Army Times
Page 2
As a squad leader I was an "acting" corporal and was responsible for a 6-man squad, hearing their complaints and handling some of the drilling on the parade field and accounting for them at formations. While others shared 40-man "dorms" we squad leaders shared 2-man rooms. We also escaped some of the verbal abuse from the drill instructors.
I turned 21 while in basic training. My first vote could have been that November (1968) but I didn't have an absentee ballot. (I would have voted for Nixon. He had a "secret plan" to end the war.) My first vote was for McGovern in 72.
At one point in our training we were asked to throw a live hand grenade over a concrete wall, then duck down as an observer in a tower rated the throw. After my feeble attempt the observer announced over the loudspeaker that, because of the short distance, I had just killed myself and several buddies. Perhaps it was at this point they checked the "no combat" box.
I turned 21 while in basic training. My first vote could have been that November (1968) but I didn't have an absentee ballot. (I would have voted for Nixon. He had a "secret plan" to end the war.) My first vote was for McGovern in 72.
At one point in our training we were asked to throw a live hand grenade over a concrete wall, then duck down as an observer in a tower rated the throw. After my feeble attempt the observer announced over the loudspeaker that, because of the short distance, I had just killed myself and several buddies. Perhaps it was at this point they checked the "no combat" box.
