Chapter 4 Into basic training.

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Some time before leaving Ft. Lewis for Camp Roberts they do recruiting for other services like Paratroopers etc. It didn't take me any time to decide that was not for me. So on to Camp Roberts. If your are so inclined you can get a history of Camp Roberts by following this link http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Pages/default.aspx


My memory has always been bad. The event has to be pretty outstanding for me to remember it. Of course what was outstanding to me might not be to you. My memory of basic was more like a blur. Nothing outstanding has etched itself in my memory. If I have a picture it will bring back memories. There were formations, inspections, reveille, taps, code practice and radio procedure and all the things that go into military training. Day after day. My foot hurt and made marching misery. That I remember. Going to the bar, coming home tipsy. The one thing I do remember was at the end of basic there was a marching contest with the other platoons. We won it but through no fault of mine. I thought I was pretty coordinated. However the Sgt gave a command to right face ant I left faced. Either the other formations were worse in other ways of they didn't see me. In any case we won and got out pictures taken.
I went on sick call one day so see if the doctor would do something for my foot. No he did nothing although now I am sure he could have. I was able to identify almost everyone on the picture and where they went.






During all this hanging over our heads were what is to come. that is what made this time so interesting. We definitely were not bored. The highlight was weekends with our wives. One week end we went to Merced and saw my dad. He was disappointed that Kay didn't bring Dianne which was impossible of course.


The picture of three of us is Burdette Anderson, Doyal Gudgel (me), and Kay. Burdette was in the Infantry and went to the pacific. Assigned to heavy weapons in the 7th Division and spent 90 days in combat in Okinawa. Afterwards the 7th went to Korea and occupied there for a year before he came home.


The big finale of basic training was go on maneuvers and put what we had learned into practice.