Enlisted in August 1968/
Took basic in Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri. Since I had 4 years High School ROTC, started out as an E-3, PFC.
In basic I was a squad leader.
Next, to Fort Knox to train on M48 tanks . Odd, When got to Germany , we had M-60's. Totally different.
After Knox, went to Ft. Bliss, Texas, to train on the Redeye missile system. It was a shoulder launched, surface to air missile for taking out low flying planes.
By this time I was an E-4. And was sent to Schweinfurt Germany, as part of the 3/7 Cav. Spent the next year on the East German and Czech borders watching them watch us. Made Sergeant E-5 and became the NCOIC.
Got bored so went to NCO school, came out 2nd.
Next I went to demolition school and had fun blowing things up. It was in Berchesgarten in the summer. Really nice.
Finally to Aschaffenburg for Instructors training School. Graduated 1st. In my class and spent the rest of my time touring Europe teaching combat demolition and portable Radar operation.
Did manage to spend some time on the 3rd. Infantry Division pistol team.
All that in 3 years.
Now my best friend is the V.A.
