BASIC TRAINING VIETNAM ERA Part 1

[@jvolstad]

I enlisted in the Army back in 1972. It was either that or be drafted. I retired in 1998 as a MSG/E-8. Wow. I didn't expect that.

[@majcorbin]

i joined feb 1972 (same reason) retired 1998 as 0-4 [ordnance] staff puke @ 5th Corps logistics command

[@guyazbell8169]

jvolstad I envy you! I could have done 20 and retired at 36 went in at 17 delayed entry at 16, or been a lifer and retired at 46, now I,m near 60 drove truck 30 yrs with zero bennys.

[@ghostbear200123]

OUTSTANDING‼️🍻

[@jamestoth8444]

Thanks for doing that

[@angelodenis5059]

@@guyazbell8169 I myself waisted my time in the army I was and still am a fuck up. I dream of what I would have been had I made it my career but I choose drugs

[@donaldjones7678]

Was a 11B grunt in Vietnam 1971. Was an intense year for me.

[@pilsudski36]

Well done Army Brother.

[@Gypsy839]

If you served this country I just want to say thank you for your service!

[@brokenwrench404]

Howdy Connie. Fancy seeing you here

[@Gypsy839]

@@brokenwrench404 I love anything to do with history ❤️

[@mrjuvy49]

67-70 Vietnam Americal division

[@jerrydaniel7545]

Did Basic at Fort Jackson, SC. First day there was Feb 8, 1973. It snowed 11 inches that night.

[@jameshepler62]

Just the opposite when I was there in the Summer of 1983. Since I was already a civilian trained Medic, I had to treat my “Battle Buddy” literally for Heat Stroke, soaking him in water, to get his Temperature down as he was passing in & out, before he got transported to the Hospital.

[@pattysouza2954]

I had Basic at Ft. Jackson in April 74.

[@thomasrobertson9643]

Being at Ft Jackson in 2002, they suspended training when it snowed 2 inches in January

[@realcoolbreeze]

I did basic at Ft Jackson in January 1970.Got URI for 3 days. Snowed there lightly. Pulling guard duty 2-4 am at 19 degrees was not fun. Counted every step of that rectangle over and over. A passage of time.

[@cattnipp]

better you than me

[@2098elk]

Drafted in Los Angeles in 1965 but sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana due to spinal menginis out break at Fort Ord. Barracks were the same, WWII era. Training very much the same. Hard to believe it was nearly 50 years ago!

[@dwtpa97]

Fort Polk had the reputation of being the mosquito capital of the U.S.! Thanks for your service and your comment, 2098elk!

[@donneary7104]

2098elk Drafted in Los Angeles in Sept. 1964 and went to Fort Ord. You're right about Spinal Meningitis out break. Our Company, "A" Company, 5th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, was quarantined. Normal training but no unnecessary contact with anybody outside of our own company area. 8 weeks of togetherness 24/7.

[@guyazbell8169]

2098elk time waits for no man. maybe God will let us check out our own past when we all get to Heaven it's been over 40 for me.

[@albeardsley5532]

Drafted in 1971, one the last draftees. Off to Polk for Basic then assignment to 1st Cav, 227th Avn. Hated everything about it but somehow got out alive. I must admit I did learn and met some wonderful people; I owe much of where I ended up 51 years later to the lessons learned back then. In many ways it seems like only yesterday. May God bless those that didn’t come home.

[@magicwood2360]

Glad you survived, my dad was a Vietnam vet and got lucky as well. Thank you for your service 🪖

[@jimw.4161]

I'm with you, Al. 👍 I was drafted in 1968 and sent to Fort Polk for basic training. I extended for an additional year in Reception Station to avoid becoming an 11Bravo. AIT at Tigerland held no interest. The Army promised me a school for the additional year - and they made good on their promise. I (smartly) choose the LONGEST school available which was a 48 week language course at DLI in Washington D.C.. As it turned out a great decision on my part. I delayed going to Vietnam for 2 years and didn't arrive until 1970. Much better than 1968! I also hated the first day, the last day, and every day in between at Fort Polk. They damn near killed me - lost 60 pounds in 8 weeks, but the drill Instructors were trying to prepare young men for war. So many from Fort Polk were sent to Vietnam directly after AIT. Glad you made it home and hope you had a good life. ✌

[@layneadams161]

Enlisted in 1972 went to Ft Polk for basic training retired after 35 yrs as Lt.Col

[@pilsudski36]

Well done Sir

[@bigdog593]

I was at fort Polk in 72 August 3rd I was in Charlie 4 1 went from basic to fort Sam Houston I was a combat medic

[@ncreb1367]

i work with MARINES everyday ....they are all hype.....I'm damn proud to have served in the US ARMY!!!!!

