Memories

I quit my last year of high school and at 17 years, 5 months, enlisted in the Army. I was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., for basic training. We had a rough ol’ Master Sergeant First Class for instructor. Occasionally, he would say, “OK, guys, fall out, take five, smoke if you got them.” Back then, the Army would give us a small package of cigs with five in it. All of the older GIs would fall out and light up. I thought it was the manly thing to do. So I went to the PX and bought my first full pack of cigarettes for 10 cents. Remember, this was 1950. (I’m still puffing on them - a pack a day for 65 years. I should have died many years ago from lung cancer, etc.)
I spent six years in the Army as field corpsman, ambulance driver and hospital attendant. I finished my schooling even before my class. In the camp administration building the sergeant in charge said I had to take all of high school over! He gave me books, one class at a time, and then gave me a test. I passed each test with flying colors. I sent the test papers to my high school, and my name was entered with my regular graduating class.

« Previous story
Next story »