By RAY ADLER
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After college at Purdue University, where I was fortunate to graduate with honors in mathematics and chemistry, my uncle called. Uncle Sam.
At that time the draft was still in effect. Because there were more potential draftees than necessary, a lottery system based on birthdate was utilized. My number was one of the last numbers called. We were bussed to Indianapolis, ordered to strip down and were given a free physical inspection. I passed with flying colors while the guy next to me was disqualified for service because of his flat feet. He had told me that he was a multi-sport letter athlete in high school, but the doctor said he was not fit for military service.
The military assigned me to be a tank mechanic. When I arrived at my destination, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., I found my bunkmate had been assigned to be the Army chemist! He had just received his journeyman’s card as a mechanic and I the honors chemistry degree. Had they switched our paperwork?
It was September when I left home, and I was very well tanned having worked that entire summer on the farm. The local barber hated long hair which was then in fashion for men, and mine was below my ears. I knew I would need a haircut in the military so I told him he could do anything he wanted to with my hair if he would pay me $5. He paid me the $5 and shaved my head, and away I went to serve my country.
The bus stopped in St. Louis. It was shortly after I disembarked that I was arrested by a local police officer. “Son,” he said, “the only haircut I see like that is an AWOL (away without leave) from Fort Leonard Wood and we get $100 to bring you in.” It took some explanation and production of my mustering papers before he would let me go. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
At Fort Leonard Wood the drill sergeant loudly proclaimed that everyone needed a haircut, “except for that guy,” pointing at me. The Native American with hair down his back claimed a religious exemption. The barber granted that exemption and then promptly ran his clippers down the center of the man’s head. We were given shots, every vaccine known to man, and pressed into service.
Fort Leonard Wood was beautiful in its uniqueness. It was said it was the only place you could choke on the dust while crawling through the mud.
Fifteen minutes was the time allowed for the entire company to eat. Eggs were fried by dropping on a griddle so hot that only the bottom half of the egg was fried, and the top was still raw. As soon as they could fit on a spatula they were on your plate. The rest of the food was bad. Needless to say, everyone lost weight.
Educational material and not legal advice, written by the team at Adler attorneys. Email andrea@noblesvilleattorney.com with questions or comments.