Hi, I'm Snazzy and I'm Trucker

Thanks. Scarecrow03 hope your luck improves. Dang ole trucks. Raindancer, stay tuned. My x ain't done with yet. Plenty more to come. Computer willing.

The Induction center was in Dallas Texas. One of my cousins drove me in Snazzy the Chevy. I gave her to my cousin as long as promised to make the last 3 payments. I miss that car and mostly the youthfull memories that went with her. So long good friend.

I had already taken my physical and turned in my paper work. All I had to do was be sworn in. We were herded into a large room, raised our our right hands, and on April 7, 1975, became G.I.'s. I learned later thet G.I. stands for Government Issued.

Some of us were wisked away in a van and driven to Dallas, Love Field. I boarded a plane and flew to St. Louis, Mo. From there a bus ride to Fort Leonardwood, Mo., better known as Fort Lostinthewoodsmo. Now, I know that I was just 22 years old and that was my first plane ride, but looking back. How dumb could I've been ? When I had left Dallas it was 70 degrees, when I landed in Mo. it was 30 degrees and falling. There was 4' feet of snow from a recent blizzard and all I had packed was one sweater. The killer was when we got to the base no one knew we were coming. Some old drunk had me and the others bed down in an empity wooden barracks. No heat, no electric, and no water. Just a room with bunks and that was it. No bedding, nothing, not even a matress. Remember the movie, " Private Benjamin?" I wasn't looking for a condo, but geez ! Before night fall, a Sgt. brought by some army blankets. To say we weren't happy campers was an under statment. By morning another foot of snow fell. We were taken to a chow hall and fed breakfast. Poo-poo on a shingle, yummy. Next stop the barber shop. I had weighed in at Dallas at 109 lbs, (told ya'll I was a runt). After my hair cut I was reweighed, I was 99 lbs. Now I know those scales were wrong. I did have some long hair cut in a shag, but 10 lbs ? Give ma a break.

We collected our civilan cloths and put them in sacks, with our names on the sides. That way if we went awol, we'd be in army attire. At the same time we were issued our uniforms. A few fatigues, 1 dress uniform, od green socks, etc. Had lunch, if memory serves me ,it was liverworse sandwiches and koolaid, made by Jim Jones. That afternoon we got issued more gear, web belts, canteen, entrenching tool, etc. We were screamed at and made to feel like low lifes. How little they knew that I felt right at home.

Break, computer mouse just went belly up, Stay tuned. Snazzy

 

Yes, Leannamarie, at ths rate I'll be on page 55 when I reach my current age.

So, the one thing that sticks out in my mind about basic training was how much we ran. We ran everywhere. We ran to formation. The mess-hall. We ran to the rifle range. We ran back. We ran to the obsticale course, so we could run the course. We ran back. We ran to be running. We even ran in place. Then we ran some more. Yes, we ran, ran and ran.

I figured it out back then. See, we were getting ready to invade Ethiopia. Our leaders had decided the invasion plan. We'd battle our way inland at least 600 miles. Then after a brief fire fight we'd do an about face and full charge in reverse. The Ethiopians being the best distance runners on the planet would give chase. We run, run ,and run some more. Little by litlte, the enemy would start dropping dead from exhaustion. We'd run and run. Once all the 7 foot enemy lay dead, we'd run over them. Then we'd run some more. We'd run home and run down 42nd street, thru a ticker-tape parade. Then we'd run in place as our prsident pinned ribbons on our chest. We run back to the barracks, run to be discharged, and run to our civilan jobs. Yes, we ran. Ran, ran, and ran. Did I mention how we ran? Ran, ran, ran,and we ran.

The only dirty trick or I should say the worse thing they did was on April 30, 1975. We weren't halfway thru basic. We'd just been issued our M-16s. That day is when the last 2 American soldiers were killed in Vietnam. It was during our orderly withdraw. Remember how well it went? Anyway, our company was marched into a large room. The drill sargents, our captain, and a full bird gave us the bad news. We were going back in. Yep, wasn't time to finish basic training. We were going to the arms room, draw our weapons, and boarding onto C141's. A couple of guys actually fainted. One ran for the exit. Most were on the verge of tears. They went so far as to have a table set up, so we could make last wills and buy extra life insurance. A Chaplin even lead a group prayer. I was speechless, (well we all know better than that). Of course it was just the Army's way of giving us a wake up call. If your in the servce, anyday could be the last day of your life. I'll never forget that day. Never, ever.

Good night folks, The Snaze.

 

Baack, yes my true idenity is now known, Forest Gump, lol. Raindancer, I'm in my thong dancing in front of the screen. Stick them bills in ! Whoopee. Yes, my computer is on her last legs. But, hey lets get her done. Nyegere, yes, I'm a fat pig now.

My cousin sold Snazzy to an old man. From what I remember the old guy paid 5 times what I'd paid. My cousin paid her off and had enough left over to put half down on a new car. So, is life.

We last left me running in basic. I finished and ran to AIT. That stands for advanced individual trainning. It really is advanced infantry trainning. I was suppose to be a military policeman. Heck, we spent most our time in the field playing war games. The place was Fort Gordon, Georgia and what most sticks out is Shirley's Ago-Go. It was a bar off base that we were allowed to go to. Back then they had topless dancers that were 14 years old. That was legal I guess. I was so parinod, I'd sit with my back facing the dancers. One, more thing I remember, it was one of the hottest summers in Georgia's history. I almost died and of course being from Texas, I was suppose to be use to the heat. Poor guys from cooler states really suffered. Also, they had ticks the size of grapefruits. No, not the other guys, the camp did. Anyway, I survived and graduated to my permanent party.

Fort Dix, New Jersey. Enough said ! I spent a little over a year there, the whole time trying to get a transfer. Now, please no eye rolling. We're adults or at least ya'll are. My x and I started writting each other. At first it was just her, you know, how you doing ? I wrote back, fine. Yep. She flew up there, we got remarried in Pemperton, N.J., April, 10, 1976. My little girl was 4 years old. She never bonded with me. I don't think she even liked me. I was pretty mixed up. About the time I was getting over the divorce, it all ended at the beginning. Now, don't get me wrong my x was a knockout. She could of done much better than me. I wasn't quite the runt anymore. I'd gained about 40 lbs. Of course 5'9, 140 wasn't much, but it sure beat 107 lbs.

Lets break for Ice Road Truckers, be back. Snazzy.