that time there was no separate air force. For basic training I was sent to Miami Beach, Fla. The U.S. government had taken over much of Miami Beach for military purposes.
My most memorial experiences were marching down city streets and living in a hotel. I remember marching down one of Miami Beach’s city streets one day. As we approached the intersection, a car came around the corner and drove right into our platoon. The car stopped in time and those up front were able to run to the side so there were no serious injuries.
From basic training, I was sent to Mississippi for some airplane mechanics training and from there to India to be a part of the CBI theatre of operations. Our task was to fly supplies to our troops in China, Burma and India.
In 1950, I decided to join the U.S. Army Reserve. I was not in the reserve too long before I was called to active duty. After attending the tank school at Fort Knox, I was sent to Korea, where I served as a tank commander. Korea is the coolest place I have ever been. Yet I had to drive around one entire winter in a tank without heat.
After Korea, I joined a reserve CID unit (Criminal Investigation Command). I was able to stay in the Army Reserve and retire as a criminal investigator.