I had my training at Fort Benning in the late 80’s. B-10-2 I think it was. The last rotation through the old barracks. Lot’s of memories, changing the name is ridiculous.
God Bless you and your family.
What year(s) was this?
Ohhh, my mother would commiserate with you!
Dad was an Army recruiter in the 50’s and 60’s. Sometimes moving once a year. With 3, then 4, then 5 boys.
You sound like my mom - an amazing Army Wife!
Yep. The transfer from a base in Louisiana prompted my parents getting married with 3 weeks notice. The adventure began...
I noticed you joined FR July 10, 2020 so a very warm welcome indeed. Just a suggestion: I also noticed your “About Page” is empty. What you wrote here in this post is a testament to a vibrant spirit. But it might have more lasting value if you copy it to your “About Page”, so in future all FReepers can review what your history has been.
I think it’s only fair that they move Harvard to Arkansas.
Proud alumni of Mother Benning’s Home for Wayward Boys, 1995.
I was US Army single and stationed in Germany. When I made the rank of Sgt, I had a couple of guys in my squad who were married. They raved about a class that was set up by the Chaplins office. I dont remember the name of the class but it was along the lines of how to survive being a military spouse.
It covered a lot of topics from paper work, to medical, schools, shoppng on and off base, transportation, etc. The topic that got the most praise was basic home repairs.
Thank you...loved your story. Loved it.
Being in a military family has its own challenges and its own rewards.
I grew up a military brat, and it was hard. I went to eight different schools growing up (I have always told people it was ten, but counting on my hands...I can only see eight...I am probably forgetting one now) and I suffered scholastically moving around, made worse by the fact I went through my first year or two of grade school with nearsightedness so bad I fell really far behind and never caught up until college!)
I hated losing my friends and things I had known, but that was far outweighed by the places I went and things I had seen. By the time I was 14, I had circumnavigated the globe.
The ongoing cycle of moving trucks, occupying new quarters that were left in a filthy state by the previous occupants, going to strange schools...I grew up my whole life terrified of the first day of school.
I would not trade that life for anything. Anything. Living on stations, stopping play to stand at attention and face the flag for colors and taps as it went up and down each day, being given a huge amount of freedom because you lived on a base...what could go wrong (lots) being 12 years old and walking through port areas like Yokohama and Olongapo past drunken sailors on liberty with hookers on their arms...what could go wrong?
And seeing what my mother went through...I salute you and all military wives. It was hard on her.
But when my dad, who was on the USS Rooks over in Korea as a young officer in 1952 used a ship to shore phone call to propose to her with a “Marry me and you’ll see the world” line (he really did say that) she accepted, and with her family of six kids, she did indeed see the world!
Yes...welcome to Free Republic, Ma’am.
Welcome.
Actual beginning for me.
Born 7/18/46 at Ft. Benning.
I think you will find much in common when you read this even though we were Navy and you were Army...it is, to a degree...much the same...:)
(My Dad and us in the VW Bus he took us through Europe in on our way back to The USA! Note all the camping gear on the roof...:)
OCS: Benning’s School for Boys.
I went to Airborne school at Benning. I was not an Infantry Officer so I did not do my officer basic class there but my grandparents lived in Columbus so I have been very familiar with the whole area for many years. Extended families suffer too, like when I took my bride, an only child, off to Germany for three years. She was very close to her parents and it must have been tough on them to see her gone that long. I am flatly opposed to changing any names.
I spent my formative years as an Air Force brat. I have never regretted my dad’s service to our country. Growing up as a service brat gave me the opportunity to see more of the world and meet more wonderful people than I ever could if I had stayed at my birth place.