See, I got the idea from Johnny’s mom, Ginger. She and John Sr. had been dating and she wanted the same thing, a ring and a promise. So she told him she was running off to join the Peace Corps. It worked for her. Out came the ring and she stayed home. Me, not so much.
My friend, Wendy, planted the seed. She was enlisting and thought it would be great to join the Army on the Buddy System -- Join with a buddy and stay together during Basic Training and AIT. I considered my options. Since I was working my way through college and not enjoying it, I liked the idea of coming out in two years and letting Uncle Sam pay my tuition. But, in reality I like the idea of saying I was joining the Army so that Johnny would “put a ring on it” and we could just be done with the silly nonsense of me running off to join the Army.
It didn’t work. Actually, my plan failed miserably. My biggest mistake: I told him during hunting season.
Johnny’s reaction: How long will you be gone?
Me: Two years.
Johnny: Ok, that’s about right. I’ll miss you.
So, I showed him. I joined the Army with Wendy and off we went to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. On the day Wendy and I left, October 31, 1986, Johnny was at the train station to say good bye along with my entire family. Johnny’s Suburban was fully packed and ready to go. As soon as my train pulled out, he headed to the Upper Peninsula to go hunting. My timing was perfect.
All these years later I can tell you that I wouldn’t change a thing.
Basic training was tough, but not impossible. My dad’s advice when I left was, “Figure out when to volunteer and when not to. And, don’t let the drill sergeant’s learn your name.” Sound advice that I actually followed.
On my first phone call home after arriving at the Reception Battalion, the conversation between my mom and I went something like this:
Me: Moooooooooooooooooooooooom! [sob, sob, sob, sob]
Mom: [sob, sniff, sniff, sob, sob, sob, sob] Do you want me to call a lawyer and get you out? [sob, SOB, sob]
(That is the actual transcript of the conversation, I swear.)
While in Basic Training, Sue Leonard was my bunk mate. It worked out perfectly because she was tall and wanted the top bunk. I happened to be short back then, too, and wanted the bottom bunk. Ours was a friendship made in Army bunk heaven! Sue is one of the most genuinely kind people you will ever meet. She and her husband, Craig, joined the Army right after getting married and also joined on the Buddy System. I was amazed that they were still on their Honeymoon and in Basic Training. Sue and I have remained friends this entire time. She is now a school teacher and has the most amazing penmanship I have ever seen! (Hi, Sue!)
When Basic Training ended, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to STAY at Fort Jackson (read that with as much sarcasm as you can muster) for AIT (Advanced Individual Training). We were going to 71L (Seventy-One Lima) school to learn how to be Radar O’Reilly. Forms in triplicate and in accordance with Army Regulations. Good stuff.
Although AIT was still tough, it was a bit more relaxed than Basic. And….. There were boys and girls in the same classes and in the same barracks.
Does anyone see where this is headed?
In my class was this very tall boy. Very. Tall. Boy. We became instant friends and would talk and laugh during our classroom breaks and at meal time. He would listen to my tales of Johnny and I heard about his wife, Diane, and their little boy, Corey. Johnny and Diane even rode together to Fort Jackson to visit us.
Very Tall Boy (VTB) would help me out during our physical fitness tests. You may not know this about me, but I am really not much of a runner. VTB and another friend, Sean Gallivan, would actually pick me up under my arms and run with me when the drill sergeants couldn’t see. They shaved minutes off my best run!
Throughout AIT, VTB and I were good friends. On the day of graduation, VTB was first in our class. I graduated second. Wait, what? I was second to a boy? I was second? I reminded him of this fact several years later and he didn’t even have the courtesy of remembering that he beat me! The nerve.
After graduation was over, VTB and I parted without ever saying good bye. Not a word. I still don’t know why we didn’t exchange home addresses or parent’s phone numbers. Since email wasn’t around and neither were cell phones, we lost touch. Too bad, too. I really liked him.
Oh, I forgot to tell you VTB’s name ……… Michael Lagen.
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