I joined the Army

I joined the Army at age 16, and didn’t start Basic Training until Sept 19, 1961, which put me at age 17.
I was the youngest in the Training Company at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

After Basic Training I went home and was politely told that they had no room for me.
So I went on to my next Training Assignment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

After about eight weeks I finished Training there as an Artillery Surveyor (surveyed in targets).
From there, I went to Jump School at Fort Benning ,Georgia for about seven weeks.
I was actually too young for Jump School but I told them I lost my ID Card,
and when they made me out a new one, had my date of birth changed to qualify.

From there on to Korea for 13 month Tour of Duty.

I must admit I did grow up fast.
While my class was getting ready to Graduate, I had already gotten my High School equivalent Diploma through the GED Testing System.
I was 17 and the average age was 20 and above. It was hard cause most of the men were Drafted into Service and all I ever heard was how stupid I was for joining, but they knew nothing of my home life and living with a father that hated you, cause he knew deep down I wasn’t his son.

From Korea to Germany.

The beer was as fine as the Fraulines. I even brought home an Oktoberfest Bride.
From there back to Fort Lewis, Washington where I departed for Vietnam.

I had no time to acclimate my body to the Nam temps.
Due to the need for recon sergeants, I was sent straight to the field, and acclimatised as I progressed with time.

As for the bugs you learned to deal with them. Sometimes while on recon, any movement you made could be your last, so if a bug or a rat was looking you straight in the eye, you dare not move for fear of giving away your position.

Yes I went from one Infantry Unit to the next, staying as close to the front as you could get.

I did this for 343 days.
13 days from time of being MEDOVAC’ed =356 days plus 5 days in-processing to my Unit.
Out of the 343 days I had returned to by base unit only 3 times, mostly just for overnight and then on to a new assignment.

I served with the Army Republic of Vietnam, 2. Military Advisors Vietnam 3. Korean Tiger Division. My Base Unit was 5^th of the 27^th Field Artillery  “A” Btry Capt Kelly was the CO.

We were assigned to the 101^st Airborne Division Phan Rang Vietnam.

I am not bragging but I received the Army Commendation Medal for doing more than what was expected of me.

Please always remember our Cause was Just.
No more no less.

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