[@tomcomiskey6350]

You said it, I always thought the same! US Army Vietnam Vet and damn proud of it! The best!

[@montiliusbeatty9831]

1st and 16th infantry Boblingen Germany 75-78. Hi brothers.

[@b1hermann]

Army Tough - 101st Airborne in Nam 68-69

[@midwestlee-iw8nl]

@@montiliusbeatty9831 16dpu nellingen germany 74-75

[@jesterrawls4735]

I enlisted in July 1966 as a Private E-1. Twenty-six years later I retired in July 1992 as a lieutenant colonel. It was an interesting life and I wouldn't change a thing.

[@pilsudski36]

Well done Sir!

[@rudymendez8299]

I enlisted in the Army in 1963 and went to Fort Ord California for basic training.back in the day you did what you were told to do or you would latterly get your ass kicked,or got worked up on the wee hours of the night and have the whole company running laps on parade grounds because someone screwed up during day training.Looking back,they would make you or break you,and if they broke you,you would recycle you and start you all over again.

[@gusrocero]

Ft lewis,WA Oct 1967 BCT good shit...to bad it's just a memory now..long gone !!

[@robertnilla6845]

basis training for me june 1969 for lewis. then, on to the jungles of vietnam!! and here i am over 50 years later and glad i made it!!!

[@lilybug216]

Thank you all for your service, currently going through basic.

[@tomcomiskey6350]

Your welcome,would do it again! ,Stay safe God bless and keep you safe! Ole US Army Vietnam Vet.

[@montiliusbeatty9831]

@@tomcomiskey6350 How did you figure out the person you wrote to is christian? You said God bless.

[@TheJorgeags]

@@montiliusbeatty9831 there are many religions where they say God bless stfu

[@montiliusbeatty9831]

@@TheJorgeags Name the religions that have the concept of only one god and the idea it can bless you. You cannot since you did not research your opinion. Then you attack me as if it's me that is ignorant.

[@Ransomhandsome]

@@TheJorgeags Obviously you're no Christian.

[@iseandrade]

I was an RA and I went too Ft. Polk for basic in Jul 1965 because of the spinal meningitis out break. After basic I got orders for Ft. Ord for AIT 64C then went too Germany and then too Viet Nam in 1966. Ft. Ord is just about all gone, I live about an hour & half away. So many memories!

[@richardbrown6565]

I went through Ft. Polk, first training cycle 1964. Leesville was quite an experience.

[@montiliusbeatty9831]

Ft Polk 1975. RA? Yes RA and NG terms I forgot. I spent 3 years near Stuttgart.

[@dennisholiday1868]

@@montiliusbeatty9831 Was Tiger Land still there? I did 16weeks there and couldn't wait to get away from that place! And another thing I hope you had a good time at The Casino and did not catch anything lol.

[@travishintzel9804]

I joined 1960 trainded at Leonard Wood then 1961 we re opened Polk to train to go the Berlin with entire 49th Armored Div but things calmed down so after 1 year we were released

[@JeffSpehar-ov1cn]

Retired from the Navy, but spent my first two years in the Army. Went to Basic at Ft. Knox Ky Aug 1971, then on to Ft. Polk, LA for Infantry training.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks for your comment, Jeff, and your service to our country.

[@LAMADDOGMADDIN]

My uncle was one of these guys who were trained. And went to Vietnam. And was K.I.A. 1972

[@dwtpa97]

Our eternal gratitude to your uncle and the other soldiers who made that ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Thanks for your comment, Lamaddogmaddin.

[@LAMADDOGMADDIN]

you are welcome

[@mrchambersthegreat]

As a Afghanistan. Vet much respect to your uncle and all those who served In that hellacious wat. My father was drafted and sent.

[@NorwichGrad97]

Very sorry to hear.

[@guiseppe46]

RIP American hero!

[@XanthusBarnabas]

In 2006, I returned to Ft. Benning (training for civilians deploying to Iraq and Afghan) and I witnessed an exchange between a soldier and a Colonel that was unbelievable; there was no "sir", no position of attention, not even parade rest. The soldier literally touched the Col's chest and asked him about this new bayonet award the Col was wearing. The old NCO in me was about to yell both of them for their lack of discipline, but I walked away - my dad's rolling over in his grave.

