82nd ABN

I was just reading "basic training where and when and I saw a couple of guys that made it through basic at Tank Hill. Cna I get a hello from those that did? Went through during the summer of 82. Man it was hot. Here are a couple of names for ya drag ass hill, the grease pits. The good ol days! Did anyone have a DI named SFC Fitch? He was a Nam Vet and he did not play games. He was promoted to SFC while in his platton. I am going to have to dig out the books now and see what other names I cane dig up.

M1A's r BEST

I was there in Sept/Oct/Nov 1975.

Our barracks was (I think) just to the right of the water tower and right across the road from the sand pits they used to make us run in every morning.

One Drill Sgt. (we did not call them DIs) was a Sgt. Bess. I can't remember the other one as he was only there part of the cycle before leaving for Ft. Sill, OK. His replacement's name also escapes me at this time.

One of the other platoons had a Drill Sgt. named Poer. He wasn't happy unless he was teaching people (not just his platoon but anyone unlucky enough to pass by him) new ways to feel pain/suffering. He would actually get on top of the mess hall and catch people as they stepped off the little stoop and put them down for push ups if they did not have their hat on when their head broke the plane of the roof. If they did not have every pocket buttoned up, same punishment. I swear he enjoyed it.

I spent Thanksgiving Day 1975 sitting on the front steps of tht barracks in the rain, waiting on the bus to Ft. Polk. The got us up, gave us breakfast, made us clean the barracks one last time and told us to go outside to wait on the bus. They followed us out, locked the doors and left.

The bus eventually got there. We got something to eat when the buses stopped late that night somewhere in Mississippi at a truck stop. After 16 hrs. with no food that burger and fries was EXCELLENT!! I remember the catsup, the lettuce and the pickles very well.

leadbug

82nd,

You just hit me over the head with that memory! Thanks! Drag Ass Hill! I am feeling a pain in my side and a fainting spell coming on (just remembering it).

That was the hill that made me think of the men that were really in hell, in war, so keep going!

I could not remember the hill's name, but from time to time I tell people about it. This is really why I love this forum.

I was there in summer of 1987 for Basic and AIT. What a miserable time of season for Ft. Jackson.

My Drill Seargents were pretty hardcore too.

Lrsd

I was one of the last to go through Tank Hill basic training before they were all condemned and torn down. Left in Oct 93.

M1A's r BEST

torn down in '93?? Wow, they sure go their money out of those "1941 Temporary Barracks".

They used to tell us those buildings had been there so long that the pine used to build them was so dry that it only took a matter of seconds from the time they caught on fire until they would be enveloped in full flames with no chance of saving the building.

We had someone on fire watch every night (several someones) wandering from downstairs to upstairs to make sure no one smoked or that fires didn't start some other way without being quickly noticed so the alarm could be raised and the barracks evacuated.

One of the many possible punishments for upsetting a Drill Sgt. was to be assigned the job of crawling around under the barracks to roust out the skunks they said sometimes set up housekeeping under them (I never saw a skunk anywhere around the buildings or in the woods but you know how it goes).

82nd ABN

I heard the place was made into a museum at least a few building were anyway. I remember the first night there I had to pull fife watch. I heard the same thing about those buildings but I also think it stems back to when they used to burn coal in a stove for heat. Believe it or not after I went to Bragg I live in WWII barracks there as well. We were in the best barracks right down there near the All American Highway. The Commanding general said he wanted everyone in the division on the hill so we were assigned to WWII barracks for a 1 1/2 while they renovated the ones we were to move into. Did the same thing up at Ft Devens when there. I think I spent half the 9 years living in WWII temporary Barracks. LOL.

LSRD I heard they tore it down back then I was very disappointed

Vermin

My barracks was straight across from the sand pits. Right out the door to sandy PT. We had the only Black Female CSM in the Army. She was tough. Tempory barracks yep. At Ft Hood I was in a building that My Dad was in during His basic in WWII. I guess time moves on, and they are all gone now. Kind of sad.

82nd ABN

That's crazy my CSM was also. She was hell on wheels! I can remember but I thought there were two sand pits. One towards the top of the hill and one at the bottom. I was right next to the one on the bottom. Out the door to the right. I will have to dig out my graduation book and see what company I was in. Wouldn't that be a hoot if we were in the same company at different times. When were you there. I was there spring and sumer of 82.

kgcoker

I must be one of the old guys.
I was there in 1956. C-11.

82nd ABN

I often wondered what they were like when they were first constructed. Did they have coal stoves for heat?

kgcoker

In 1956 the barracks and water were heated with coal furnaces.
I was one of 4 company firemen that were trained to operate.

Firemen were except from KP and guard duty.

82nd ABN

Thanks for the info. I managed to skate from pulling KP during Basic as well. During my first hitch I was a truck mechanic and had to get my drivers liscence in basic. I was always on waiting in the motorpool waiting to get a duce and a half for the days at the range.

Old Soldier

Hi guys! Basic Dec 1961 to March 1962 then Leadership School. Many memories of Tank Hill and Drag Ass Hill. I was in C-6-2 Trng Reg't. I forgot about the Sand Pit, thanks for the reminder.

Wishbone

Bravo-5-1, spring 1975 3rd platoon 3rd squad. Drill Sgt Poole and Drill Sgt Sam Outlaw. No matter what happens, keep smiling. That was the pact my partner and I made. And that we did. Down to, "da dust bowl", was the feared command. Nothin' but 12 inches of pure baby powder dust.
Sgt Sam Outlaw, 6' 10", black as night and 300 + lbs of solid bad ass. Killer of numerous enemy. Builder of men, with a double time stride of six feet.
Met a girl that looked like Farrah Fawcet with a bigger bust line. Made love for 3 straight days. Said she was from Wyoming and her husband loved his truck more than her. I still miss her.
My partner took a section 8 and is dead now. he took to drugs and killed a girl drivin too fast on his crotch rocket. Lost both his legs and one arm. Shot himself to death in 1988 or so. RIP Pvt Rogers.
I went on to to do my duty. Never saw any action.
Drove prisoners to the fire lines in Northern California in my 5 ton. That was a blast.
Honorably discharged from California and Oregon Guard in 1981.
Told em ta give me a 5th stripe and I'll re-up. They said re-up and we'll see about that strip.
Workin for DHS now still defending the Constitution.
Those were the good times and those were the bad times, same as it is today.

See ya in the next world. And don't be late.

Macfee421

Summer 82, Tank and Dragass forever in my memory.
C co 1-501 PIR
C co 1/167 Mech
And others, lots of training no deployments