MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Lowest form of animal life

I had just turned 18 years of age when I enlisted in the Air Force in March 1952 and was..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Finding religion in basic training

I grew up in the Methodist faith. That meant every Sunday the whole family attended church. As I grew older..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training during the Korean War

I was drafted on March 13, 1951, sworn in at 7 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn., and boarded a train for..
6,542 views
Keep your hands down
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Keep your hands down

In October 1970 I found myself at Fort Jackson, S.C., undergoing basic training. It was in the midst of the..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Stormy basic training memory

Basic training in 1971 was held at Fort McClellan, Ala., for Women's Army Corps. Early one morning we had a..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Given a nickname

I enlisted in the Marine Corps in October of 1965. One of my drill instructors, Sgt. Lischin, at the Marine..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Thankful for my father's advice

In August 1964, I went into basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. Being 23 years old, I was considered an..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A moment of calm at Parris Island, S.C.

I have many memories of my time spent on "the Island," but the most special happened every afternoon at the..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A night in the barracks latrine

My favorite story about boot camp begins at the draft physical. My friend John was a good enough shot to..
2,805 views
Basic in 1974 at Fort Ord, Calif.
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic in 1974 at Fort Ord, Calif.

I enlisted in June 1974, a year after high school. Exams and tests were done in Portland, Ore., and took..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Showing who is boss

During boot camp it was my turn to be the flight chow runner; the job was to let so many..
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FAMILY LEGACY

Military is in our blood

Lexington, VA
The Preysz family has produced a number of military men. For example, my grandfather, Louis R. F. Preysz, was in..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Heading for basic training

I was drafted in 1966 and took the troop train from Boston to Columbia, S.C., to be trained for Vietnam..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training—an 'eye-opener'

It was August of 1959 when I decided to join the Army and leave the comfort of my small town..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Worst memory, fondest memory of basic training

Christmas Day 1954, while on kitchen police duty, I cleaned a grease trap on Tank Hill at Fort Jackson, S.C.,..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Doc adds new movement to close-order drill

In August 1969, I went to basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash., with Training Company D-5-1. We were one of..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Using an actual driver's license at basic

In April 1965, my 22-year-old self headed to Fort Dix, N.J., for basic training. We arrived by bus at camp..
2,594 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Memories of basic training in 1956 at Lackland Air Force Base

On Aug. 27, 1956, I enlisted in the Air Force with four others from my high school class. I was..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Remember basic training

Wow, I will try to remember that moment in time. In the summer of 1973, I was employed with the..
2,926 views
Sick at ROTC summer camp
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Sick at ROTC summer camp

As an ROTC cadet, summer camp was our version of basic training. I went to summer camp in July 1968..
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Basic seems impossibly long ago
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic seems impossibly long ago

I underwent basic training in the summer of 1947 at SAAAC Field, Texas (now Lackland Air Force Base). I'd have..
3,065 views
Basic at Fort Gordon, Ga.
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic at Fort Gordon, Ga.

I think my fondest memory of basic at Fort Gordon, Ga., came during our sixth week. We had begun to..
3,987 views
Basic training during winter of 1968 at Fort Dix, N.J.
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training during winter of 1968 at Fort Dix, N.J.

It was 1968, the peak of the Vietnam conflict, and I was ordered to Fort Dix, N.J., for basic training..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

'Cool under fire'

In April 1961 we were sent to Fort Ord, Calif., to undergo basic training. After a month or so of..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Boardwalk marching

I remember the many marches along Atlantic City's boardwalk and the assemblies in what is now Boardwalk Hall. Most unpleasant..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

My 'Dear John' letters

I was 19 when I got drafted into the Army. Mail call was one of the best times of the day...
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Sweet memory of Christmas Day 1971

I was sitting on my bucket in front of Quonset hut barracks, eating prickly pear fruit and writing a letter..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A time to mow at basic combat training

On Aug. 31, 1965, I was relieved to have survived my very first plane ride from Dallas to Fort Polk,..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training in Texas

I enlisted in April of 1969 in Des Moines, Iowa. I was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A kind of religious experience at Fort Jackson, S.C.

My first experience with boot camp will stick with me forever. (Yes, I went through boot camp once as a..
2,947 views