I arrived at Ft. Jackson, SC around midnight in early September 1961, an 18 year old enlistee from New Orleans LA. The next morning, I was a assigned to Company D, Second Battalion, First Training Regiment, along with about 200 others, mostly older draftees from Pennsylvania.

We were immediately sent to the clothing warehouse where we received fatigues, underwear and boots, and were abruptly transformed into 'trainees'. At our first formation with our First Sergeant, Lyle Johnson, I was asked to step out front because of prior service.

In high school I had joined the Naval Air Reserve in the hopes of one day going to flight school. That dream was dashed when my unit was called to active duty on an aircraft carrier shortly after I graduated.

Never expecting or wanting to serve actively in the Navy on an aircraft carrier, I resigned and joined the Army. As an enlistee, I was allowed to pick my MOS and school. I was surprised to be listed as prior service, given that I had never attended a reserve meeting, but the designation would serve me well, as I was made an acting Corporal and squad leader. As such, I spent more time making sure my mates did their pull-ups, than doing them myself.

Anyone who went through basic training at Ft. Jackson remembers Tank Hill. At least once we had to walk up Tank Hill with full field gear on, a challenging feat. However, my most memorable experience came after I was diagnosed with double bronchial pneumonia and placed in the isolation ward.

I definitely didn't feel well, and had no energy, since I could hardly breathe. The only medication I received for five days, was a concoction called 'Brown's Mixture', a cough syrup of sorts, aspirin, and ice to suck on to reduce my cough. Never a shot or a pill. The isolation ward also didn't affect my responsibility to get out of bed every morning, helping to sweep, mop, wax and buff the ward floor, make my bed, and stand by at attention for an inspection by the head nurse.

Again, my prior service status helped me to graduate with my class after being in the hospital for five days.