I received my draft notice in Prosser, Wash., in 1965. When I reported in Spokane and went through the physical, I was informed I was underweight at 120 pounds and had to sign a waiver to go into the Army. I could have evaded the draft, but I signed.
At Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., I received a knee injury during training that put me in a walking cast. My Company Commander told me I would have to return home until healed and then come back and start over. I told him if I left, they would have to send the military police to get me back. I told the Battalion Commander and the Base Commander the same thing.
Since I had passed all the training requirements already, they let me stay. I marched behind the formations to every training site in my cast, sometimes arriving one to two hours later.
Also, I had to eat twice at each meal to gain weight.
I graduated, in my cast, in formation, in 105 degree weather.
The Army was the best thing that ever happened to me. My father, a major in the Army Reserve, was proud that I retired after 27 years as a sergeant major.