Winter of ‘64-’65 Sheppard AFB Wichita Falls, Tx. We lived in condemned WWII barracks (the “Overflow Squadron”). The floors were wood, no lino. The latrine smelled of Pinesol, carbolic soap, and Brasso. The open bays smelled of Murphy’s Oil Soap, Johnson’s Wax, Kiwi Shoe Polish, and Brasso. Open rafters to the roof boards. No cob/spider webs. We had to pack the window sashes and frames with cotton balls to keep the dust out. When we left the barracks at 16:00 for C Shift tech school it was in inspection order, every day. Just the way we lived.
You got that right. I just had an odor flashback of Murphy’s, Kiwi, Brasso, Johnson’s. I can still see the littlest recruit in the platoon ridin’ on the buffer. Those were the days.