Why I Served

On December 13, 1978, I had just passed the entrance exam to enlist in the Army. That evening I was on a Trailways bus leaving Roanoke, VA going to Richmond, VA. I went to th hotel and checked in, then out to eat and to bed. On December 14, 1978, I went through an entire series of medical examinations that included, x-rays, visiting a psychiatrist all the way to getting caught up on my vaccinations. I was then taken to a room where over one thousand of us to the oath of enlistment. After we had said, so help me God it was then that most realized we had just signed a blank check payable to the United States government payable for an amount up to and including our lives.

After I had taken the oath of enlistment, I was told that I would be assigned to Europe. I really didn’t want to go to Korea where it was problematic. As told to me by people who were stationed in Korea, they said when you arrive at the demilitarized zone, the North Koreans know everything about you. After my oath of enlistment, I was taken from my hotel to the train station in Richmond, VA. My first stop on my way to Europe was the in processing unit at Ft. Jackson, SC. I arrived from Richmond into Columbia, SC at almost three in the morning. When I arrived at Ft. Jackson they showed me my bunk and said they would let me sleep in. They woke everyone up at four thirty, and me at four forty five. I asked what happened to me sleeping in, and they replied we…