August 1971. Fort Jackson, S.C. We were doing night firing. Just as we were ready to fire, "READY ON THE RIGHT, READY ON THE LEFT, READY IN THE MIDDLE," then a shot rang out before "COMMENCE FIRING"!! The committee group that was in charge went nuts! Our drill sergeants went nuts. Nobody stepped forward. All of a sudden the drill sergeants were standing over me! They counted my rounds, I had the 20 in my M16. They told me to go up and tell the range lt. that I was the one that fired! After some persuading, lol, I went up and took the blame. Thank God our captain knew it wasn't me! He took me away in a jeep and told the range people I would be made an example of. He told me thanks for taking the blame and I could go home Labor Day! Came to Labor day, I was assigned KP! My buddy Harold Hepner took my duty so I could go home!
God bless the Army!
Jeff Karpen
B-9-2
Fort Jackson, S.C.
Summer of '71