10-6-2021
Still a Soldier
In the years after the Korean War while I was but a small child I was drawn to the life of a soldier. I watched “Combat!” starring Vic Morrow (1962 – 1967) and “PT 109” starring Cliff Robertson (1963). As a kid I was known to ride my bike throughout the downtown Boise area frequenting thrift shops before heading over to the A-26 Douglas Invader then on display at Julia Davis Park. I became a member of Civil Air Patrol in high school (64-66) and for Christmas 1966 mom gave me the book “Green Berets” which sits on my book case today.
My turning point came after graduating high school in 1967. I went with a friend to see the army recruiter. Since I loved to drive and I signed up for one of the army’s truck driving courses. America was fully caught up in the war in Vietnam and it must have been a real shock for my family when I enlisted in the army on 13 September 1967 and I ended up in Southeast Asia.
My career lasted 22 years and covered various assignments around the world until I retired on 31 December 1990. I don’t take my service time lightly and have been retired now for almost 30 years.
I still watch war movies where I look for authenticity. Except for movies like Stripes & GI Jane that may be humorous to watch they bear no resemblance to what our men and women train and do everyday
Unless you’ve taken the oath, worn the uniform of the United States military, you can’t fully begin to understand. There is no expiration date on the oath to “Protect and Defend the Constitution” and in spite of what others may tell you there is no “X” in veteran.
I’ve been a soldier my entire adult life and yes I’m still a soldier. – I am the Real Truckmaster!
Realtruckmaster.blog
MeWe.Com/The_Real_Truckmaster_Series – 2021
The Real Truckmaster 