Who was your Drill Sergeant/Drill Instructor in Basic Training?

At Lackland AFB, Dec 2 1982 to 18 Jan 1983, 3702 BMTS - Flight 542: Tsgt. Dorshoots and Tsgt. Prado.
We were TSgt. Dorshoots last class as he was retiring from the USAF shortly after our graduation.
He was from Allentown PA about 90 miles south from me in Carbondale. I remember he made an Airman from Allentown flush his "YEAHS" down the toilet because he didn't understand the Sir, yes Sir concept. After about 15 minutes of yelling into the toilet then flushing it; he was summoned back to the flight. TSgt. Dorshoots asked him if he was fixed and He answered, YEAH. Needless to say he was back in the latrine for another session. He was good after that.
Tsgt. Prado was a reservist who was allowed to be on active duty. He was a Security Police - SS prior to becoming an Drill Instructor.
I ran into him in 1987 as he was PCSing to Aviano Italy and I was stationed at the Philadelphia IAP.
There was a MAC terminal there. They were both good guys. Tsgt. Dorshoots occasionally called me pest because I was a stickler for details. But whenever there was an important assignment he would always manage to volunteer me for it.
Our Squadron had a Senior Enlisted Advisor, SMSgt. Sandoval, he was a quiet kind of guy you don't want to mess with. Once during an open ranks inspection, he asked me what I was looking at as I was looking him directly in the eye (a major no-no). On a quick draw answer I said Sir, the Airman is looking at nothing. That went over like a fart in divers helmet. My butt must have tasted good because he chewed on it for about a week. I had to pull Squadron CQ duty in the orderly room which was in his domain. I discovered that he was a really cool guy after I gave him the solution to what was ailing his Volvo. All in all, basic training was an interesting time of my life. I remember seeing girls after 3 weeks with their OD eye shadow to match their fatigues. Another exciting time would be while we were eating in the dining hall; the DI's had their own area. We called it "the snake pit". Some lowly airmen would wander too close to it and sucked in. The DIs would feast on them like a gazelle. I recall when an AB saluted them. Talk about it hitting the fan. If you didn't live it you'd never believe it.
I had some good laughs thinking about basic training and writing this.

SFC Sergeant
SFC Christopher
SSG Trost

Does anyone forget their drill sergeant? My drill sergeant was SFC Clifford Collins, and the asst. for our platoon was SSG Maggie Ross. They were both amazing and I would have followed them anywhere.

SSG Roche was DS for our platoon in 1968 at Ft. Gordon. I don't believe we knew his first name. He was a real strac trooper, uniform was always perfect and he really knew his business. He gave us the confidence to do things we never thought we would ever be doing.

SSG Reed and SSG Trump, Upon meeting SSG. Trump he stated, " We don't shake hands and we don't make friends " There ain't but two things I give away, "that's hard dick and bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum " it was June 1980, back when DI's could talk that way. Most all the DI's back then were Vietnam veterans. After basic and AIT, I went on to Jump school, that was a whole other experience. Some of the best time of my life.

Drill Sargeant Guzmon. He was my primary DS in basic at Ft. Lenardwood after graduating basic I went to Ft. Sill and while on CQ duty one night was cleaning the Sr Drill's office and noticed a picture of him on the wall. The next day I asked the Sr Drill about him. He asked if I knew Ssgt Guzmon all I said was there is no such animal as I can't. From that point on my Senior Drill Sargeant had the Drill Sargeants back off on me because I already had a hard enough basic training. I still catch myself telling my kids and grandkids there is no such animal as I can't. So figure it out. Both were great examples of leadership.

SSG Raun was my basic training Drill Sgt at Fort Bliss in march of 1977. He always had starched fatigues and never broke a sweat during our runs. I made squad leader my second week in Basic and he provided guidance throughout the remainder of Basic. However, about 4 weeks into Basic, we were in the field for a week during our weapon qualification, and SSG Raun took me to the company commander, at the CO's request. The CO wanted to speak to me about what to expect when I went to OCS after Basic. Well my secret was out and SSG Raun was on my butt for the remaining weeks of Basic. On the last day of Basic, following graduation, he pulled me aside and said I would make COL, before I retired from the Army.

SSG.s Jones & Carter.

Hell, CSM, I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, let alone 36 years ago. However, I do still have nightmares about that little cuss and can still see his face.

Sgt Hayes, Fort Knox, KY (1963).