Memories

[Fox Mike]

Was watching Goldfinger today and noticed, in the one portion that was actually Fort Knox, the 'checkerboard' water tower. Brought back memories. When I got out of basic training my next duty station was HHC, 37 Med Tank Bn (Patton), which was located right by that tower. That was a loooong time ago (1960).

 

[contender]

I did my boot at Knox. But that was in 1976.

 

[Fox Mike]

Boot was at D/10/4. Started 10 February 1960. The "pink palaces" were just started being used but we were still in the old, coal fired furnace, two story wooden barracks. Four squads per barrack and there were four barracks, one combination orderly room/ supply, and a mess hall. Lt Jones was the CO and the 1SG was 1SG Mitchell. Hard to forget those names. I was the only Mitchell recruit and there was also only one Jones in the Company. A mini competition was always going on.

 

[graygun]

We had the old wood ones at Bragg in early 1969.

 

[blume357]

I had to pause the movie yesterday and am now watching it, probably for the 10th time.

Just realized the passenger ejector seat might not work now because everyone has to wear a seat belt.... that is unless the entire seat with belts ejects...

 

[Fox Mike]

The first time I saw that movie was when it first came out in '65. I was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas attending Nike Ajax radar school.

 

[toysoldier]

My memories of wooden barracks are pretty vague, as I lived in one from birth to age 3. At Kansas State college, married students (mostly veterans in the GI Bill) were housed in barracks that had been moved onto the campus.

 

[Bob Wright]

How well I remember those wooden barracks. Each column had a red painted butt can nailed to it. And buffing those maroon linoleum floors for inspection.

Long ago and far away...............


Bob Wright

 

[Jeepnik]

Dad's armored division the (Super) Sixth was formed there in 1942. He had previously been with the (Hell on Wheels) Second. I imagine Ft Knox of 1942 wasn't really all that different from 1960, if the WWII era airbases I was stationed at were any indication.

 

[wwb]

How well I remember those wooden barracks. Each column had a red painted butt can nailed to it. And buffing those maroon linoleum floors for inspection.

Long ago and far away...............


Bob Wright

Fort Campbell, 1968..... same thing. And a group of guys was on "Fire Watch" every night.

 

[Fox Mike]

How well I remember those wooden barracks. Each column had a red painted butt can nailed to it. And buffing those maroon linoleum floors for inspection.

Long ago and far away...............


Bob Wright

The unit I mentioned was the "Inspection barracks" for the Bn. When "Big wigs" came to call they were sent through our area. The butt cans were #10 cans painted red on the outside and light blue inside and were mounted on highly polished 90mm shell casings. The ONLY time anything went into those cans was when an inspection was forthcoming. They were filled 1/2 way with water and heaven help anyone that dropped a butt in one. As soon as the inspection was over they were emptied, dried and set into the holders upside down. We also never walked down the center of the barracks between the uprights, except the guy with the buffing machine.