[@guyazbell8169]

Brian Barnes I was cadre at camp red devil ft.carson co. at the nco academy you would find yourself face down on a cactus if that bs went down, then you would be article 15 and then put in the stock aid.

[@frannicolo8147]

Ugotta be kidding.i must of been in a different army,they screamed at forever.

[@DBCooper363]

The Army is slowly becoming a joke now, especially POGS

[@joeasmythe]

I took basic at Dix in 1952, damn cold winter, old beat-up barracks, no hot water, but we survived. Glad to see you guys making videos , brings back memories for us geezers.

[@felixmadison5736]

We had those same WWII barracks in 1968 at Dix. My basic started in June, so we had hot and humid weather for 8 weeks. A little 'warm up' for when I went to Vietnam in July of '69.

[@dannysampson5799]

Basic Fort Ord Feb 67. Thanks for this vid! FTA and rest in pieces Fort Ord! Majority of training officers and DI's had never seen combat and had no clue how to prepare us for Nam. I Survived in spite of training. Many didn't!

[@petekambe3279]

Haven't seen FTA in a long time (I wonder if most people even know what it means). During reception station, my group got KP, during which the cooks called me Hop Sing (I am asian). Was thinking this was going to be a long two years. That evening the door to the shower room got fogged up, and someone had drawn FTA...which made me laugh and think a fellow inmate...

[@philhewett1601]

Bring back memories? Indeed it does! C-10-2 down at the back gate at Ft. Jackson SC...in July and August of 1968. Then it was off to Infantry AIT in the 'new' barracks area behind main post. In all I spent the whole month of July thru December at Ft Jackson, then I got orders for Nam. It is an unforgettable period in my life...curiously good (but, with some regrets).

[@Komodokhan148]

I Have a great uncle(grandfather's brother) who did his basic training at Fort Polk La then infantry training and airborne school at Fort Benning back in 1965. He did three combat tours in Vietnam 1966-71 1st Brigade 2nd Bn 327th infantry 101st Airborne.

[@MrRobertcoe]

Thanks for posting the three videos. It changed my life, got me in better shape. I wasn't in the worse of shape whem I went in but need to be in better shape for the next 2 years and 7 months. It brings back many memories.

[@topdog1944]

took my basic training at fort ord 1965 vietnam 1967_68

[@bohdi316]

"The youngest is 19" my ass. I went in on Nov 10, 66 on my 17th birthday.

[@larrymain7989]

Me too

[@gobanito]

The Army uniform looked so much more military then than it is now. Nowadays they look like mall security guards.

[@guyazbell8169]

gobanito yea it's sad all the way around now days my brothers boy came home from airfarce and looked sloppy and cheap in his dress uniform he said it's nothing more than a pc nite mare.

[@NgJackal1990]

STFU!

[@whitebenrr]

The ACU 😂

[@juliopineda5444]

I agree with the old uniform comment but if you’re telling me a fresh pair of OCPs look like mall cop uniforms I’m going to ask respectfully what you are smoking

[@elliottapfel3609]

@@juliopineda5444 OCP wasn't a thing 8 years ago when the comment was posted... UCP was..

[@dapperdan3204]

I arrived at Fort Ord on August 4,1970 at 20 years of age. I spent the next week in reception station, pretty much pulling KP everyday, then 8 weeks of basic training. It was not as depicted in this film for me. It was more like the “Full Metal Jacket” type. Seeing these films brings back a lot of memories, some good, some not so much. We trained with the M-16 rifle. I made some good friends there. I wonder, to this day, what happened to a lot of those guys I took basic with. I still remember the foggy mornings. The minute September came, we were in long underwear. Who would have ever thought it would be cold? I came out of basic training with the PFC rank. I was then sent to Fort Lewis Washington for AIT in October. I can’t hardly believe that was 50 years ago. 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks for your interesting comment, Dapper Dan, and thanks for your service.

[@pajuelopestoso]

To all who have served and are currently serving..Thank You. You are in my prayers and come back home safely.

[@dalecomer5951]

That's me @03:12. I don't remember anything the interviewer said. All I cared about was getting back for chow on time.

[@timestampterrysassistant7638]

[@dwtpa97]

Yes, we didn't realize it then, but those were good old days. Thanks for your post and your service, Bob Demuth!

[@MrRobertcoe]

Yes, I have fond memories of Fort Ord, Fort Gordon and Vietnam. I was with the Signal School at Fort Gordon and remember the MP school. They sometimes held riot training on Friday nights, and working swing shift we had to be careful with the lights in the class room. I left Fort Gordon just before Christmas of 1968 and reported to Vietnam the end of January of 1969. I was with the 121st Signal Batallion of 1st Infantry Division.

