1969 - Basic Training Fort Knox, KY Produced by Erick F Dircks
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Song "In The Army Now" by Status Quo
12-31-2012 Some of my old Army Pictures that I have managed to salvage & now preserved.
Thanks for taking the time to view our videos!
Thanks for the memories. Haven't seen butt cans since Fort Polk in 1965. That and fire watch!
1969 I was 5 years old. I went to basic at Fort Knox in 1986, I was 22.
I was in basic at Ft. Knox in April 1968 My company was B/10/5. DI was Sgt. Wesley Jenkins. I'll never forget that on hill they called "Mother F***er"
There were several of them! Have a great day, and try to focus on the good memories! :) :)
Thanks for sharing!
1972: "We like it here we like it here we finally found a home . . . Echo, 13, 4" Who can forget Heartbreak, Agony and Misery?
Funny we were E-17-5 (Jan 1968) E for excellence SGT!
@@nvdwarriorLtc
68? That deserves a salute and so do you!
@@JoeSantilli Thanks Joe, it was the beginning of a 32 year relationship with the Army. Imagine a cannoneer, becoming a Huey Pilot, an Instructor Pilot and an Aviation Brigade Commander. I was very lucky and owe it all to Agony and Misery!
@@nvdwarriorLtc E-17-5 Jan 69. SSG Adams, SSG Horner..
Today marks 46 years since I hit the Fort Knox gate, 1969. C-12-5 under Drill Sergeant Blackwell and the PT Sgt. MacLamb. Up Agony and Misery, into the gas chamber and low-crawl pit...the firing range, the plague vaccine that made me hallucinate and shiver half-to-death...Fort Knox BCT was do-able when I was 19...never make it today!
+James Friend Oh...after BCT I went to Fort Sam Houston to be a medic, went to Fort Ord in Monterey for a year and then was levied to Vietnam where I finished my army career. My time in Vietnam shaped my world outlook for the rest of my life, true that.
+James Friend I experienced everything you did in basic training except the vaccine. Vietnam not only shaped my world outlook, but my entire life. I lived life like I was dying, and now don't know how to shut that off. I think it's a good thing, but those that don't know me, will never understand why I keep doing crazy shit. Most of it is good, but hey, it's my life NOW! Thanks for sharing your story my friend, and have a great day!
Erick
Great pics. Wasn't at Ft. Knox for basic but just down the road at Fort Cambell KY. They look a lot alike. Was there January 1971-April then on to Fort Meade for AIT. Proud to have done it but sure happy when it was over
Ditto on the Proud & Over Part!!
Ft Campbell Basic also Dec 1970-April 71 C-2-1
Thank you Polly, just trying to preserve them. I have about 10 videos to make, and I will have that part of my life caught up. Happy New Year my friend!!!
Erick
Tha Sgt. in the middle front looks like DI Booker T. Wilson. An outstanding nam
B-11-3 Fort Knox basic training....2-67....4-67......AIT A-4-1 11 Echo......
Thank you Patricia, and to warn you I have about 6 more videos of Vietnam, and at least 2 or 3 of Sidney Australia. These don't bore me, but I am sure it will get old if they they don't mean anything to anyone. Remember this is my diary, and it wouldn't bother me if some get bored for awhile. I need to do this for ME. Happy New Year to and hope it is your best year ever my Friend!
Erick
I remember two hills, misery and agony
I was there in May of 1970, think about my experience there from time to time
Been 51 years since being at Ft. Knox. Did basic and AIT there..
Thank you Vicki for your comment! I just choose to keep the great memories, and left the bad ones behind. Have a great day my friend!
Erick
Thank you for your comment! Yes it is good therapy, and I choose to remember all the good things & left all the bad ones in the ARMY! Have a fantastic New Year!
Erick
Your dad is correct! You can't imagine what we did, and no one gave a shit. Most of the stuff I have placed on youtube was unauthorized, and always Off Limits. What are they going to do to me now, send me back? How cool that would be!!! My frame of mind when I left the USA, I would be returning in a pine box. So I lived every day as if it was my last. The Song Live Like You Are Dying was the way I lived then & live now. Have a great day!
Erick
Hi, Eric. I'm Corey, and I'm viewing your basic training photos.mi must say they look pretty good for being 40 years old. How did you manage to preserve them to look really good? And I want to say say Thank you for service. Corey Hansen from Canada.
