L. S. U. ROTC INSTRUCTORS
After graduation from high school, I received my draft notice to report to Camp Joe T. Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas. This service was required of all males 18 years or older for the duration of the war plus 6 months.
After the initial induction procedures (physical and mental exams) I was sent for basic Infantry training at Camp Fannin, near Tyler, Texas. This lasted from July through November. The 5 mile hikes were the most demanding. Also close-order drill was a daily routine. My earlier experience with my high school marching band was very helpful during this training period.
We had an old grizzled Drill Instructor who always screamed at us. He just loved to make us hate him. In order to prepare us for our physical exams he would tell the following story: "You will all line up buck-naked where each of you will get the "double-whammy shot". This will cure any disease known to mankind. The medic will use his forked needle! Each point is bent like a fish hook. They go in very easy, but he will have to stand with his foot on your neck to pull it out with both hands".
Occasionally we would get a weekend pass. It was not too far to my hometown, so I would hitch-hike or go by bus to see Mama sometime. Once on my return by bus to camp from a pass, I happened to be asleep when the bus arrived back at Camp Fannin. The bus-driver failed to wake me up and when I woke up the bus was about 50 miles past the camp, and I was late returning to my outfit.
The First Sergeant confined me to quarters for punishment and also required me to water the grass during a driving rainstorm with only a 5 gallon bucket. I was never A. W. O. L. again after that.
After finishing basic training in Texas,I was sent by troop-train to Camp Pickett, Virginia for overseas assignment. After arrival there my company commander just happened to need someone with typing ability to be his company clerk. I had learned this typing skill in high school so I was selected to stay at this camp for 6 months and never had to go overseas.
One day the most amazing incident occurred out of the clear blue sky when I received orders to report to Louisiana State University to teach R. O. T. C. I immediately called my mother and was so excited at this opportunity that I could only cry into the long-distance telephone for several minutes before telling her the great news. My brother, Wren was playing football at L. S. U. so I could not wait to go to Baton Rouge.
After the initial induction procedures (physical and mental exams) I was sent for basic Infantry training at Camp Fannin, near Tyler, Texas. This lasted from July through November. The 5 mile hikes were the most demanding. Also close-order drill was a daily routine. My earlier experience with my high school marching band was very helpful during this training period.
We had an old grizzled Drill Instructor who always screamed at us. He just loved to make us hate him. In order to prepare us for our physical exams he would tell the following story: "You will all line up buck-naked where each of you will get the "double-whammy shot". This will cure any disease known to mankind. The medic will use his forked needle! Each point is bent like a fish hook. They go in very easy, but he will have to stand with his foot on your neck to pull it out with both hands".
Occasionally we would get a weekend pass. It was not too far to my hometown, so I would hitch-hike or go by bus to see Mama sometime. Once on my return by bus to camp from a pass, I happened to be asleep when the bus arrived back at Camp Fannin. The bus-driver failed to wake me up and when I woke up the bus was about 50 miles past the camp, and I was late returning to my outfit.
The First Sergeant confined me to quarters for punishment and also required me to water the grass during a driving rainstorm with only a 5 gallon bucket. I was never A. W. O. L. again after that.
After finishing basic training in Texas,I was sent by troop-train to Camp Pickett, Virginia for overseas assignment. After arrival there my company commander just happened to need someone with typing ability to be his company clerk. I had learned this typing skill in high school so I was selected to stay at this camp for 6 months and never had to go overseas.
One day the most amazing incident occurred out of the clear blue sky when I received orders to report to Louisiana State University to teach R. O. T. C. I immediately called my mother and was so excited at this opportunity that I could only cry into the long-distance telephone for several minutes before telling her the great news. My brother, Wren was playing football at L. S. U. so I could not wait to go to Baton Rouge.
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