Here we were, a small group of new enlistees on  a Boeing 707 headed toward Ft. Polk, La.  Like myself, most had never been on a plane before let alone such a monster.  We had enlisted the day before in CA. in mid Nov. 1964.  Upon arrival in TX. we transferred to a DC-3 (tail dragger) to a small town in LA.  A short ride on a bus and we arrived in the middle of night at our first military post.

 

LA. is COLD in the winter but we hardly had time to notice.  Like you are all aware the next few hours were a wirlwind.  We were pushed around by acting corporals herding us from one place and another.  By morning we were freshly equipped with new uniforms and had shaven heads and headed for our new home.  India Co. 5th training Bde.

 

A note on the uniforms.  Except for the class A uniform all were 100% cotton.  The only two zippers were on the field jacket and fly of the class A trousers.  The fatigues were vintage Korean war.  The sleeves were stove pipe with a flap you fold over to tighten them.  We were informed we were the first cycle that didn't have to dye their combat boots.  Previous cycles had been issued brown boots which they had to dye black.  The class  B uniforms were khakis, in my opinion totally worthless because they would never hold a crease, they always looked like they just came out the duffle bag.  By the way, duffle bags did not have shoulder straps then, you usually threw them over a shoulder.  The overcoat was o.d. and had liners held in with buttons and did nothing to keep you warmer.  No rain gear was issued.  The fatigue cap was also Korean war vintage.

 

(to be continued !)