[@ninemilliondollars]

What was your MOS? I was a ditti-bopper.

[@carwashvnvmc]

I Loved the M-14 but it was a little heavy. For 6 weeks of basic we carried our weapons everywhere we went, 7 hours a day. I didn't get to handle an M-16 until I got to Vietnam.

[@derekhand7904]

Which weapon was more reliable? I herd the the 16’s were kinda junk at first

[@carwashvnvmc]

@@derekhand7904 I heard that too but the Supply guys were swapping them out with ones that got a chromed barrel but I don't know anymore than that. Our gunpowder smoked like crazy and theirs didn't... That seemed wrong to me. You could see us fire every shot but you couldn't see theirs.

[@whitebenrr]

@@carwashvnvmc what was it like in Vietnam?

[@carwashvnvmc]

@@whitebenrr Hot

[@felixmadison5736]

@@derekhand7904 I liked the M-16 much better because it was lighter and suited better for the jungle. Never had problems with my M-16, but the M-14 was a beast to carry around.

[@abdonitube]

I was in Basic Training At Ft. Bliss June 6, 1969 thru Aug 8, 1969.

[@billr7114]

Ft Jackson May-Sep 74...A-10-2....Old wooden barracks, Little Egypt low crawls,Tank Hill runs..BCT and AIT, 1 week off and straight to Germany for rest of 2 year enlistment---thank goodness Nam was winding down and over.

[@davidwadsworth8982]

B 10-2 March thru early June 1970, still used wooden fire traps 4 years later? saw one burn c-10-1 maybe.

[@dwtpa97]

Yes, we remember those old wooden barracks, low crawls, Tank Hill runs, etc. As you say, thank goodness Nam was winding down. And thank you for your service.

[@cricketking8450]

dwtpa90* I WENT TO BASIC TRAINING AT FORT JACKSON SC, FROM AUGUST 14,th, 1979, AND, GRADURATED, OCTOBER 5,th, 1979, I WAS ON TANK HILL, A-3-1, 2nd, PLATOON.OUR DRILL SGT,S WERE VIETNAM VETERANS AND WERE VERY VERY HARD ON US THEY WOULD PUT A JUMP BOOT IN YOUR ASS IF YOU GIVED THEM ANY SHIT I WAS MADE TO LOWCRAWL IN FULL BATTLE GEAR JUST FOR SMILING MY DRILL SGT SAID HE WAS GOING TO GET THE SMILE OFF MY FACE HE DID TOO,I WAS 17, YEARS OLD AND WHEN I GRADURATED I WAS A MAN, WE DID PT IN OUR OD.GREEN FATIGUE,S AND COMBAT BOOTS , I'LL NEVER FORGET IT, AND WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IF MY HEALTH WASN'T BAD.

[@midnightrider715]

I was at the bottom of tank hill june 1971 d 10 2

[@ninemilliondollars]

US Army-ASA 05C Radio-Teletype Operator/ditti-bopper '70-71 with basic at Ft Knox, Radio Operator/Morse Code training at Ft Jackson, AIT Teletype school at Ft Gordon, duty at Ft Bliss. Thanks for your service.

[@dwtpa97]

Enjoyed the very interesting personal history. And thanks also for your service!

[@robcombs3785]

USAF Basic in 1966 was only 4 weeks.....The big Machine was desperate for warm bodies in Vietnam....I served there in 1968-69.

[@Gypsy839]

Thank you Rob!

[@blue5398]

I took basic training in Ft Hood, Texas in 1966, trained for Vietnam, at last moment we were sent to Germany.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks for your service and your comment!

[@CrashandTrash596]

I grew up on Fort Ord in the early 90's. We used to go out into the woods and pick up old blanks in the hills by the water tower behind our school. Not safe but what we were kids and it was fun. I remember you'd find old fox holes filled with unused belts of blanks the Joe's had buried instead of fired. A decade later when I enlisted and went to Benning I realized why. Good times.

[@billcowan6070]

I was drafted n went to Fort Bragg N.C. on February 14 th 1969 I was 19 and in April '69 I went to Fort Sill OK n became 13 Alpha field artillery in July of '69 at the age of 20 I spent the next 14 months in Vietnam where I ets'd n 50 years later Agent Orange n Combat PTSD have me. A splendid time was had by all.

