I had basic training at Ft Riley, Kansas in 1961 or the year that man landed on the moon. There are many memories of training accidents, General Westmoorland visit, guarding the motor pool for some misconduct etc. But, the experience that sticks in my mind is an incident during a Rifle training session.

A buddy of mine and I were sitting on the ground in front of an Instructor who was giving a presentation on poisonous plants and other things dangerous in a soldiers environment. My buddy was built like a football linebacker and was a State Golden Glove Champion but had one great fear that the Army didn't know about.

When the instructor reached in a box with his baton and flipped a supposedly venomous rattlesnake at us, my friend jumped up with fist clenched and I instinctively jerked him back to the ground.

He never thanked me for saving his career.