Posted on 07/22/2020 9:05:10 AM PDT by Mrs. Warrior
When my husband was going through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, we weren't able to be with him at first, but our kids really needed to be with their dad. So, I drove from upstate New York to Georgia cross country with three kids a U-Haul, and a dog.
I found an apartment, but did not have any furniture. I went to a thrift store and found this antique wooden bed with a high headboard. I tied it to the top of the car, The brakes during the trip had worn, and you had to stomp on them very hard to get them to work. I came to an intersection were a policeman was directing traffic, I stepped on the brakes and nothing happened so I stomped on them and came to a sudden stop. I watched with disbelief as the mattress came flying out from under the one rope I had tied it with. The mattress hit the officer and pinned him against his car. Oh I am in such trouble now! When I explained my circumstances he was understanding, and he retied the mattress for me. I supposed he would have had a hard time from his fellow officers if he had called in an “assault with a flying mattress”.
At the apartment I tried to set up the bed, it had long screws and bolts. That night I jumped into the bed and the whole thing collapsed on top of me I was yelling for the kids to get the headboard off me. Later, I told my husband what happened, and he asked me if I tightened the bolts with some kind of tool? Apparently there is not only a tool, but there is a certain size for every bolt, no such thing as one size fits all.
This is but one unknown story about a military family and how they went through separation, hardship and intense training to serve their country.
Today people want to change the name of this base. I find it very sad that all of the stories and histories of young people getting their training and the families who have nostalgic memories of this base will need to be rewritten for politically correct reasons. So the story of our families experiences at this base remains a special chapter in our family history!
Sadly also in this story is that our family dog there got sick and died! So he remains there living on only as a special memory. A salute to those who have served and endured hardships, and to the other military wives with fascinating stories of their own that I have enjoyed hearing. This Fort belongs to the deserving! A name may change but the sacrifices and the importance of people who gave their commitment to keeping our country safe will always live on!
I learned through this early time as a military wife that the beliefs that you have can be battered but as long as you hold onto with all your passion and love, it can never be broken. My belief in God in family and my country kept me able to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ!
Our children were in three different schools that year. It was very a hard for them to say goodbye to their friends when we had to transfer to another duty station. Later on we home schooled our children to give them continuity. I needed to have a major surgery but because of the moves we needed to make there would be no time for me to recover, I endured a lot of pain, until we were stationed at one place long enough for me to have surgery.
I had my training at Fort Benning in the late 80’s. B-10-2 I think it was. The last rotation through the old barracks. Lot’s of memories, changing the name is ridiculous.
God Bless you and your family.
What year(s) was this?
Ohhh, my mother would commiserate with you!
Dad was an Army recruiter in the 50’s and 60’s. Sometimes moving once a year. With 3, then 4, then 5 boys.
You sound like my mom - an amazing Army Wife!
Yep. The transfer from a base in Louisiana prompted my parents getting married with 3 weeks notice. The adventure began...
I noticed you joined FR July 10, 2020 so a very warm welcome indeed. Just a suggestion: I also noticed your “About Page” is empty. What you wrote here in this post is a testament to a vibrant spirit. But it might have more lasting value if you copy it to your “About Page”, so in future all FReepers can review what your history has been.
I was at Basic Officers Course at Ft Sam Houston and last full day in the field, they read my name and informed that I was not going to Ft Riley, but to a unit deploying to a restricted overseas assignment (one instructor said, there are 3 kinds of officers in the army, those in VietNam, those that have been, and those going to VM) so my bride moved our wedding up from the 4th of July weekend to the Memorial Day weekend and I received a two day pass and had to be at my class on the Wednesday.
I did my OSUT at Benning in '88 (B-2-54 Sand Hill). Our barracks were brand new. I still had the misfortune to stay in the old WWII barracks for Airborne and Harmony Hill later on for further training. Most stateside bases I have been to are Confederate Generals named. I NEVER heard a complaint nor did anyone care. I served with plenty of fellow soldiers of all backgrounds. This new "woke" Army is asinine.
I think it’s only fair that they move Harvard to Arkansas.
Hi.
No matter what Congress or the JCS says, I didn’t train or serve at Ft. Wakanda.
Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door.
Geronimo!
5.56mm
Proud alumni of Mother Benning’s Home for Wayward Boys, 1995.
I was US Army single and stationed in Germany. When I made the rank of Sgt, I had a couple of guys in my squad who were married. They raved about a class that was set up by the Chaplins office. I dont remember the name of the class but it was along the lines of how to survive being a military spouse.
It covered a lot of topics from paper work, to medical, schools, shoppng on and off base, transportation, etc. The topic that got the most praise was basic home repairs.
Thank you...loved your story. Loved it.
Being in a military family has its own challenges and its own rewards.
I grew up a military brat, and it was hard. I went to eight different schools growing up (I have always told people it was ten, but counting on my hands...I can only see eight...I am probably forgetting one now) and I suffered scholastically moving around, made worse by the fact I went through my first year or two of grade school with nearsightedness so bad I fell really far behind and never caught up until college!)
I hated losing my friends and things I had known, but that was far outweighed by the places I went and things I had seen. By the time I was 14, I had circumnavigated the globe.
The ongoing cycle of moving trucks, occupying new quarters that were left in a filthy state by the previous occupants, going to strange schools...I grew up my whole life terrified of the first day of school.
I would not trade that life for anything. Anything. Living on stations, stopping play to stand at attention and face the flag for colors and taps as it went up and down each day, being given a huge amount of freedom because you lived on a base...what could go wrong (lots) being 12 years old and walking through port areas like Yokohama and Olongapo past drunken sailors on liberty with hookers on their arms...what could go wrong?
And seeing what my mother went through...I salute you and all military wives. It was hard on her.
But when my dad, who was on the USS Rooks over in Korea as a young officer in 1952 used a ship to shore phone call to propose to her with a “Marry me and you’ll see the world” line (he really did say that) she accepted, and with her family of six kids, she did indeed see the world!
Yes...welcome to Free Republic, Ma’am.
Welcome.
Actual beginning for me.
Born 7/18/46 at Ft. Benning.
I think you will find much in common when you read this even though we were Navy and you were Army...it is, to a degree...much the same...:)
(My Dad and us in the VW Bus he took us through Europe in on our way back to The USA! Note all the camping gear on the roof...:)
OCS: Benning’s School for Boys.
Went to airborne school at Benning in 1974 during my senior year of college. Was Armor so my military schools were at Knox.
I went to Airborne school at Benning. I was not an Infantry Officer so I did not do my officer basic class there but my grandparents lived in Columbus so I have been very familiar with the whole area for many years. Extended families suffer too, like when I took my bride, an only child, off to Germany for three years. She was very close to her parents and it must have been tough on them to see her gone that long. I am flatly opposed to changing any names.
I spent my formative years as an Air Force brat. I have never regretted my dad’s service to our country. Growing up as a service brat gave me the opportunity to see more of the world and meet more wonderful people than I ever could if I had stayed at my birth place.
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