February 2013 Rainier in the sun the day we drew gear (Nov 7 or 8) then it rained or snowed every day after. Delta Devils. Gietsen we ran rings around them. Screw the bed rest give me the aspirin, and I'll tie my boots tighter. Stayed at Lewis in a training unit S4 until August and ended up in England for a year in Finance. Almost got held back but was allowed to graduate with class as an E-2 .Quite an experience Sorry to see the old buildings go. I was D-5-2 also Gary Ludwig June 1968-- grad. We were confined to the barracks and mess hall due to the meningitis outbreak at the time. I rejoined my company while they were on bivouac. Nearly all of us were Reserve in our barracks. We got a view of Mt. He was in Viet Nam in 1964-65. Everyone was sick from day 1. 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Bob Benzon The Drill sargent was a puertorican. A portion of the initial land was taken from the Nisqually tribe's reservation. Lots of memories. Are platoon got I'm trying to see if I can find somebody that remembers me I went by the name of Leo am I drill sergeants for Fasano he took me downtown to the racetrack one time and and then we went down to Pike Street in Seattle and he showed me the downtown area I think if I could get a little help to find him I could probably receive Little Help from the Army we say destroyed my knee when I was there but I decided to go home instead of getting operated on. HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, "Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base merge to create Joint Base Lewis-McChord on . I did basic and 11B ft lewis. My time in old fort 10/30/68 to sometime in late February 1969 was spent as i'm sure yours was only training , no fun stuff. He was hard but fair. Still have my company photo somewhere. Washington State University Fort Lewis's geographic location provides rapid access to the deep water ports of Tacoma, Olympia and Seattle for deploying equipment. building. [12] As of the 2000 census, the CDP, which includes the most densely populated part of the base, had a total population of 19,089. LOL!! my brother from Hastings was there.3PLT C CO.1 BN2 BDE 11. As a civilian again, I drove through Fort Lewis a couple of times and looked over the old BCT area. Some 60,000 men, including the 13th and 91st Divisions, moved into the hastily constructed cantonment to train for World War I. Our DI was Sgt Johnson. Can't find much on D-2-1..Greatly appreciate any assistance. DRILL CPL DEUFECT. Fort Lewis Armed Forces Community Service, Fort Lewis Information and Referral Services, A 56-Year Promise Broken: War Widow Finds Stranger Buried in Her Cemetery Plot, Army Base Still Searching for Machine Gun That Went Missing Days Ago, Soldier Dead, 2 Injured in Joint Base Lewis-McChord Vehicle Incident, 10 Things Most Veterans Don't Know About VA Home Loans, 7 Things to Consider Before Moving into Military Housing, Commissary 101: How to Shop at the Commissary. The massive parade field had also been developed. I want to thank him and every vet out there for sacrificing everything. Trying to find platoon photos. Evan, you are so spot on about how our days were spent . 20/20 hindsight. Caught the chicken pox and was in hospital got recycled to a B ,can't remember . Would love to buy him a beer or three. If you are a veteran who served at Fort Lewis, you may be entitled to money to pay for your medical bills due to your exposure to . The Drill sargent was a puertorican. My Dad was 1Sgt Boyd Willams. Microphone I lived on Ft Lewis as a kid in 1966 and 1967. We are one of 12 new joint bases created by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closing . February 2018 I was there for basic training June 1971. Fort Lewis was a United States Army post from 1917 to 2010 located 9.1 miles (14.6 km) south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. If someone came out of the darkness the weapon would have been useless with no time to load. Carroll McInroe It was trashed; yep, he piled it up. We were quarantined due to spinal meningitis. Left for Vietnam 12/8/69 stationed at LZ Dottie. I saw him in Da Nang, Vietnam during the war. All because i defended a fellow soldier from a bully officer. Very grateful. Exposure to asbestos at Fort Lewis Army Base, even in small amounts, is a known cause of