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ARMY LESSON: SALUTE THE UNIFORM NOT THE MAN

The big Army lesson for me was outlined by a Drill Sergeant. We were scheduled for an inspection by one of the big guys on base, some colonel named Blackjack something or other. But Colonel Blackjack got side tracked and they brought out the butter bar from the administrative office to cover for him. It […]

ARMY BIRTHDAY? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMY

The Army birthday is for the oldest branch of military service in America. But you knew this? I didn’t. And I was in the Army.

VETERANS HEALTH FROM THE 1974 ARMY ONWARD

Veterans health came to mind during boot camp at Fort Ord, California. The gas chamber was on the schedule a few days after I was demoted from Platoon Guide, to Squad Leader, to regular army guy. I takes a special soldier to get demoted in boot camp, and I was that guy. It happened twice […]

ARMY PEOPLE: GUYS YOU MEET AT THE START

No one who served forgets the people, in my case Army people, they meet in the beginning. Fellow enlistees ranged from age seventeen to thirty five years old. Some of the Army people were older than the Drill Sergeants. That was a surprise. That some of the Drills looked like they could be doing other […]

VOLUNTEER ARMY SUCKER, ENTHUSIASTIC LOSER

At nineteen I told my dad I was joining the service, that I was looking at the Army or Navy because they had two year enlistments. My feeling was I’d know all I needed to know after two years, like any nineteen year old know it all since I already knew everything. Nineteen year olds […]

ARMY MEDIC: JOB TWO OF FIVE

Army medic was the job I signed up for when I joined after freshman year in 1974. Army medic was my dad’s idea. The old Marine also advised against joining the Navy, but that’s expected. I went in on the Buddy Plan with a high school buddy. We lasted three days together in receiving, then […]

ARMY BRAND DD214 WON’T WASH OFF

Not sure when it begins, but a lot of men feel remorse about not having an Honorable Discharge and a DD214. What did they miss? Listen to guys in their late 30’s and early 40’s reflect on the sort of soldier they would have been, or their opinion on what makes a good soldier. The […]

MILITARY PARADE IN ELEVEN ARMY MEDIC VETERAN STEPS

    1. Join the service and serve the agreed upon time. USMC, USN, USA, USAF, etc.   2. Go to boot camp. If it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done the rest of your life, you’re not trying hard enough.   3. Go to school and get qualified to do a military job.   […]

BLANKET PARTY MANNERS MADE FRED WHITE ARMY STRONG

Blanket party invitation? Don’t go. The guest of honor at a blanket honor is usually a surprise. At least for them. Everyone else knows who’s who and what to do. After attending one, you may want to skip, or break the next one up. The good thing about a blanket party is the inclusiveness. Everyone […]

ARMY STRONG? FRED WHITE WAS BORN READY

You might be Army Strong, but not from the start. Step off the bus at the Army Receiving Station and you notice those around you. Showing up in the dark leaves lots to see. These are your people, the ones you’ll bond with, stay in touch with the rest of your life, and plan those […]