A number of us from Syracuse, N.Y., arrived at Fort Dix, N.J., on Jan. 10, 1951. Due to a shortage of Army uniforms, the only item we were issued was the old brown overcoat which we fondly referred to as “the horse blanket." We could not be assigned to a company until we received our Army uniforms – green fatigues, underwear, socks, shoes and dress uniform.
So for several days, six or eight of us walked around with nothing to do. It was very cold, and we appreciated the horse blanket.
One day we were standing around talking and smoking when two officers came by. We knew they were officers because of the bars on their uniform shoulders. However, we did not know their rank. After they had walked past, the younger of the two came back to our group. He identified himself as a lieutenant and an aide to the older officer who was a colonel. The lieutenant stated that the colonel wanted to know why we did not put out our cigarettes and salute him as he passed. We explained our status and opened our coats to show him we were wearing civilian clothes. We were concerned that it appeared we were not in the Army.
A week later we received our uniforms and were assigned to the 60th Infantry. We began our basic training in one of the coldest winters at Fort Dix.
I served in Korea with the 84th Engineering Construction Battalion from May 1951 to December 1952 and was discharged with the rank of sergeant.