mesothelioma, asbestosis, cancer, and other lung diseases . Just going thru these Fort Lewis notes, all I saw was your name, thought I would take a chance however you are probably 15 years younger than I am. D-3-2 August 1967. Assigned to base headquarters Plans and Training Directorate office. May 2016 AAFES-PX - 22 Photos & 17 Reviews - 5280 Fort Lewis Rd, Fort Lewis, WA View Full Report Aliases: Rachel Evelyn Ayers, Rachel Evelyn Rasmussen. A-2-1, Feb-Apr 1967. THX. I took my basic training at Fort Lewis starting in August of 1966. The obstacle course by it is gone. I was sent back to ft Lewis for some permanent party. The first recruits moved into their new barracks on 5 September 1917, exactly two months after the post building plan had been handed to the contractors. With its Empower Platform, NCI is at the . Ray Heltsley Proud to have serve. My company was C 3 2. Spanaway 1 : 24000. 1st Air Cavalry It was common for this to happen, except Fagan didn't do it for us. I was in D-2-2, I think. Went back and backpacked through the Cascades a few years ago. Also pictures of Drill Sergeants Forcade and Graves. His assistant DS was a short guy who always looked like he was about to tell a joke. My dad was a DS in Fort Lewis at that time. I was in D-4-1. Fort Lewis - Wikipedia You were there at the same time as Grady Myers. Hi John. SPAM Hate to see them go, though; they were symbolic of a no-frills draft-era army where creature comforts for the troops were not a consideration. Michael Simpson Did my duty. Soldiers demonstrating artillery techniques in front of chapel and barracks, Fort Lewis, 1941. Employment authorization document that contains a photograph (INS Form I-776) Health and medical. Julie Titone is co-author of the Grady Myers memoir "Boocoo Dinky Dow: My short, crazy Vietnam War." Ranier was beautiful and orange from the setting sun.We were all from California. There were a bunch of us NG from TX, MT, and WI. Short tough man was a tanker in Nam during TET. My time was very uneventful. Free shipping for many products! Went out once a week. Hello Diane, I needed a copy of my DD-214 not long ago. That always bothered me but we had to sign a different roster because our state was charged with our meals. I don't remember anyone in my unit. I went to Ft. Ord for AIT then to Germany Dec 68 to May 70. Fort Sill, Ok. Had to scrub the place top to bottom. God bless. John Trainor July 30, 1970 to September 3rd or so. In 1951, the Installation was enlarged to 261,451 acres (1,058.05km2) and construction of the current cantonment area began. 2nd Brigade, Robert what year did you go through basic? I'd blow my nose, dig a hole with my heel, and bury the toilet paper. In his only appearance, he allowed that we "looked like a bunch of blind dogs in a meat factory". My dad passed away in 1989 and I've found this old picture but don't know much about his time at Ft. Lewis other than my mom's brief recollection. I have our graduation picture should anyone want a copy. Thank Rain, occasional sun. Our employees are our most valuable asset and play an integral role in . My dad, James (Jim) Benson has a picture with a man he describes as George Dunn in April 1970 in Vietnam. View Clay Miller results in Renton, WA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Forcade. Went to Ft Sill for AIT and finally to Vietnam Nov 1969. Old maps of Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Old Maps Online. - 0 Comments. A short skinny black E-6. There were 3,476 households, out of which 85.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.3% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.2% were non-families. March April and May for me.I remember we were the 4th platoon and I remember the painting of the decapitated VC on the outdoor broom closet with the caption"we eat VC for breakfast" and I remember Hecker and Steele and Hansen and Bryant and Beaudwin, and Liedtke and Pugh and Linstead and Halowapo and Burke the Indian. Drafted 1-28-71 shipped out to ft Lewis from Chicago D-1-1 With Sgt Sherman- short guy loved to sing and yelled at your chest cause he didn't want yo look up - departed in April to ft Sill OK for artillary then Germany for 13 months 3rd Inf Division hdqtrs sp5 - then back to Illinois - remember the dying cockroak, Do you remember me, DS Lanham. I was E-1-1 