The Army Stories Redux.
Over the past few weeks, newcomers to this humble site have stumbled upon and read one or two of the Army stories and asked me how to find the other ones. I provided a link that I thought would direct them to all of them, only to realize that the links were taking them nowhere. I presume this was a result of a change in blogging software back then, but I’m not sure.
In any event, I fixed the link, but for those who asked and got bad information, I have listed links to the stories below. I had fun writing them. Enjoy.
Test Day. The Sergeant, and the Wannabe “Remington Raider.
Night Infiltration and the Pathetic Mondo Kane Turtle.
K.P., The Great Lie, and the Potato Mountain.
Oh, wow, Jim, your KP story sure takes me back. I took basic at Fort Dix the year before you, Sept-Nov 1967, and the memories of pulling KP are still with me! I thought my KP days were over when I completed basic and was shipped to Fort Gordon, Ga. Nope. Even as a Spec 4, I still pulled KP! I always got to the mess hall early…VERY early, around 2:30 AM, so I could get DRO or outside man. The worse job was either side sink or back sink. Side sink sucked because you got to wash out all the trays with dried eggs implanted with cigarette butts. UGH! Back sink sucked because you washed the same friggin’ greasy, over sized pots and pans over and over again for the whole 17 hours. Outside man consisted of washing the garbage cans for 17 hours, but you WERE outside!
One day I’ll relate the story of how a 5 gallon container of chocolate milk found its way back to our barracks after a day of KP. 😉
Comment by JerseyJerry — May 11, 2010 @ 8:58 pm
Ah, memories – especially ones I’d thought buried under boatloads of Shiner. My experiences paralleled yours, except I went through basic and AIT at Ft. Polk, LA, in the summer (heat, humidity, mosquitoes the size of seagulls…).
Still, looking back on it, I have to admit that, like the old recruiting slogan, the Army made a man out of me. What kind of man is open to debate, but regardless, I mustered out a very different person than I went in.
Great stories. Enjoyed them mucho.
Comment by CenTexTim — May 11, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
I’m hooked!!! I need more!!! I’ve really enjoyed reading these – you have a way of writing that puts me right in there with you.
Comment by SierraCharlieHotel — May 13, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
SierraCharlieHotel,
Well, that comment made my day. Thanks!
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — May 13, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
Jimbo – I wouldn’t have known your name if I hadn’t found the “comments” after all your war story listings. I wrote a comment under the story of the draft you went through. Please look at it as I want to make sure you understand one thing – WHAT A GREAT AND TALENTED WRITER you are. I’m new here and thoroughly enjoyed the story. Brought back memories of the gal being left behind because of draft (war). I’m going to have to wait until tomorrow to investigate and read more of your stories for tomorrow – it’s late and I have to wrap it up. How else could I have found out your name?????????????????? I don’t see anything on the page to either click on or go to. Wish I could write like you. Thanks for sharing your talent. Margo
Comment by Margo — May 13, 2010 @ 11:20 pm