I only got to save a couple hundred photos out of the thousands I took. I had better luck with the slides, they weren't as pristine as they use to be, but something is better than nothing. Just wish I had the equipment I have now, back then. Thank you! Erick from the USA! :)
Wow! The memories this brought up. I was there for basic (A-19-5) in the winter of 1970-72. No matter how cold, or what the weather was..........we were training, .....outside. When we had a chance we were standing around fire barrels (55 gallon drums, with burning fuel in them) trying to get warm. I lost about 20% of my body weight in the 8-10 weeks. I had always been an athlete in school, but when it was all said done..........I was in the best shape of my life.
I was there in march of 82 and then off to ft.lee for ait.
That is too funny! I went to Ft Lee too, honor graduate in Unit Organization Supply in Armor. This video is Ft Lee & then Ft Riley Kansas ua-cam.com/video/SbgA77xnI-M/v-deo.html Have a fantastic day my friend!
Erick
erickdircks That is funny Erick. I was there for only 5 weeks at fort lee
***** I was there for about 5 weeks too, tested out of everything, and had special classes. SSgt Night told me that he would see me in Long Bình Jail for all the bookkeeping questions I was asking. I did run into him in Vietnam, he came into my supply office where we were playing pool, asked for the supply Sgt, and I was running the rack, not looking up, I told him to wait a minute. When I finished, I looked up and there was SSgt Night, he said "Dircks", and I said Night! He left with everything on his list, and a few more items. He wanted to sign for what he had, and I said there is no need, all he got was already off my books. :) :) He was shaking his head, but left with all his treasures with a big ass smile on his face. I said as he was walking out, you taught me well!
C/19/5. April-June 1969. Enlisted Infantry, became Airborne and Ranger qualified. Served in the 82nd. Nothing bad to say about BCT, nothing good either. It was just something you endured.
Thank you for sharing! You have great memories of your time in the Army! :)
I beat you a little guys...Echo 17-5 January 1968......never forget the nice long walks we took to the ranges.....convinced me that I wanted to be a helo pilot...no more walking.... great pictures erick...
Hello, my name is Larry Calcote. I was in A 12 5 from August to October. What company is this. I think I see my picture in the group pik. Thanks for taking time to reminniss. Good job.
I was drafted on 16 September 1969 and went from Indianapolis, Indiana to Fort Knox via bus. We arrived at the reception station which was in old WWII wooden barracks. I was assigned to A-16-4 which was a cement block building for basic training. My AIT was at Fort Leonard Wood. It brings back a lot of memories.
We were there about the same time, I was in the wooden barracks, and if the one group photo tells you what Company I was attached to. Have a great day!
Erick
C-11-4 June 1972 U.S. Drill Sgt! I hate fucking new recruits!
BCT July August 1968. Assistant drill sergeant was removed for stealing valuables from trainee's mail. I enjoyed the graduation parade.
I was there for basic in Company E, 15th Bn, 4th Training Brigade. Jan 67 to March 1968
Nice to be that young & not really know what was really coming up. Thank you for serving the USA to keep us free. Mary
Ft.Knox Kentucky 1993 Echo Company 2/13 Drill Sgt Walsh & Headlee. Disney barracks
One thing is I never take any thing offensive! We had no business being in Vietnam, the people are much better off living like they are, and not dodging bullets & bombs. It is a shame that we all can't live in perfect harmony! One thing that I did learn was to make the best out of what ever is thrown at you, and live every day like it is your last day on this planet! Now people like us have another way to tell stories & share beauty! This was part of my story telling. I can't wait to get
Same place, different time. For me it was BCT at Fort Knox, B Company, 5th Battalion, 10 Training Brigade, 4th Platoon. Aug 2, 1965 to Oct 1965.
Wally Kaspars Wally, you were in the same time as my now late Brother-In-Law. Doubt that the training was modified, we qualified on a M-14, just loved it, 10 times the weapon that the M16 was, especially long range. I am certain we have similar stories! Thanks for viewing & have a fantastic day!
Erick
1964, late winter, spring and summer for Basic and Advanced training at “Fort Knox-Ken-F’n-Tucky”. I too loved the M-14 and even the World War Two, wooden, two story barracks. F-14-4. Our Platoon Sgt in Basic never carried water in his canteen! He said if it were up to him he’d “run our asses 16 hours a day”. We loved that man. He took good care of us. The forced discipline did a world of positive good for me. It’s been 58 years…but still I am embarrassed to say that I cannot recall our Sgt’s name. It begins with a “B”. Damn! Don’t ever get old!!!
