I was already in Nam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (4.2 mortar platoon, 1/503 rd) when Camp Crockett was built. I took basic training and Airborne AIT at Ft. Gordon from 9/66-2/67. Our AIT barracks were one story cinder block former POW buildings with a separate shower /latrine building of the same construction. Each barrack had an oil fired stove at each end of the building. Fond memories of winter in Georgia. When we left Ft. Gordon for the journey to Ft. Benning in February 1967 there were several inches of snow on the ground. Graduated Jump School 7 March 1967 assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, got 30 days say farewell leave and then a 26 hour TWA flight to the land of a thousand rice paddies all compliments of Uncle Sam.
Those that went to jump school were assigned to units after graduation. Not everyone from the camp went to jump school. I was informed that the class that I helped train had a very high return home. I was hard on them. Was with the A-co 1/509th airborne infantry Germany, and the 82nd. Rod Eng
I was already in Nam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (4.2 mortar platoon, 1/503 rd) when Camp Crockett was built. I took basic training and Airborne AIT at Ft. Gordon from 9/66-2/67. Our AIT barracks were one story cinder block former POW buildings with a separate shower /latrine building of the same construction. Each barrack had an oil fired stove at each end of the building. Fond memories of winter in Georgia. When we left Ft. Gordon for the journey to Ft. Benning in February 1967 there were several inches of snow on the ground. Graduated Jump School 7 March 1967 assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, got 30 days say farewell leave and then a 26 hour TWA flight to the land of a thousand rice paddies all compliments of Uncle Sam.
ReplyDeleteDo you know the designation of the airborne-oriented training battalion or brigade there?
ReplyDeleteThose that went to jump school were assigned to units after graduation. Not everyone from the camp went to jump school. I was informed that the class that I helped train had a very high return home. I was hard on them. Was with the A-co 1/509th airborne infantry Germany, and the 82nd. Rod Eng
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