February 28, 1969
Hi Mom, Dad, Dan
Well, we got paid today. ($34.00) I also got a truck for the day—a 1 ¼ troop trans. I do any errands that the First Sergeant Befford wants. We just had chow. Fish, potatoes, salad, choc milk, choc pudding, pie for dessert. It was pretty good. We are going to watch TV. Again, this afternoon for a while on bivouac procedures. During bivouac, the truck drivers bring out coffee and chow + mail for the troops. We bring and carry supplies for the company. We have the choice of sleeping at the barracks or sleeping out in the field.
We got up this morning about 4:30. We all cleaned the barracks up and went to chow. Last night while I was writing a letter to Nana and Grampy, his prince from India was doing these yoga lessons in the barracks. He was pretty good. He was on a visit to the U.S. from India and spent about 1 month here longer than he was supposed to. He got drafted too. He doesn't eat any kind of meat. What nice kid though.
You will never guess what happened. Well, yesterday the company was lines up in front of the senior Drill Seargent and he said that he had a list of about 25 men that had been picked to go to a talk about going to west point. 25 men out of about 250 men. Well, my name came out first. I had three choices to choose form. Go to west point, go to O.C.S. (officer candidate school). Or stay in the basic training unit. Since the other two meant 1 or 2 more years in the service I said I’d stay here with basic training and serve my two years and that’s all. Most of the guys signed up for O.C.S but the kid said “no”.
We have just about finished our first week of training. I graduate 7 weeks from today. That’s April 18th or about that.
We all are polishing our shoes and brass. The big wigs are coming tomorrow for a complete inspection. The platoon in our company that does the best gets tomorrow afternoon off and no details for the week. So, platoon I will be the best tomorrow.
The drill Seargent is laying on his bunk singing dirty songs to us and telling is jokes. Boy what a time. I just tried the phone but the line was to long. It’s about 8:00 Fri night. I wish I was home right now.
How’s my car coming along? How much snow do you have? I was lying out in the sun today and got a little tan.
I signed out a 1 1/4th ton truck this morning and drove all day. Went to the quarter master store and got supplies for the mess hall. I went to the main supply building and picked up some field supplies.
Most of the guys in our platoon are pretty good guys. There is this one kid from the Bronx, NY and he can sing just like Frank Sinatra. There is the one colored kid who really dance. Everyone here pitches in and cleans the barracks up. That’s the only way things work out. We separated the platoon down into 4 squads and every squad does a little bit. But it gets done twice as fast. We just sent a kid across the street to get hamburgers and cokes. I hope he doesn’t get caught. Boy they will sure taste good.
We had P.T. today for about 1 hr. we all run in the morning for about 1 ½ miles now. I’m a road guard; I wear all these straps that you can see in the dark. A flash light. Its real dark when we are running and when someone falls down it’s all done.
Well lights go out in about ½ hr. so I think I’ll go check the phone again and then take a shower. And go to bed. Its real bad getting up in the middle of the night.
Boy, do I miss you all the worst part is standing I that mail line. But tomorrow the mail will come through. Boy, do I have the luck. Right
Well got to go for now
Love ya always
Mick
P.S. Danny, you should see the truck I drove today. I’ll send you a picture soon. “ok”