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Kingston,Mi | Wheelsup, the benefit of enlisting over reporting to the draft was I could , somewhat, control my destiny. I ask not to go to Viet Nam, to train as a diesel mechanic. I enlisted to become a diesel mechanic/generator operator to be stationed in Germany. Enlistment NCO said they needed generator operator/mechanics on the Pershing missile systems and that they were only deployed in Germany. To receive all of the "promises" you have to meet all of the educational requirements and graduate on time, which I did. If you fail a class or miss a date , then the guarantees are off. Just reporting for induction after being drafted allows the Military to place you where ever they need bodies, like the kid who was several years ahead of me in high school who was drafted in 1964, left Tuscola Co. Michigan with 70 others. A few were assigned to the Navy or the Air Force, most went into the Army but he was sent to the Marines. Nothing against the Marines, just didn't want to become one or for that matter a 11B (infantry).
I was assigned to work in the operations office as a gofer and typist between my first and second M.O.S. training classes. After topping out the second class and opting to enroll in the 3rd M.O.S. class in the series, I again worked in the operations office. On graduating from the 3rd class as a 52D20, I was offered the opportunity to stay in that company as permanent party and continue as a substitute mail clerk and working in the operations office.
A change in the operations sgt. and then his need for emergency leave to hunt for a youngster who left home promoted me to acting operations sgt. about 1.5 years into the enlistment. A few months later, they made it official and gave me a lateral assignment to SGT. from Specialist 5th class.
Never went to Germany and never worked on a generator or engine after graduating as a 52D20
Edited by BOGTROTTER 1/21/2025 06:38
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REFLECTION ON JAN.20TH 1972