just after you. I also have no idea how our laundry was done in Basic, but I remember vividly going to a laundromat in Fort Ord cook school because of one event. I graduated in August 1968. Graduated Mar 68 then went right to Madigan Gen Hospital - with the measles LOL. I was stationed at Ft. Lewis from 5/1994-7/1995, D co. 1/33 Armor. We had to get up and go stand in formation before dawn forever it seemed, and then PT and running took up the rest of the day. I sort of remember Long and definitely Senior DI Hernandez (he was older, big belly and his given name was Juventino). September 2014 Fort Lewis Barracks - au-eng.com Great memories there. Getting recruits ready for Viet Nam. I have fairly bad COPD but am still better off than many of them. Military Homes for Rent at Joint Base Lewis McChord I remember the 20 mile force March, they don't work trainees as they did then. Cpt. I came in October 30th 1968 right after you C-5-2, didn't really see or know anyone but my company due to meningitis not allowed out of company area. Jan-Feb 1968. February 2014 Joe Tschida Got a 6 month early out and ended up serving 18 mos. I was in B 5 2 Jan 70 for Basic Road Runner Platoon. E-1-2 basic training. It is the premier military installation in the northwest and is the most requested duty station in the army. And yes it rained all the time! That Sixth Army patch probably came from Fort Lewis. ). In his 1968 U.S. Army training at Fort Lewis, Washington, Grady was housed in World War II-era barracks like these still standing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Not so much. I wish I had waited for his laundry to finish to see the results. It would be nicevto hear from anyone that remembered my Dad. The Yakima Training Center is a major sub-installation of JBLM, and provides a full range of training lands and ranges to active and reserve component units. Pinto was our DI. I was drafted. I Corps stays prepared to deploy on short notice worldwide to command up to five divisions or a joint task force. Any chance you knew him? D.5.2August 1968 to October 1968SaluteDrill Sergeant Hungerford and PT Sergeant Blood. Steve Orr Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a joint military base into which Fort Lewis, Washington, was . . Spanaway 1 : 24000 . There was a Hispanic DI named Hernandez, i think, short guy. Krfp Radio May 1969 thru Late Sept./Early Oct.(??) Joseph Heller Jim and Dale, I was there Nov 1970 - Jan 1971 too, E-2-1. . I too was in A-3-2 in that Oct to Dec 1971 cycle. Culture shock for a bunch of surfer boys. He was my drill sergeant in boot camp in 1970 and looking for some information for a Little Help from the Army which I've never had, D-2-7. I would graduate 2 July70 as E2 based on performance and testing or so I guess. I knew a Robert Zimmerman don't know if it's the same person but he was our platoon leader B32 graduated 10/3/70 Staff Sgt Jonn Trainor was our DI. around 1967 - 1969 at Ft. Lewis. Fort Lewis Logistics Center - Toxic Exposure - Hill & Ponton, P.A. He was stateside and passed away I believe in1971On Fort Lewis property. We eat VC for breakfast painted on side of barracks. I know it sounds crazy but I thoroughly enjoyed basic training and the rest of my time the Army. Thanks, Sgt Lamb was our DI April to July 1969. Any one out there? I'm trying to remember my infantry training unitmaybe A-1-3; almost all of those buildings were gone. The Army splits the rank into either corporal / sergeant or specialist. Shields I am proud to have trained under him and will never forget what he did for us. Was in D.1.1 April 17 1969 drill srg Lamb, E-5-2, SSGT RICHARD E. BURTON, AUG 1969 BEST OF THE BEST. I have a group photo, 3rd Plt, E-2-1, 13th Cycle, Graduated Feb 1969. Native American The homes are on the Washington State Historic Register and have recently been renovated. We had 2 draftees (US), several enlisted reservist (ER) and quite a few RA trainees. I've not seen any of them since. There was a tombstone shaped marker by the corner of our barracks that said "Let no man's soul say unto me, Had I been properly trained". Was that John Zimmerman. 