What are your most vivid memories upon arriving at your first duty station (after training)?

Arriving at Fort Campbell Kentucky in February or March 1975 I was amazed that all the MPs seemed to be Special Forces soldiers because they wore green berets SN Greg Wright.
Later I learned that the shade of green was a different shade than the Special Forces green beret. This was in the early days of the volunteer Army after the draft was over with many draftees still on active duty. At Fort Campbell there was an amazing variety of head gear shades and colors. the Combat Engineer battalion I was assigned to had a maroon beret that was a shade different that the maroon beret of the 82nd Airborne division.

Arrived on Diego Garcia , after a week long stay at Clark AB PI, our C-5 had "broken" down. I was forced to stay at a hotel out in Angeles City (oh the horror), transient quarters were full, but i digress.

Once i got off the plane DG was oppressively hot and humid. After leaving the airfield i felt like i was on Gilligan's Island, jungle or beach on both sides of the road. Kept expecting Ginger or Mary Ann to come walking out of the jungle, but that never happened unfortunately. Living quarters was a 12 man, long plywood shack thing with a corrugated tin roof and screen for windows. The area of these shacks was aptly named "Splinterville". One of the first things i did was buy a fan. The Filipino chow hall was nearby so that was a big plus. There was almost constant beer drinking 24/7. One of the watch sections was always having a party with beer and trash cans full of Mojo. Brits, Americans, Aussies and New Zealanders were always fighting somewhere when one of their ships were inport.

It was a very different time back then. I'm glad i went there! LOL

No story about my military career can be told without retreating to the very beginning. First, as I recall, I didn't know that anyone could yell as loud as the fellow standing at the door of the bus we took from the airport in San Diego. Second, I brought too much stuff. Actually, a handkerchief would have been too much. Third, I wasted the money I spent on that great looking haircut before I left home.

Upon arriving in Korea with orders to the 2ID I was surprised that I was first put through three days of In processing in Seoul prior to being moved to the 2ID, it was very pleasant in Seoul and seemed like good duty. In those days we were required to move in Class A uniform. We were bused to TDC and at the main gate was a huge sign that said "Welcome to the 2ID", but it looked just like the WWII German death camp sign that said Arbeit Macht Frei or Work will make you free. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Then we went to The Turtle Farm, 2ID replacement center. Our NCO platoon guide said you see those two buildings over there the first is in processing the second is out processing they are 20 feet apart and it takes turtles like you one year to get from the first to the second. After five days processing we got back into class A uniform for movement to our units the monsoon season was in full swing and it was pouring down rain. A five ton truck pulled up with no overhead cover on the back and the TC, a CPL said everyone going to 1/38 FA get on the truck. So we had about a 40 minute ride in pouring rain in our class A uniform. Everyone soaked to the skin cold and sick, one guy got pneumonia later. Then to the barracks which were being renovated. Eight bunk beds, 16 soldiers jammed into a four man room with no wall lockers barely 6 inches between bunks you had to crawl in from the end. I thought what the hell did I ever do to deserve this crap. It just went down hill from there. It was exactly like being in prison in every aspect that I could imagine. The unofficial unit motto was, when I die I know I am going to heaven because I have spent a year in hell. Worst unit ever, it could only get better after that 14 months at HHB 1/38th FA BN Steel Behind the Rock.

My orders said I was to be assigned to the 1501st ATW. They said no, and sent me to the 1501st AB Group, who in turned said nope and sent me to the HQ Squadron.

I was beginning to feel unwanted.

Gosh this unit must have a large budget.

This is the sharpest looking company I have seen in my short time in.

When I got to Ft Stewart reception, before getting to my unit. I remember going with the guys and gals from reception to a nightclub in Savannah called Ibiza! What a fantastic night!

Out of A School, I was on tin cans. After going to the O side, started deploying to Antarctica. Both way different than growing up in SOCAL.

It was cold and very late at night. I was told I had to wear my class A winter uniform in route. I had lost so much weight in boot camp, my skirt waist was hanging on my hips. Good thing the uniform comes with a jacket. I stepped off the bus in pumps and stockings to drop into a puddle of freezing slush and old snow. Welcome to NAVSTA Great Lakes ILL.