[@cavsol480]

i enlisted nov. 71 at ft. ord. i wish i could remember my unit there but i've had some injuries and it effects my memory. but i do recall drill sgt. carter. he was tall black soft spoken but you could hear him eveywhere. kinda like my dad. good times. made me grow up from a kid to a man.

[@multitieredinvestor183]

I enlisted as an E1 July 1956 served until 1959. Re-enlisted 1963 as an E2 redid basic training and retired as a 04 Major 1980. I went through basic the 2nd time wearing basic jump wings.

[@ralphriffle1126]

Went to ft.ord in 67. Notice no tennis shoes wearing fatigue shirt. We trained wearing what we would fight in.

[@MrRobertcoe]

Vietnam wasn't bad. I was at DiAn for about two months, then Phu Loi for about 10 months. Fairly quiet at both locations, didn't have to set up anything since it was already there. Most people I was with coped with being in country. There are always exceptions, but for the most part I enjoyed the time over there and would do it again.

[@b1hermann]

I was very fortunate also. Arrived in Nam as a grunt (11C) and assigned to 101st at Bien Hoa. Gota job as a clerk in their Admin Company and had a relatively decent 14 months in Nam.

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

I was drafted into the Army in 1968 during the Vietnam war. NOBODY failed basic training during that period, the Drill Sergeants “fixed” it so everybody graduated basic training. Uncle Sam needed body counts in the ‘Nam!

[@jacoblaughbon3323]

The guy I talked to was just in (2014) and it's not my dad's or i's military anymore.

[@ursulasmith6402]

Tiimes change! I was in under Henry the VIII. No machine guns, no airborne, just bows, arrows, that chain with spikes balls, I was the knight, topdog! Really?

[@cannibalcorpse75]

@@ursulasmith6402 Wow that was intelligent.

[@kenbwahl7974]

Basic Fort Ord, Nov 72, A-3-2. Segeants Pantoya and Isabel

[@felixmadison5736]

I had basic in 1968 at Fort Dix, NJ. Almost as hot and humid as 'Nam that summer!! We had to quality with both the M-14 and M-16 that summer because the army was making the change to all M-16s in Vietnam. This was back when the drill sgt. could knock you around if he felt the need to. There was a SGT. Hardy, who used a jockey's horse whip on his recruits when they were not sounding off while running laps at 5 in the morning.

[@xxxxxx-tq4mw]

I was drafted in early March 1968, to Ft Dix, the tail end of winter 🥶 when we’d form up in the still dark am, freezing, but with the smell of coffee and bacon wafting in the air, which i loved, knowing we’d be marched soon enough to the mess hall for a huge, tasty, breakfast.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@xxxxxx-tq4mw I still remember the sign in the mess hall at Dix: "Take all you want. Eat all you take".

[@HLB49]

Did my basic at Leonard Wood in 1971, Delta Co. 4/3. Lived in the old metal quonset huts, and were separated according to whether you were RA-regular Army, NG-National Guard, or ER-Enlisted reserve. The RA's always got special privilege. I remember Drill Sgts Lacasse and Harrison ( who I saw get shot by another drill sgt. during an argument ) right before going finishing AIT at FLW.

[@MrRobertcoe]

I was sorry when Fort Ord closed. Every time I go north I think about the base. It was a nice location, although we didn't get to see much of it when we were in basic. Even though I have gone by the area a number of times, I never went back there. I did take my wife to Fort Gordon when we were on vacation one year. I knew the MP school was there, but didn't have much contact with them. I do remember when they were conducting riot training, but some Friday nights were black out nights.

[@joseo.5721]

1974, basic at Ft. Polk, E-2 out of basic, qual. Sharpshooter, M-16. Best time of my life !!!

[@ARMYEXERCISE]

Great advices: 1.) avoid creating unwanted attention. 2.) observe everything around. 3.) be a team player. 4.) Don't quit / Never give up.

[@richfrazier8756]

I was drafted in 1968 and attended basic and AIT at Ft. Ord. Went to OCS in 1969. Left the military as a Captain in 1973.

[@eaw7582]

BCT & AIT both there at Ft Ord. Aug 66 to Dec 66. In old wood barracks D-5-3, then about quarter mile to AIT Light Veh Drivers Course. Being in old barracks and at the time we were under meningitis controls. Top & bottom of windows had to be open 10". It got pretty chilly at night. Trained with the M14 & didn't get trained & qualified with M16 until mid 1968 in Korea. Didn't make it to Nam, but spent two years in Korea, Jan 67 to Jan 69.