11/2/2014. We were there longer because of the IG inspection. Only 3 of the WW II type buildings were left of the ones where I had basic (E-4-1) /AIT (B-2-3) in 71. My cousin whom came in to basic as I was leaving basic got sent to nam. I went to Nam with the 1st CavI got a letter from my bunk-mate Gary Baker from SimiValley CA who went in with the 82nd Airborne at Cam Ranh Bay. never heard from him again. Today it is one of the largest and most modern installations in the U.S. and is home to the I Corps, 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings, 7th Infantry Division, 1st Special Forces Group, 75th Ranger Regiment, 66th Theater Aviation Command, and Madigan Army Medical Center (just to name a few). I remember the spinal meningitis and having to have every other window open at night. Most of those barracks were built for WW II and are still standing today. Pots and Pans..! I stayed in these barracks in 2004 for a detainee ops training prior to shipping off to Guantanamo. Thank You. But it didnt stop are training. Also drafted Jan 20,1971 basic at fort Lewis also B 5 2 1st platoon.. A.I.T at fort Rucker Ala. MOS 51M20 firefighter. We were part of the Americal Division and up in I Corp above Chu Lai Got in country July 69 and back to the states July 70 I had 5 months left in the Army and I will be damned if they did not send me back up to Fort Lewis There I was assigned to the 3rd Armoured CAV as the Training NCO lived off base with my wife and actually had a pretty good time. I did basic at Lewis from Nov 70 to Jan 71, Alpha One One, Drill Sergeant Delano. June 2012, All I never heard of a case of it, but I think those restrictions became protocol for training for several years. Graves and Forcade (or Kincade?) Spec 5 Snydal (final rank), Did you happen to know Sergeant drill sergeant faisano I got to Lewis on Oct. 10th '66 made it until three days before graduation and ended up with double pneumonia and the first made me go to sick call both cheeks got a shot of pen and I was really worried I would get 'sent back. Meteorology training. Subscribed . (Colorado), I to was at Ft. Lewis early 1970, I'll find my DD214 to get exact dates. Medical Laboratory Technician Job in Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA at Bruce Levy - I was in E-3-2 in March 1970. I don't know much about his time there other than the Year he graduated. We had to sleep with the windows open no matter the weather. I was trying to remember my experience as a 17 year old during that period in my life. His children (my cousins) and I cannot find the trunk that held his letters, photos and official paperwork, so I have only a rough idea of his service. Eagle View is located on Lewis North. Fort Lewis was merged with McChord Air Force Base on 1 February 2010 to form Joint Base Lewis-McChord. I was a squad leader down stairs and ended up in a Sheridan tank. Yeah, these are the "temporary" barracks we were housed in when I was in BCT at E-4-2 in early 1969. I can still feel that time when I hear them (and only then). Another standard line: "It's all up do you" My reaction was that "if it had been up to me, I wouldn't be here" A lifetime ago but I still can remember. Thank you for remembering Drill Sgt Wilber as I could not come up with that name. Walker were in charge of our training. Every time they shot one off, it was like the loudest bang in the world. Drill Sergeant Tanksley and a bunch of guys from Omaha. I do remember the cold rain and snow. Wow! I was in that BCT unit 3 years earlier, so I'm sure the command personnel had changed by the time you were there. I took basic at Lewis in March-April of 1967 D-2-2 Spent one week at North Fort then we transferred to the "new" 3-story concrete barracks next to the airfield. Other DIs include: Lines, Chapman, Johnson, Broyles, Cummins, Miller, Farabee. AIT Fort Sam Houston, Combat Medic. The old obstacle course was still intact. Either they were recycled or washed out totally. 2140 Liggett Ave. JB Lewis-McChord, WA, United States 98433. Fort Lewis Army Base in Pierce, WA | MilitaryBases.com That was September 71. Send Julie an email. March 2013 Zeeks. I didn't want to be back home, so I decided to try another route. Hill, Christian, and Adam Ashton, "Is Lewis-McChord A 'Troubled Base'? Does anyone remember my father Arthur Swanson? I escaped b/c I didnt want to be recycled. Randy, hope you get this. stayed at lewis for AIT, but do not remember what company.Left May 70, Looking for pictures His name is Robert(Bob) Dodge. 