 | Company C, 3rd Battalion | |
Almost six years after completing my first enlistment, I reentered the Army again on July 11, 1974 as a Private (PV2 E-2) in Atlanta, Georgia. I had to take basic training again due to the fact that I had been out of the Army for so long. A group of us were transported from Atlanta to Fort Jackson, South Carolina by bus.
I was back at Fort Jackson once again, but this time I was on Tank Hill. Shortly after arriving at Company C, all of the prior service personnel were called out in front of the formation. Then the Drill Sergeants did a couple of things to us and asked if it hurt. Of course, I said, "No, it didn't hurt," but that was not exactly the truth. Anyway, the Drill Sergeants made me Senior Squad Leader for my platoon. I maintained the position for only a few days because the Drill Sergeants said that I was being too hard on the new recruits.
I was also the high firer at the qualification range with a score of 93 out of a possible 100. I got a three-day pass for doing it.
Basic training was not any easier, but I enjoyed it more this time. Perhaps because I kind of knew what to expect. I made some good friends, which I have run across since then. The last one I saw was Sergeant First Class Jimmy Sosebee who was an instructor at Fort Jackson when I went to Drill Sergeants School. Jimmy and I rode together on the bus from Atlanta to Fort Jackson in 1974.
Staff Sergeant George D. Humphries and Staff Sergeant Donald B. Peterson were my two Drill Sergeants. I have also crossed paths with several of the other Drill Sergeants from Company C since I was there.
After completing basic training I was assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Individual Training.
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