What it Means to be an American Military Veteran

I was drafted out of South Dakota about the end of July 1955 at age 24. I was married, had a young son, and my wife was expecting our baby very soon. As part of a group of other young men, we were gathered at the Draft Boards Office, Hot Springs, SD, awaiting the departure of the bus that would be hauling us to Sioux City, SD where we were to be sworn in, and lectured as to what to expect over the next few days, weeks, months and years. Since I was the oldest being drafted, the Draft Board named me as the leader of the group, and what it amounted to was that I was to handle the paperwork for our group, get them fed at a prearranged restaurant stop, and transfer the paperwork to the person in charge at Sioux Falls, SD. After a couple hours of providing us with all of the scary things that we would be doing, and going through, they loaded our group and several other groups from elsewhere in South Dakota, onto a large bus, and we headed to Camp Chafee, Arkansas. We were at Camp Chafee for about ten days if my memory is correct. While there they subjected us to numerous lectures as to what we would be doing while there, and how to behave ourselves during the interim. Several days in a row we were given numerous tests of all kinds. Some to determine our IQ, some to find out what we would be best suited for, and the “Experts” were to make a decision as to where we would be taking basic training, and advanced basic training next. I was a Police Officer at Chadron, NE at the time I was drafted, and hoped I could become a Military Police Officer. All of that meant nothing to the “Experts”, and since I did well on the IQ, and very well in the test for becoming an International Morse Code Radio Operator, they informed me that I would be taking basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and advanced Basic Training there as well to become an International Morse Code Radio Operator. After a bit more orientation, I was loaded on another bus with the entire group of recruits going to Fort Knox, KY. After being assigned to a barracks building, we were then assigned a bunk location. Those of us who were draftees, were assigned to the 2nd floor of the barracks building, and the volunteers were assigned to the first floor. The draftees had to serve a minimum of two years plus a reserve status for several years following our discharge. The volunteers had to serve three years, plus a similar reserve status at the end. During the approximate ten weeks of basic training, we were all assigned an M 1 Garand Rifle, and all of them were new in the sealed wrappers, made by International Harvester Company; Yes, the same company that made tractors and other machinery. Mine was serial number 5103199, and I suspect I will remember that until I die of old age. During the training, we learned how to march, how to do pushups, pull ups, jogging, running, sitting, crawling, and how to dig a slit trench in the event you had to go to the bathroom while marching, and how to use your entrenching tool to make the necessary hole in the ground, and how to cover it once your needs were solved. We were trained how to arrange our foot lockers in case the general wanted to inspect them, how to arrange our cloths closet so that everything was in its proper place. We learned how to shoot just about every kind of weapon, starting with our M1 garands, M2 Carbines, Sub Machine Guns, .45 Caliber Model 1911A1 semi automatic pistols, .30 caliber machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns, and the bazookas. Finely our basic training ended, and I immediately started the next ten weeks of advanced basic training as an International Morse Code Radio Operator. Five days a week for the next ten weeks, we listened to lectures, and learned the International Morse Code. Each of us sat at a desk equipped with a Radio Key for sending and receiving International Morse Code. We did this for eight hours a day, five days a week, and gradually our speed increased, and the code eventually became like a second language for us. Even while eating a meal we would find ourselves tapping a spoon or knife on the table sending the Morse Code to others at the table. Eventually we graduated at the end of ten weeks, and each of us was assigned a location to where we would be sent, Most of us on the 2nd floor of our barracks, were assigned to ship to West Germany, for the Morse Code duties. By now it was spring of 1956, and we shipped aboard the USS Rose troop ship to Bremerhaven, West Germany, and from there to Friedberg, West Germany for our assignment for the duration of our two year commitment. I was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command C, Third Armored Division, attached to the 7th Army. We went on maneuvers from time to time, very close to the border of East Germany which was under the control of the Soviet Union. On occasion we could see them at a distance also training. We were frequently informed that we could be in an all out war with the Soviets, and to be prepared accordingly; however, those of us who had a two year obligation, completed our tour of duty, and were shipped home aboard the USS Buckner, and when our ship pulled into Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York City, the sun was just going down in the west, and our ship went by the Statue of Liberty, and every soldier on board was on the top deck hollering and yelling and glad to be back in America. I was shipped by train from New York to a Military Base in Fort Sheridan, Illinois for a few days to complete the orientation for release, explanation of being in the reserves, and when complete that in a few years we would receive our Honorable Discharge After completing that final session, I was put aboard a Civilian Passenger Plane, four Propeller Engines, and destination Rapid City, South Dakota, From Rapid City to Chadron, Nebraska, and home again. A wonderful feeling, one that I am certain to which all veterans can relate. After about a week of seeing family and friends, I went back to work as a Police Officer at Chadron. Many have asked me, what did I get out of being in the U.S. Army. I gained a genuine respect for the United States of America, I learned how to accept and utilize discipline in my life, I learned to love the United States Military, and the valuable service they provide to all of America;, and elsewhere around the world. Last but not last, being in the U.S. Army turned me from just an average young person into a man, and that has proven its value to me many, many times over these many years. In a couple of months I will be 90 years old, God Permitting, and I still value my U.S. Military experience and training above just about everything else in my life except my family and God.