I really miss the army after serving 23 years. I met a lot of good people and still stay in contact with some of them. thanks Erick for serving also....!!!
Yes We could smoke in the barracks! In Vietnam we could smoke anything we wanted. What were they going to do to us, send us to Nam? :) Thanks for viewing & commenting. Have a fantastic day!
Erick
I just seen your video and this is a picture of my basic training group. I was in the second row from the top and the third man from the right. my drill sergeant was Sargent Martin. I recognize several faces but no names for the faces but i do remember some names of guys. Charley Brown comes to mind, we were in Detroit together ,Bloomquist and John Greenhoe. One guy who came from my home town named Righckert. I didnt know him and he got out of duty early because of illness . I was drafted from THE Shiawasse County Michigan area as were several of others in the company. After Basic I was sent to FT. Gorden Georgia for MP training as were several others of our group. Thanks for posting this.
I forgot to say , WETSU !
Lol howd u have a camera in 69 but in 2009 no cameras allowed haha
I went thru basic at FT. Knox in 1966 I was in C16 .4
Thanks for sharing this video. I was also at Ft. Knox in July of 1969. In basic training at the time (E-10-4), I remember getting out of my top bunk after lights out and sitting with my transistor radio at a window on the top floor of the barracks with one other guy listening to Apollo 11 land on the moon. Memories fade, but I remember my best buddies were from the Norman, OK National Guard and one's name was John. I have an annual around here I'll have to find. Great knowing that at one point I could drop and give the man 50 without breaking a sweat. Jelly beans were my favorite contraband because they would not melt in my pocket. I hid them behind a small access door in the ceiling just above my bunk. Also did AIT there. Making a phone call meant waiting in a long line on Sunday afternoon. Thr firing ranch was the only training I actually looked forward to. Funny how you forget most of the crap and have a overall fond memory of the time there. Louisville was a dump so we just got a room at the Holiday Inn and drank beer while watching football on our weekend pass. Just knowing that I'll never see Agony and Misery again is a huge relief.
I had many more photos, but most of were lost, or destroyed over the years. The video can stir up thousands of memories. :) Have a great day!!
I was in E-15-4 at the same time.
@spitsoup My name is Thompson. I was tall, reddish hair from Mississippi. My best buddies there were from Norman, OK. Lots of guys from Missouri and Wisconsin if I remember correctly. I can't remember the little Drill Sargent's name.
Conosi mi grand amor enLois.en clayton panama 1972..
Remembering those old wooden barracks, fine quality living with all the amenities!
ASnd that they reminded us that the barracks was so old and dried out that if it caught fire it would burn down less than 1-0 minutes. Fire Watch Duty?
Erick, I was there in 1970. Didn't have the pleasure of the old wooden barracks. I was in D-16-4 across from the Eisenhower Chapel. Only bad thing is we were on top floor. Bad news when you had to carry gear up after a road march! Thanks for the memories on the video. All the best!
Thank you Eddie! You are very welcome. Yes, it would suck to carry all that gear up to the top floor. Now I know how lucky I was! :) :) Have a great weekend my friend!
Eerick
Edro Hillbilly I was in D-16-4 , July of 1969. Remember going up those stairs!
Ralphreddington1 One thing about the internet, is we get to share what we have. Thanks for taking the time to check out my channel. Seems like a million years ago! Have a great day!.
Erick
You are with baphomet now! 💥😡!
AIT May - August 1968 19D CO A6R2
Wow brings back memories of Ft Polk, basic,AIT,11B. Tigerland
1970 Tigerland was fun and not so fun
Great video and music Erick !!
Happy New Year 2013 ★ ★
Annie
i was there in may 1970
back to making the beautiful videos of families, reunions, and individuals. I have a bunch of pictures of my grandsons & I playing in the green screen studio, but I am on a mission to complete my army pictures. Just have my RR to go in Sidney Australia then back to better resolution pictures. These are very old, but still can get a feel of what my army stay was all about.
Have a great day my friend!
A-18-4. The best by test. Above the rest. Alpha gators sir. Alpha gators for life! Hoo ahhh.🤣. Omg I will never forget my units cadence as long as I'm on this Earth. I was in basic at ft Knox in January or 1986. WWII barracks...right beside the parade field used in the the movie "stripes". Where are all my alpha gators???
Unlike the Marine corps where you could never take pictures like this. No discipline in the armyu
Really? Sounds like you must have had your head up your DI's ass!