[@dwtpa97]

Yes, we didn't know it, but we learned a lot! Thanks, Don Walrod, for your comment and your service.

[@smesui1799]

The draft is needed again. Today's society needs the discipline & awakening ! ...

[@nickmele9968]

There would be no one left this side of the southern boarder

[@peterfreeman1585]

Have you served?

[@smesui1799]

@@peterfreeman1585 Nam

[@DaveRobinson-kw3yc]

I enlisted in April 1972 and retired in 1992, as a E7/SFC. Which wasa shock to myself, family and those who I crossed paths with early in my career.

[@lostsoul3154]

PT test Ft. Knox, 1967: 1) 1-mile run 2) 40-yd. low crawl 3) Monkey bars 4) Dodge-Run-Jump 5) Grenade throw. Uncle Sam was drafting 50K/month in '67.

[@jamesvise2099]

I did my basic training at North Ft. Polk in March thru May 1972. After basic I went to South Ft. Polk for the wheel mechanics training.

[@erin19030]

Drafted to Fort Gordon in 1965 and trained in Camp Crockett, it was scarier than my tour in Nam.

[@davidwadsworth8982]

Waiting at Columbia South Carolina airport for bus to Jackson, two guys just took off. Remember these barracks,fire guard was absolutely necessary.They were wired like in 1950. Run dodge jump was easy for me,played lacrosse, we did the drill every day in school.I would inside roll dodge.Because of shoulder injury parallel ladder was hard. During that man carry,guy carrying me tripped, fell and drove my head into the ground.last trial before P.T.Final, went to hospital and I got recycled to STC company for 3 /4 days.Cadre there said why you here after scoring high on evaluation. They let me slide some, trained with pull ups then passed test.

[@pajuelopestoso]

You're welcome dwtpa97 and thanks to YOU too. It was an honor to serve and just following a family tradition as with most of us Vets. In my family you were expected to serve. To Drill Sergeants Brown and Catrett (Ft Ord 1974) and Drill Sergeant Oberley (Ft McClellan Alabama 1985) I'll never forget you and thanks for helping me make it through Basic twice. God Speed.

[@dalecomer5951]

1LT Peeler, 2LT Anthony (XO), SFC Crowther and most of the "permanent cadre" of the training battalion were 1st Air Cav veterans who had done one tour in Vietnam and some two. Our first aid instructor was a highly decorated medic who had participated in the so-called "Battle of the Ia Drang Valley" in Nov. '65. As a result of that action he had received a Silver Star and a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, i.e., a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for that one engagement. He later received an Oak Leaf Cluster for the Silver Star and another for the Bronze Star. It turned out that he was planning to marry his high school sweetheart when he got out of the Army in a few months. His fiancê was the younger sister of one of my best friends in jr. high. Small world. I later asked SFC Crowther about the man's experience and he said that he was also involved in the battle as part of the 2/5 Cav reserve force at LZ/Firebase Columbus. So I heard the whole story, not just half the story as told in the book and the movie. For me it was a wakeup call and I started paying more careful attention to what they were teaching. SFC Crowther has always been on my list of unforgettable characters as well as the rifle instructor and our talented, creative mess sergeant. As I have grown older I have appreciated even more the role of 2LT Anthony who played the "bad cop" to 1LT Peeler's "good cop" for a lot of laughs when we really needed laughs.

[@dwtpa97]

Many thanks for your service. Your comments were ery interesting and add to ta lot he picture of those times.

[@MrRobertcoe]

I went to Fort Ord in June of 1967, just after my 22nd birthday. When I left there I went to Fort Gordon for Signal School, then taught at Fort Gordon for a year. Then to Viet Nam for a year. A great time, served our great country and my God.

[@BobInReno1]

This unit was B-4-3 at ft. Ord. I was B-4-2 when I went through Basic. I saw a lot of things I remember. Ahh those were the days. Wish I was 17 again. I do a lot of things different. Thanks for the memories !

[@MrRobertcoe]

I was in C 2 3 at Fort Ord in the summer of 1967. A lot og good memories. Then off to Fort Gordon, Georgia for AIT, then teaching and finally in Vietnam from February 1969 to the end of January 1970.

[@sandovalperry2895]

Did Basic at Leonard Wood in 72, never went back during my 27 years. As a civilian contractor I got to go back and it was a shocker. During basic we seemed to march every where in the dark and we marched forever. In the daylight in a rental car I was surprised how close everything was. My barracks were still being used but most of the other buildings were gone. I still wonder what happened to the guy that went AWOL.

