How I spent the Fourth of July in 1972.

Happy fourth of July everyone. It brings to mind a July fourth many moons ago. 7/4/1972. A few months earlier I received a letter from my draft board...I think...could have been the army. Anyway, it started out with the word 'Greetings'

I had been drafted. My lottery number was thirty-nine so I knew it was coming, but like many young people then and now I hoped it would just go away.

It didn't.

So, my wife and 11 month old daughter and my parents rode with me to the AFEES station. Now, I don't remember what that was, but I distinctly remember disliking it.

We said our goodbyes, I was put on a bus, then a plane, then another bus. Well, it was all pretty confusing.

At last the journey ended and there I was...in the army now. We got there at some ridiculous time in the morning, went through a rigamarole, which I think involved getting our fatigues...maybe not...but I think we hit the sack around 3 AM, and of course, they came around banging trash cans around six or so. Welcome to the armed services.

I'm pretty sure the first actual day they asked if anybody had lifeguard experience. You know someone will explain to you pretty early on, not to volunteer for anything. They hadn't got to me yet. I raised my stupid hand. I'm calling my hand stupid, because I'm sure it was the only part of me that consider this a good idea.


To the question about life guarding, I mentioned that I had taken swimming in college. OH boy...close enough. I was ushered over to the post pool. Given a pair of swimming trunks, which were seven or eight sizes too large. They came up high toward my chest...you know like those "old man pants". I can say that now being pretty much an old man. I also got a whistle...Man...was I something...my own whistle.

Now, lets get to the clientele of the pool. Soldiers, all of them far advanced in the system than I and...well...pretty rowdy. I think at the end of the day my lips were blue.

Of course, I preserved no order whatsoever, but nobody drowned. Good day!

Maybe not. When I got back my Drill sergeant was pissed. It seems my absence put his schedule behind. I was introduced to latrine cleaning and toothbrushes that night.

I now understood the volunteer thingy.

Oh...sometime in the middle of all this July 4, happened. One good bit of news. I got out two years later on July 4th...but that's another story.



Here's another army story.
http://drewadamsauthor.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-hump-day-wednesday-not.html
http://drewadamsauthor.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-hump-day-wednesday-not.html