...from Mostly Cajun. He was in the Army for a while, drove and taught Tanks. He was reassigned to Fort Knox and his first day was a little less than optimal. Neither was his Tank.
Fate was not smiling, she was laughing out loud with milk spraying out her nose.
It begins innocently enough:
Another �What did you do in the war, Daddy?� post.
In 1972, after two years at Fort Polk Louisiana, where I was a drill sergeant, I received orders for transfer to Fort Knox Kentucky, for assignment at the First Training Brigade of the Armor Center as an instructor.
In irony not unusual for the Army, I found myself assigned to the same training unit, Company �A", 2nd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, that I�d graduated from in January of 1969. Even more ironic was walking into the orderly room and running into the same crusty sergeant first class who�d been the field first sergeant when I�d graduated. We�d both had a couple of tours since my graduation, but we were back, and this time I was a buck sergeant (E-5) instructor.
I was suitable welcomed. The next day I found myself out at the driver�s training area with the rest of the company, where I was given my M60A1 tank and one of my four trainee crews. My instructions for the days' activities: "Take �em out and let �em drive. Talk to �em about how to navigate rough terrain. You know, teach �em sh*t!"
Armed with such specific information, I introduced myself to my crew and we climbed on top of the tank to do �pre-op� checks. Opening the heavy grille doors that gave access to the engine, I watched them go through visual inspection and checks for presence of oil in the engine and transmission. We then mounted up, me in the tank commander�s hatch, one trainee in the bowels of the turret in the gunner�s seat, another with his head out of the loader�s hatch, and the third in the driver�s hatch, gleefully anticipating the impending activities. It gets better -- Hell, meet handbasket.
In 1972, after two years at Fort Polk Louisiana, where I was a drill sergeant, I received orders for transfer to Fort Knox Kentucky, for assignment at the First Training Brigade of the Armor Center as an instructor.
In irony not unusual for the Army, I found myself assigned to the same training unit, Company �A", 2nd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, that I�d graduated from in January of 1969. Even more ironic was walking into the orderly room and running into the same crusty sergeant first class who�d been the field first sergeant when I�d graduated. We�d both had a couple of tours since my graduation, but we were back, and this time I was a buck sergeant (E-5) instructor.
I was suitable welcomed. The next day I found myself out at the driver�s training area with the rest of the company, where I was given my M60A1 tank and one of my four trainee crews. My instructions for the days' activities: "Take �em out and let �em drive. Talk to �em about how to navigate rough terrain. You know, teach �em sh*t!"
Armed with such specific information, I introduced myself to my crew and we climbed on top of the tank to do �pre-op� checks. Opening the heavy grille doors that gave access to the engine, I watched them go through visual inspection and checks for presence of oil in the engine and transmission. We then mounted up, me in the tank commander�s hatch, one trainee in the bowels of the turret in the gunner�s seat, another with his head out of the loader�s hatch, and the third in the driver�s hatch, gleefully anticipating the impending activities. It gets better -- Hell, meet handbasket.
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