MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

An afternoon off base

In the fall of 1958 my brother and I were in basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. One day..
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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..
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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..
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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..
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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..
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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..
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