Wednesday, March 27, 2019

It could have been worse

OK. This is random. Forty-eight years ago today was a Saturday. It was the last weekend at home before shipping out to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

I could count on my hands the number of times I'd been more than 30 miles from home. My family went to the beach a few times, and I'd been to Georgia twice. My family lived in Indiana for just over a year when I was in kindergarten. My Uncle Garland invited me to ride to Arkansas with him one time. He was a long-distance truck driver and he needed someone to help keep him awake. Riding in his truck was rough. I think my teeth rattled for days after we returned. The next time he asked, I made up a lame excuse for staying at home. I checked truck driving off of my list of possible careers.

But in March of 1971, I was leaving home for at least two years. Vietnam was winding down, but there were still troops in the country. I had no idea where I would end up, but it was exciting in a strange sort of way.

Basic Training was an experience. For the first time in my life, I lived with a mixing bowl of men. We were all colors and from all corners of the country. I think we all had pictures of our girlfriends in our wallets.

For the next two years, I was exposed to things I'd never experienced before or since. I had mixed feelings about serving in the military.

When I got out, it took me a long time before I would wear green. I didn't cut my hair for a long time.

But when I got ready to get a job, the Army paid part of my salary for job training.

And when I decided to go to college, the Army paid for a chunk of my tuition.

The job  I got with MaBell, was because I was a veteran.

Sometimes on Facebook, I see threads that say we should bring back the draft. I don't weigh in. Had you asked me back in 1972 what I thought of the draft, I would have filled your ears. But these days I can say there were a great many things that could have happened to me that would have been worse.




8 comments:

  1. My travels had been all the way to ALAbame from NC. And yes, that boot camp shock is something. I had to smile at the ride to Ark. in the truck. My brother, a truck driver, asked me once to go with him to keep him awake on a long run. My same reactions.
    Life is good. The different experiences make it very real.
    Good entry!
    Sherry & jack

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  2. I was very happy to get a 1Y and later a good draft number. THe army can have benefits and even straighten out some young men, but then there is that getting shot at thing. I hope we never need the draft again...I wish we didn't need a military at all but unfortunately freedom demands it.

    Thank you for your service. Glad you did get something out of your sacrifice.

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  3. I remember there was actually a time in my teen years that I wanted to go into the Army. I chickened out when I was told that “once I get in, I can’t get out.” That scared me enough to not go. Now days I think they have made it too easier for those that join, but I do not think thats necessarily a good thing.
    Lisa

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  4. I don't remember if you actually were in Vietnam bu, regardless, being in the army during any war can sober a man up pretty quickly. Many don't ever talk about it with so many having found solace in the bottle or drugs. i know my dad, a veteran of WW2, said that if my brother was ever drafted, he would ship him way up north to some cabin.

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  5. I cannot give an impartial opinion. The draft was not kind to my family nor to many young men we knew.

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    Replies
    1. I understand. Every situation is different. Had I been deployed to Vietnam, my outcome and my story could have been worse.

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  6. Thank you for serving. I remember the draft well as I watched my 2 older brothers ship out and go to Vietnam...thankfully both returned and have lived wonderful lives. They also received some perks for their service but at the time I think they too would have traded staying home for going to war.

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  7. Also , thank you for serving in the military. My father was in WW 2 and none of my brothers were in Vietnam, thankfully.

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