[@cynthiaayers7696]

My husband join the military 2 months after turning 17. 1974 1st Cav. Did his basic training at Ord.

[@videomaniac108]

3rd Army Reception Station at Ft. Jackson, SC in Jun 1969. Basic training(B-2-1) at Ft. Gordon, GA Jun - Jul 1969. AIT at Ft. Jackson 3rd brigade(11B10) Jul - Aug 1969.

[@tomcomiskey6350]

Ft Jackson Aug 69

[@philchigges2955]

In 85 when I was in basic.one morning I wanted to see what happened if I didn't get up.i was on top bunk.matress went one way and I went the other flying off.didnt get hurt lucky for me.i got up everytime after that.ha ha miss that old drill sgt.good memories.

[@mrstevehartman]

Thank you... for the nice complement! I was sorry to see Ft Ord decommissioned. They even tore down Stillwell Hall!

[@harrycordova8918]

Wow! Interesting ... stumbled on this. In the Dec. 1969 Birthday draft lottery televised Nationally for birth years 1945-59, I drew number 65. Only lottery I ever won, lol. Was a "US" at Ft Ord 1970 A-3-3, 1st Company/Barracks on the "Hill". Then AIT MOS 05B A-3-4, old WW II Barracks there; injured while shipping out...medical profile sent me to Ft Gordon 385 Sig. Co. (Spt). Retired Emergency Operations Center Director. That Army experience was used.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks for an interesting personal history, Harry Cordova, and thanks for your service to our country!

[@louismarucci9056]

We were issued five fatigue shirts. Only the one on my back fit, the others were so tight and arms so short I could barely button them. When I told my Drill Sgt. H told me it was a personal problem. I lived with it.

[@2098elk]

Fort Polk, 1965=67. Drafter in Los Angeles but Fort Ord was closed due to disease. Ended up spending my 2 years in Louisiana as a Personnel Specialist. Glad I served. Went where they sent me. Big Picture was a good show, watched it as a kid on TV. Should bring it back.

[@blkwarriorspirit5528]

No stress cards and no exaggerating like the Post Vietnam era basic training drill sargeants do. Just rough men being transformed into soldiers by day and Guerillas by night. I'm a army veteran and my uncle was a Vietnam combat veteran RIP. And he was everybit of a combat veteran. In fact when he got out of Nam he was a Hitman to make a few extra bucks not to glorify. Much love and respect to the tough Vietnam veterans cut from a different cloth for sure.✊🏿

[@paulloveless9180]

My dad was drafted in 1969. Our family had a sign making business and apparently my dad's dad knew a 1 star general. This allowed my Dad to be stationed at Camron Station (now closed) and was an 81E20 and 51E20 (illustrator and carpenter). He was part of the US Army propaganda unit which exhibited the traveling Vietnam Memorial throughout the US which kept him out of Vietnam. He discharged in 1974 as an E5.

[@kesslermontijo6304]

recognized 6th Army patch and Ft. Ord immediately, (am Californian) in old wooden barracks. Mess in adjacent Co. collapsed on them) 10 wks of fire watch, spinal meningitis winding down , windows open at night. 1966. Went to Alabama after basic, rather have gone straight to Nam, it wasn't as bad there!

[@realvo1ce633]

My grandfather was a DI at fort ord. Living in Salinas Ca

[@greggtria4669]

brings back memories, completed basis aug 59. Sent to Ft. Gordon, Ga. to attend radio/teletype school mos053, after completion assigned to 11th Armored Cav. Regt., Straubing, German, served wtih the Regt 1960-1962.

[@butterbean4195]

whats weird is I see not one combat patch on these drill sergeants. ? what year is this. I went in in 74 and every single drill instructor where Vietnam vets at Ft Jackson

[@dwtpa97]

Butter Bean, I believe that the basic training unit at Fort Ord was actually recorded in 1968.

[@stevepowsinger733]

The white name tags went out in 1967. In 1968 we had green ones.

[@rushmull9789]

Same here.ft polk la.75

[@garystandsbury9591]

Army basic training Jan. to March 1966. Fort Dix, damn near froze to death.

[@AFFILIATEMARKETERJessicaHonest]

My dad was in Vietnam. I am here to see what daddy went through.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks to your dad for his service, and thank you for your comment.

[@b1hermann]

I went through BCT at Bliss in 1968. This video is a decent representation of what we went through. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Infantry AIT training at Polk was much harder than this. But we needed it for our final job in Nam.

