When I was seated every time I talked I could of sworn I heard my own voice behind me. I heard other people also talking about going their way to boot camp.
Finally, we stopped at a Chicago bus station and boarding the bus taking us on our way to boot camp.
In about 20 minutes at 3:45 A.M Illinois time we arrived at boot camp and everything all of a sudden got quiet. We went to bed at 3:50 A.M about an 1/2 hour later we were told to get up. Geeze..
I had a knot in my stomach but fortunately they had a brand names soda machine.They told me I didn't need to put any money in the coin slot, just press the button of the drink I wanted. The soda did helped my stomach a little bit.
We were given clothes, sewing kit, a Bible, and a chit book which was like those old food stamp books tearing out the amount you want when going to stores, except it was not limited just for food.
At least we got three meals a day we did not have to pay and we were free to choose what ever we wanted on our plates.
During our first week we marched most of the day and even sang a marching song once.We went to bed at 9:30 PM and were awaken at 4:30 AM
After we got our buzz cuts we were tailored for our sailor uniforms and were issued rifles. A rifle? I never shot a weapon in my life. I don't even hunt or fish; Not too mention I had to get used to listening to new adjectives.
Finally my two year term was up and I was honorably discharged. They told me I can re-enlist BUT with a chance going to Vietnam ?!, No thank you. "I'm out of here !".
I am glad I didn't have the opportunely to kill anyone, friend or foe. Now don't tell me that is nothing to be proud of !.
I was driven to the O' Hare airport boarded a plane. A beautiful stewardess took me to my seat and took my order from a menu which I wasn't charge.
Forty-five minutes later, at Columbus, Ohio it was time for me to dis board but it was a huge plane and even saw a highway through glass windows inside the plane then I caught on;They probably had "docked" at the bus station. Yes, I wondered, what is a highway doing inside of an airplane?
I was allowed to keep some of my navy clothes which still had my military serial number paint-stamped on them including the duffel bag.
About three months later my sister got a nursing job and a new apartment, which she was going to share with her female friend. She took my duffel bag, took out all my comic books,all my movie magazines, all my Reader's Digest books and the book I was reading green hard cover "How Green Was My Valley ?"
I decided to help my sister out, by folding all her clothes into triangles before putting them in my duffel bag. It turned out she didn't want her clothes folded into triangles. lol (end)
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