390 Comments. Book Signings (Drill SGT;s Forcade and Graves) I would gladly pay for one.. On-Base Housing at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Convenient and Affordable. One funny story about my basic. Phil I wish you had put together my previous comments and saved yourself a trip.not ONE barracks left.close your eyes and listen"I wanna be an airborne ranger" it's as close as you will get. C-4-2 Chargin Charlie. Sprained ankle 1st day of basic spending a week at Madigan. He would have likely been at the North Fort; and there were trainees in all directions during the time you indicate. Fort Lewis - GlobalSecurity.org No doctor. But you know, he was really a decent guy (20 years later!). Thru Port Angeles and stopped at Lake Crescent. Ford Thunderbird We had a Sgt (a Black man) Entered Army Dec 67 BCT with D 3 3 thru Feb 68. Depression I never got used to it. 253-967-1110. I was there as well end of January through April B-5-1 or B-5-2 can't remember in quarantine as well are platoon leader Lee died. Always had to watch out for green oysters on sidewalks, because they were big enough to slip on. Army Medical Training and Residency Facilities | goarmy.com Early one more I woke unable to breathe so I began chain smoke the unfiltered cigarettes that were part of the c-rats. Was your grandpa or is your grandpa from Idaho? Remember that? Now I've never been much for schadenfreude, but damn, sometimes a fellow just must indulge. Fort Lewis ID/CAC Card Processing (253) 477-4282. 8.2% of the population and 7.1% of families were below the poverty line. 8th Brigade Army ROTC Nurse. Little Elk. Most of the guys in 4th Platoon had AIT orders for other posts. Lt. Klippel was our CO. We were confined to the company area, except for training, due to meningitis concerns. SRU - Soldier Recovery Unit (WTB) - TRICARE The timing is very compelling and suggestive. So you were there in the cycle before me. I now live in Laguna in south Orange county also California. Dan Perez: What year did you do basic? I never went home after Basic, we just marched across the parade field to our AIT (Infantry training) for another 8 weeks then went home for less than 30 days then flown back to Fort Lewis (McCord AFB) where we were flown to South Vietnam Yes it was a memory I will never forget. Interesting. The Lewis Main Auto Skills Center is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for same-day "DIY quick-lube" projects only. All these statistics were typical for military bases. I hated all of it but my memory is such that it is, surprisingly, still clear. . DSN: 357-1110. In 90 days, Stone had supervised the construction of a "city" of 757 buildings and 422 other structures, all lighted and heated for 60,000 men. In addition to BCT, I shipped to Korea and Vietnam from Fort Lewis. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Didn't know him but was looking for sgt paradiscio and cpl prterson c 4 2. Overview. Coming up on 50 years ago (March, 72) that I was discharged from Army. It sucked at the time but nothing but good memories now. Good Times. Would like to get a copy. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433. Basic training for Louis October to December 60 9AIT training January to March 1970 drill instructor Sergeant chaser cannot remember if Sartain Chauser was basic or a IT, I believe basic I remember private Zimmerman private Bob well anybody else. March 2014 That high school typing class came in handy I guess. The field is named in honor of Captain Lawrence C. Gray, who died during a free balloon flight at the field on 4 November 1927. DIs Brochette and Collins, C-4-2 Charging Charlie DS Mouton, we called ourselves Mouton's Raiders, Should have expanded a little, Aug 1970-Oct 1970, C-4-2, Chargin Charlie, DIs SSG Collins, a good man, and SGT Brochette. The following two years saw tremendous activity at Camp Lewis as men mobilized and trained for war service. I was in the next group after you. Belated thanks for sharing your memory, William. I was stationed at Ft. Lewis in the 14th MP company. I remember the big guy by the name of Spicer. I received basic training starting February 14th 1968 at North fort lewis. Buddies in basic Sparling and Shoemaker. My cycle was the first to use the buildings in 25 years. Phil Klippel was the CO. SEARCH. I was stationed there in 68 we had to stand guard overBaby alligators and a funeral for one there was two groups one was from California the other was from Washington and I think my drill sergeants name was dear or deerI cant remember the spelling. 