[@tonyfruscello1398]

Army never called a Sargent Sir, I work for a living ,Sargent would say!!!

[@kespinal8379]

Damn right!

[@jasongreene6311]

sergeant

[@mrstevehartman]

Woke up in reception station here, in Dec of 72. I soon found out, that there were no partitions between the toilets. I guess we just encouraged one another. While it doesn't snow there, it was extremely cold and damp in the Winter. The three mile run down to the beach rifle ranges, was dreary and painful. Looking back though, it was a great experience. But... it sure didn't seem like it then!

[@divad6202]

0:33 'This is a game of war. The bullets are real. Make a mistake and you're dead wrong.' The narrator trolling.

[@gregjohnson1890]

1967 US army draftee Ft Jackson Reception Station on to Ft Benning. I was a good test taker and got I'm the Finance Corps and spent my last 11 months in Vicenza Italy

[@PoptartzzofGorg]

Ty for your service.

[@b1hermann]

I took basic at Fort Bliss, TX, in January through March, 1968. I was drafted when I was 20 years old. I agree that the series posted fairly depicts the type of training and activities that I recall. I do believe that our training was rougher than depicted in these videos. After graduation from BCT most of us were immediately flown to Fort Polk, LA, where we underwent Advanced Infantry Training in a place called "Tigerland." Yes - It was REAL. After that it was a month leave-then Vietnam.

[@b1hermann]

@Alex Risberg I was in B-1-3 at Polk from Mar-May 68 for infantry (11C- Mortar) training. After about a 4 week leave at home I was in Nam with the 101st.

[@Doctor_Eazy]

too bad most of these ppl didnt wanna be there

[@bennieraglang5785]

Fort Dix mar.4 1969 Basic and AIT

[@TechTwerpII]

Add Fort Bliss to your list. Three friends of mine went straight to El Paso following graduation from same college, June 1968. They tell me Basic and AIT continued at Bliss until 1990.

[@guymorris1963]

medford briggs At Bliss it was AIT only from 1990 when I was there for AIT and went to basic training at Sill.

[@b1hermann]

BCT at Bliss Jan-Mar 68, then Infantry AIT at Polk (11C), then Nam and 101st.

[@dwtpa97]

Many thanks to your grandfather for serving our country. It's great that you want to preserve his stories. I know that some members of Congress are collecting stories from vets about their experiences in the Vietnam War. One of them is the Hon. William C. Cramer, Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC. I am sure there are probably others as well. Thanks for your post, and thanks again to your grandfather for his service -

[@scottebear]

Drafted June 66. Glad I served. A 2 1 lean and mean.

[@dwtpa97]

Thanks for your service to our country. Thanks also for your comment.

[@efgjr1967]

Hey pal I had the same Travel orders and Dates... with one exception... I had a bad experience in the Hospital at Ft Gordon so they sent me to Germany... Hope you are ok .. I always wondered how I would have handled Nam.. Germany was very cool..

[@GWS21449]

I was the platoon guide during the filming of this movie. Wolper Productions did the filming. They never stopped day and night. I had heard it was shown on TV a few times in the late 60's but this is the first time i have seen it. I would love to have a hi res copy of the whole film. Can you share with me where you found the original. 45 years has been a long time since I was drafted on July 20, 1966. THX for the post

[@dwtpa97]

Agent orange turned out to be much worse that we ever dreamed it was. Thanks to your father for his service and his sacrifices.

[@videomaniac108]

I took basic at Fort Gordon, B-2-1, Jun-Jul 69. AIT, 11B10, Ft. Jackson 3rd brigade.

[@tomcomiskey6350]

Ft Jackson 69

[@XanthusBarnabas]

I spent Basic, AIT, Airborne school, Ranger school (the portions when I wasn't in the field), and the first months of my tenure in the 82nd in those old barracks (partitioned toilets there); try as we might, we could never get the dust out of those corners, but we had fun riding the buffers. Oh I forgot about Smoke Bomb Hill, prior to being sent off base, we had portioned rooms there. I wonder what would happen if the military went back to that form of barracks.

[@ben44095]

Fort jackson SC. tankers' Hill 1974

[@elifoust7664]

C-5-1 1974

[@rdtelman]

We were one of the first BCT companies in the Third Army area to use them. They jammed the first day into infantry training. As soon as the little trap door popped open to eject the first spent cartridge, it sucked in that good old Georgia red sand! I was Army NG so the only thing I fired beyond basic was M1 and M1 carbine later in the Air Guard. I felt like a pro though when the NG's got their new M16s after 1975.