Growing up

I enlisted in the Army in January 1964. I was a skinny kid and knew very little about life outside of Springfield, Ill. I took basic and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The thing I remember most about basic is how crudely we were treated. I left home at 5 pm and and spent the first night in St Louis. This was our induction point. From there we went to Fort Leonard Wood and were issued toiletries (at 2 a.m.), a pillow and bedding. All the issuing was done by a corporal who did not appreciate being up at that time of day. He talked all the while he was throwing stuff at us, and about the second or third sentence was filled with "expletive Army." I got to bed at 2:30-3:00 a.m. The next day was hurry up and wait so we could go to chow, then get our shots. Every other guy who came out of the infirmary said "they stick you with a needle (where no man wants pain) so you better decide whether you want it in the right or left one." Of course this was not true. Whoever it was administering the shots looked like he was playing darts when he said "bend over." Next was clothing issue and boots, which was uneventful. By the end of the day we learned a few curse words we were not accustomed to, how to fall out and make our own bed. Following orders we fell out the next day to go to chow and line up to get a haircut. If there was a thousand troops getting haircuts that day, every other guy said, "I just got a hair cut". That didn't matter because every one there got a buzz/crew cut. And the barbers loved cutting off long hair. When we finally got to our company we were issued bedclothes by a big buck sergeant who enjoyed throwing stuff at us to see if he could knock us over. The kid in front of me smiled at the supply sgt., and he stopped throwing long enough to ask the kid if he amused him. The kid was kind enough to say yes and he is one guy who got knocked over and then screamed at. From then on it was fun and games ... it was up to you to do your best and learn not to volunteer for anything.