I.   INDUCTION

June 2, l943, I was sent to Evansville, Indiana for a physical examination prior to being inducted into the service. Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Harry Kirk, delayed five Senior's induction into the service to enable us to graduate and get our diplomas. There was not a systematic plan for what branch of service you were put in. Every third person was put in the Navy. After 7 days at home, 5 of us were sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana by bus. While at Ft. Ben, we took a battery of tests. At the time we didn't know why we were taking all of them, but we found out later. After all the tests were finished, I was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama for basic training.

II.   BASIC TRAINING

When I got to McClellan, it was hot and humid because it was in the middle of summer. I was in good physical shape due to the basketball I played in high school.

We were sent to the firing range to qualify. I shot expert with the M-l Garand rifle, the carbine, and the Sub-machine gun (known as the grease gun). After qualifying the highest with these arms, I was selected as a coach on the range.

After being at basic training for a while, we found that the reason we were sent to McClellan was because we were supposed to be put in an Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) for training in engineering. This was the result of the tests at Ft. Ben to determine our IQ's. Later on in training, I found out that the Army Air Corps was taking applications and going to give a test for Cadets (pilot trainees). After a considerable time, we got notice that everyone failed. We couldn't understand why everyone failed their test, although they told us during the test that it was a new test with a 2l2 possible score versus ll0 possible on the old test.

The last part of training is 2 weeks bivouac in the field for training at night. About half way through the training, headquarters sent a runner out to the field with a message that our Cadet test had been graded wrong and that five of us had passed the test. We were to continue our training until complete. The final part of our training was 25 mile march back to camp with full field pack which weighed approximately80 pounds. Our squad took turns carrying the heavy weapons, like the Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs).

I felt like I was walking on stubs when we reached the camp. But wasn't too tired to take a shower and go to a dance that was in progress. After we had been back to camp for a few days we heard that the battalion's (Colonel) son was getting a furlough (military leave of absence). We had been told that nobody got furloughs from McClellan. We approached our Captain and told him we didn't think it was fair if the Colonel's son got a furlough and we didn't. He agreed and said he would check on it and if it was so, we would get one also. A few days later, I was on kitchen police (KP) and the Captain's runner came to the mess hall and told me I was getting a furlough. I asked him when, and he said immediately. The Mess Sgt. told me to get out of there.

I went down to the Captain's office to get my furlough papers and the Captain asked me if he could get hold of me around Shoals or Loogootee if he had to call me back early. I asked him how he knew about Shoals and Loogootee. He said he was a surveyor for the Shoals dam back in the 30's and that he had roomed with a Dr. Freeman. (Dr. Freeman and his wife were my next door neighbors and friends). I knew when this man was there, because I asked Dr. Freeman to ask him if I could get a job. He told Dr. Freeman I was too young. What a coincidence?

After a great seven-day furlough, I reluctantly returned to Fort McClellan, Alabama. I got a notice to go to Maxwell Field at Montgomery, Alabama for a pre-Air Corps physical.