My strongest memory of basic training actually occurred at the end. I received my draft notice at the same time I received my BS in Computer Science (Sep 71). The Government was already trying to extricate itself from this war of attrition and, while I wanted to serve my country, I did not want to go to Vietnam.

So, I enlisted for 3 years into Nike Hercules surface-to-air nuclear missiles specifically because they did not have nuclear missiles in Vietnam. Also, thanks to my degree, I would not have to attend AIT at Ft. Bliss, TX but could receive OJT at Edgewood Arsenal, MD. I attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC (E-10-2). We were "Road Runner Company", double-timing everywhere.

As a non-athletic geek bookworm, this wreaked havoc on my knees. The pain was substantial and they were the size of softballs with fluid at the end of every day. I showed them to the Drill Instructors who acknowledged the "water on the knee" but, reminded me that if I lost too many days on sick call, I would be recycled back to Week 2. So I waited until I passed all testing, then went to sick call where they put my left leg in soft cast and gave me crutches.

I then received orders that I was to attend AIT at Ft. Bliss, and the next training cycle there wouldn't begin for 8 weeks. So, I was assigned coal shoveling duty to keep the pipes in the E-10-2 buildings from freezing for 8 weeks. Every 4 hours, I would have to stoke 5-6 furnaces with coal, sharing this duty with another hapless soldier. I was livid and went to the main Ft. Jackson personnel shop, showed my enlistment papers, and a SP4 clerk said, "No problem, you're on the 7am bus to Edgewood Arsenal."

I went back to the head shed and told the 1st Sergeant who was visibly upset, saying "Well, you can't take those crutches with you." I leaned them against the wall, hobbled back to the barracks, and cut the soft cast off my leg.

After checking into my unit, 4th Bn, 1st ADA, at Edgewood Arsenal, I went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground Hospital where, after an examination, I was issued a Permanent L3 Profile, declaring "No running, jumping, kneeling, crawling, standing more than 1/2 hour or marching more than 1/2 mile" for the rest of my active duty.

After 10 months at Edgewood Arsenal, thanks to my degree, I was assigned to Army Headquarters to serve as a Mathematics-Statistics Assistant (MOS 01E20) at the Military Personnel Center in Northern Virginia.

So after 3 years of CONUS active duty, I made E-5 in 21 months, received 2 Army Commendation Medals, and personal thank you notes from two different Generals.

Since leaving the Army, I've had surgery on both knees and have had my left hip replaced because of a congenital defect.

I sure wish I had known that when I was drafted!