MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Riding the train

In 1953, as a Marine reserve, I was directed to report to the Marine Corps Base in San Diego for..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

First live hand grenade

Hand Grenades: The first time I threw a live grenade was during basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas. I was..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Lessons not in the manuals

One of my clearest memories (after 56 years) is actually from the transition from basic to my first assignment; while..
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Green fatigues
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Green fatigues

After receiving our pickle suit, we stood in formation at parade rest while drill sergeant Carey went from recruit to..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Following orders

My initiation into the military came as an Intern at Naval Regional Medical Center, Great Lakes. We received recruits..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Boots O Boots

I reported to FT Thomas Kentucky on Oct 9 1959 for induction into the Army. I was( RA )..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

The DI that made the difference

I attended basic training at Ft Dix, NJ in 1979. C-3-3 boom, boom side the head Red Devils! ..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training stories

I remember going in the gas chamber and we were in two rows, one on the inside and one on..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Anyone need change?

In October 1968 I was in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood MO. We happen to have this one Sunday..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Sideburns

In March 1975 I had reported to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training. Early in my stay at..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

1960, Marine boot camp, MCRD San Diego

The 1st day in Receiving I scuffed a LCPL's shoe and was promptly grabbed by the throat. I always wished..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

No dilly-dally

I was raised to eat slowly and enjoy my food. In 1966 I joined the Air Force and I will..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Boot camp 19O4

Having just turned 16, I grew up in boot camp at Green Bay, Wis., during World War II. One..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training pizza

In the summer of '70 I was "invited" to serve my country. Basic was rough but my Boy Scout years..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Fireman to K.P.

August, 1968, Zero week. Zero week was K.P. detail after detail. 5 days into basic training about 12 boots were..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Hard times

I had never noticed the section concerning boot camp; it brought back thoughts I had wanted to forget. I arrived..
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SALUTE TO NURSES

Nurses, the unsung heroes

The unsung heroes in my book are the nurses who took care of the soldiers in the Vietnam War. I..
2,196 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Shaving

When I enlisted in the Air Force in Oct 1948, I was 17 years old and looked even younger. ..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Bad hat

Air Force BMTS, May 1985. Recruits were wearing dress blues for the last week. It signified that they were almost..
2,450 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

All quiet, and peel the peels

Two stories from March 1977: About a dozen new inductees (myself included) were on the train from the Chicago MEPS to..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Another “raised hand”

June 1954, first week of basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the Sgt. called an informal meeting where he asked..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training memories

I was 17 years old, joined the Air Force in June 1959 and had my basic training at Lackland AFB..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

License to direct traffic

I was a squad leader at Lackland A.F.B. in 1973. While stopping traffic so the squad could cross, the..
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Helping Heroes Fly
IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Helping Heroes Fly

We are Pam Matt and Terri Keeney and we make up Helping Heroes Fly. (www.helpingheroesfly.com) We provide airfare to enlisted..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Why I never ran the obstacle course

In August 1969 I enlisted in the Air Force, arriving at Lackland AFB in San Antonio the Monday before Thanksgiving...
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MY HERO, OUR STORY

World War II

Richmond Heights, OH
My family is basically a Navy family. I am proud to say that I had 11 uncles serve in World..
3,228 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Bivouac

We would assemble as a platoon and do a 10-mile march. Sometimes after the march there would be a..
2,654 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Train ride

I joined the Navy Reserves when I was 16 and still in high school. Drilled on the weekends. Then..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Smokes--7 cents at the Gedunk

Fresh out of high school, clean-cut from Nevada, Iowa, in June 1953. U.S. Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA, during..
2,318 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Another NEVER RAISE YOUR HAND story

On March 10, 1953, myself and two friends were sworn into the US Navy in Columbia, SC. There were..
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