360-688-4073. Wilkes Barre, PA 18702; 87013 ***** Avenue # 124, Fort Hood, TX 76544. Walt Morrow We were there 3 years apart but our barracks werent that far apart and both still there in 88. This change affects companies with employees who need unescorted access to JBLM or YTC. Monkey bars before going into the chow hall. I know he told me he was behind the big gun with big shells so I am assuming some form of Howitzer. There is so much more to say but this will suffice. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 212.5 males. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility, Italy surrendered to the Allies and declared war on Germany, 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), "History of Prisoner of War Utilization by the United States Army 1776-1945", http://www.nwguardian.com/2014/05/29/18047/1st-jmb-inactivates-after-13-years.html, Map of Fort Lewis CDP vs. Fort Lewis Military Reservation, Official Joint Base Lewis-McChord homepage, BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure, Fort Lewis, Locomotive Shelter, South side of South Drive, Fort Lewis, Post Hospital, Near Ninth Division Drive and Idaho Avenue, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fort_Lewis_(Washington)&oldid=1136065540, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Joint Base Garrison (US Army), Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Joint Base Garrison, Henry H. Lind Noncommissioned Officer Academy, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 15:23. There were 3,560 housing units at an average density of 232.8 per square mile (89.9/km2). Recently returned from Seattle as my wife and me went to visit my son and his wife in Bremerton. Nearby government services. West Coast Self-Storage Dupont (253) 964-8888. I was in A-2-1 and the drill sergeant was John (Johnny) It is a bond that brings us together. Cpl Bluitt was our Platoon DI. Was in D12, Sargent Mooney was our DI. I was still only 17 so I wasnt sent to Vietnam. [2], Gray Army Airfield (IATA: GRF, ICAO: KGRF), is a military airport located within Fort Lewis. They were a mess. Prody, Doug (Peterson??) Also used by Air Technical Service Command as an aircraft maintenance and supply depot; primarily to service aircraft being sent to Alaska. I was in B-3-1 and graduated in Nov 70. Those old barracks have been demolished and the road we fell out on is now open to the public. Directory. DI was SSgt Hunt. Of course, the economy of Fort Lewis revolves around Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington's largest employer with over 52,000 Department of Defense and active-duty military members. I was drafted in May of 1968 from Omaha, NE. Off I went to be a medic in Vietnam. Perform a full range of clinical laboratory tests in any one or a combination of the following sections of the laboratory: hematology, chemistry, cytology, histotechnology, urinalysis, serology . Camp Lewis evolved into Ft. Lewis in 1927. There were 12 of us from different areas of TN. 13.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 1949 MERCURY, at Main Gate of FORT LEWIS U.S. ARMY BASE, Washington. Podcast Also, do you remember the name of your CO? I was with you there B1-1 Potter was black Saling was Small went to Vietnam in March 1968 6th bat 31 inf. . B11 I think we were called the rats or something like that. Washington is one of five states (along with Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and New Mexico) that do not comply with this law. He is PFC Robert (Bob) Dodge. We had an E 5 by the name of Houlihan. D-1-1 april 69 . Hit Vietnam 70-71. Grady was an M-60 machine gunner in The U.S. Army's Company Cs 2nd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division in late 1968 and early 1969. On 12 October 1999, General Eric K. Shinseki, Chief of Staff of the Army, announced I Corps would lead the acceleration of Army transformation, training and the initial creation of the first two Stryker Brigade Combat Teams at Fort Lewis. The army bases roots proved advantageous during World War I and sowed even more fruit when World War II came.