| My Home Page | Decade 1950-1960(The Healing Years) | Decade 1960-1970(Best and Worst of times) | Decade 1970-1980(The commune years) | Decade 1980-1990(The Court years) | Decade 1990-2000(A bit of everything) |
Army life was interesting and totally different. My first month in the service of my country, is a tad hazy. We left Boston at night-destination Des Moines, Iowa. I have traveled by subways and trackless trolleys and busses and cabs, but never had experienced a train ride!! WE WERE ON OUR WAY!!
It was a few days before we reached Ft. Des Moines. Our first stop was Grand Central Station, N.Y.C. I was truly overwhelmed by that historic landmark. 'She' was in her prime in the 1940's. Quite a sight!! Next stop was Chicago, Illinois--another eye-popping experience for me. The next day, we finally arrived at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. By that time we had formed into groups by our own easy flow. The friendships made in those first few weeks, stayed with me for many years.
Army life was very interesting, to say the least. Five O'clock A.M. the Bugler, bugled!! That was a jolt for a month or so. We humans, though, seem to acclimate easily. We cleaned latrines, mopped floors, exercised, had mess, had roll call, had parades, had drills, had K.P.(kitchen police) duties and trucked into Des Moines a few times a week. At night though, was really special. There was such a comradery in the bunkhouses, I can still feel that closeness to this day!!
A few incidences that I remember vividly-- We went to the USO(United Service Organization) in Des Moines, and I was voted "Queen of Company 20" Wow--slightly embarassing. But my reign wasn't very long, and I was very happy to see my picture at the USO taken off the wall!! It was fun though. Then we had the pleasure of 'entertaining' the soldiers from Camp Crowder, Missouri, for a week. We hadn't had contact with the male gender in many, many moons. The 'boys' bivouacked at the Fort, ate mess with us and at night the Rec room was a-jumping!! Dancing, drinking and singing all the sentimental WW11 songs, it was one 'hell' of a week!! I 'hung-out' with the same guy all week. We wrote for awhile, but that ended when I was transfered to Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Ma.
| My Home Page | Decade 1950-1960(The Healing Years) | Decade 1960-1970(Best and Worst of times) | Decade 1970-1980(The commune years) | Decade 1980-1990(The Court years) | Decade 1990-2000(A bit of everything) |