Fort Jackson SC - End of Basic Training 1951

Some of training went into advance basic so it latest a little longer. For example we went out for firing 60mm mortar. What we did was just a demonstration but it did prove to be an interesting morning.When one round was fired it fell short. Very short but no one got hurt,,We went in the room where tear gas was let in and were told not to put on our mask, as soon as it got to us we were let out,The idea to let us experience what would happen with out a protective mask on,,there other demonstrations but then came the day we would be physically put to test, We would go on a 20 mile force march with full pack on our backs. Now do not think we walk at a regular pace we were pushed. We started early lucky the weather was good. It was an extra rough day.What I remember is when we finally did get back to the barracks got up stairs and I stopped and fell asleep standing up. I woke up after briefly sleeping and got to my bunk.

The Obstacle Course.

There was one last thing we had to do to pass Basic training. It was called the obstacle course.It made everything we had done so far pale in comparison. The idea to give you a feel what it would be like in real combat.If you did not make this you did not pass basic.I had long gotten over my fear of noise but this would really put me to the test if all I hear was true. As we got close to the Obstacle course The sgt told us to take off our watches ,,and he held on to them,.It was night time when we arrived by the course.It was a huge oblong pit. All we had to do was crawl the length of the pit, but as we crawled real bullets from a machine gun would be firing over our heads and as we crawled TNT would be exploded to simulate shells falling. We got down low as the machine gun started firing and crawled over the sand bags in to the pit. How high were those bullets? They could have never been high enough. As I crawled in the dirt down the middle of the pit small explosions from TNT went off this continued until we got to the end, then we crawled out and the firing stopped. The Sgt gave us back our watches. We had passed basic.

Sent Overseas

We had a special ceremony for graduation.In all that time in basic I never received one letter and of course no one at the graduation, I had been in the barracks a couple of days. One day I came back and everybody was gone shipped out, I went with another group. Then I went to Florida before I would go over seas. I would stay with my Foster parents for a few days, I would be going to Korea.

Wayne, NJ 1949 - Pre-Army Days

In June of 49 I graduated from the 9th grade from Wayne jr.High.....I had my one friend Bobby Calabrese who lived a street away up the hill from where we lived....I was supposed to go back and take 9th grade all over again,,,In that time period my Foster parents planned to move to Florida.

One thing happened after the other, the small farm was sold $4000 for 10 acres prime land. They bought a trailer. A day or two before we left Bobby and another boy had there eyes on houses being built down the road.,,they wanted me to go with them to take something but I did not go. The next day a Police Officer came to our house. Some equipment had been stolen from the houses being built. "Did we know anything?" I knew but I did not say anything. Im glad I did not go that night.

Soon we were in a trailer going to Florida. We had a problem getting on a ferry,(Virginia),Grandpa Burton came along with Helen and John Burton and Sarah my half sister. Along the road going to cedar keys John spotted a turtle on the road. He stopped got the turtle real quick. We ate it that night. The big change in living the trailer had a bathroom in side, However no shower. I slept on a couch, there was only one bed.

In other words other people to slept where they could. The Trailer park we stayed at was called "Pirates cove" it was very small with around a half dozen trailers and small ones at that..Not to far from our trailer was a path that led to the beach. The name of the person who owned the park was a Mr.Frank. When I went to the beach I saw some young teens playing.One of those girls was Joyce Frank.

Patterson NJ 1942 - Pre-Boarding School

The Burtons

After my brother and I left the family who accused my brother of stealing a ring. we went back home for a short time. Those few short days I had been touching plants that caused me to get Poison shomack all over my body. My Mother brought me to a family that lived out in the country. Helen Burton took care of me and nursed me back to health getting rid of the poison shomack. I slept on a couch for a long time. My brother and sisters visited but eventually I was the only one to stay with the Burtons. Helen Burtons husband John Burton was a mechanic.

Again I was living basically I was happy with.I loved the country I was fed good and had a clean bedroom. However again they never gave me a hug or a kiss, but all in all I was treated well.

They lived in a small bungalow the forest in the back. On one side of the house was a chicken coop with chickens hens and roosters and a lone duck that wondered about off to the right of the chicken coop was an out house then a spot where the Burtons left there trash which had many egg shells plus countless cans. On the other side of the house they had a very nice garden.Where they grew a variety of vegetables. Helen also grew flowers her favorite was a plant called a "bleeding heart"

My first job was to go to the chicken coop and find eggs that the chicken had laid. I found one egg and of course I put it in the wrong place my back pocket and the egg got crushed, however that was overlooked and I learned how to bring the eggs in to the house.