Army Basic isn't 1/5 as hard. Taking pictures? You guys had it easy.
Thank you Peter! They are some very old ones, but they are better than nothing. I am working on my Vietnam ones, and maybe some of my old army buddies will run across these videos. Happy New Year to you my good friend!
Erick
me know. My mom just about went nuts when she found out that I volunteered for Vietnam, but we had a fantastic month together before I left.
Have a fantastic day my friend!
Erick
Thanks Bro. Great Vid. I was D.18.5. ..April n may 69 Sgt King n SSG watt. Great experience. Went on to Nam .10/69 with E co 4 the bat. 173rd Ann.. my most 11H1P. 90mm .N.. 90mm recoiless. D. Smith
I was there Oct thru April 1969-1970 Bravo 18-5 Basic and on to Armor school. First time I ever saw it snow. I’m a SoCal boy
That is kind of you Gloria! I am working on my service years, and hoping to contact some of the men I served with. I have about 10 videos to make of my tour in Vietnam. Most were on slides, because that was the best way to preserve them over there. They were very old, but I can still tell what they represent. Just wish they were as good as when I took them. It happens. God Bless you too my friend!
Erick
Thank you Annemaree for your comment! These pictures seem like a 100 years ago, but I can remember them as if they were yesterday. Shame I couldn't restore them better than I did. Time has taken their toll on them, but now they will always be preserved. The year is already starting off great, hope the same for you my dear friend!
Erick
Thank you for your comment! Liked the song you started at the beginning! Yes the blades of a Huey chopping through the air has it's own sound! Have a great day my friend!
Erick
Ivan Knapp Thanks for the memories. I was in C 16-4 company in 1969. I went to Ft Belvoir Va after basic and then went to Germany. Got to my new company on Dec 31 1969. Stayed there for remainder of the time and then stayed in the Army Reserves for a total of 21 years. Great times looking back now
You are welcome Ivan, thanks for taking the time to visit! I went to Ft Lee Va for my AIT, to Ft Riley Kansas, then to Viet Nam.
Erick
E-15-4 at the same time.
Basic training April 1969 B-10-5 I'll never forget that one hill called mother f - - ker with full pack. Thanks for the video
Fort Dix/1959.
Fantastic pictures my friend. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. God Bless you.♥
Thank you Jan! Happy New Years to you and your loved ones too my friend! God Bless You Too!!
Erick
You're in the Army now, you're not behind the plow!!! Another great upload Erick. You're right, Vietnam seems like it was 100 years ago but I can remember it like it was yesterday. Like I commented on another upload, I'll never forget the sound of a Huey.
Forgot to say "Looks like the D.I. is the only one that had plenty of his share (food)!!" LOL
Thank you Morphios! Happy New Year to you too my friend!!
Erick
I was there May 11 1972 in B-16-4 Sgt. Colman was our DI good memories.
Fantastic pictures,Erick!,Happy New Year,my friend!
started basic mar 15 1967 fort knox e-17-5.
Thank you Halyna! Happy New year to you too!!
dolci ricordi!!!!,grazie,bellissimo il tema musicale,felice anno devila
I hope you and your pals got home safe. I was down the road at B-19-5 from 23 June 1969 to late August.
I also remember being denied the opportunity to see the MOON LANDING (on TV) in August 1969 which really was a disappointment. But, a run up Misery and Agony made so much more sense!!!
My grandpa was in b-18-5 he said he had a drill sergeant davis
I did my Basic Training at Ft Knox also. It was July 1970 ( D-11-4 ) and man was it hot that summer. Your film brought back lots of memories.
I was there also, July 1970. E-11-4! You are so right, it was super hot.
I got there 30 Oct 1969 to April 1970 - was in B-18-5 and went on to tank school. The Drill Sergeant was Sgt Babbich (I think) was in the Disney Barracks for Tanks. Being a San Diego boy, it was the first time I saw it snow.
My grandpa was in that too he said he had a sergeant Davis he always said b-18-5
Me???? LMAO!! :) :)
Woooow...happy new year Erick
Thank you Mary. Didn't do it because I wanted to, did it because I was drafted. I just made the best of a bad thing. In fact I was headed to Canada, but sobered up & took one step forward! As it turned out, wished I had went to Vietnam the day I was drafted, because I was going to kill someone with all the bullshit they were doing to us at Ft Riley. Some put up with it so they didn't get shipped to Nam. So I volunteered for Nam to get out of Kansas!! Now when you figure that one out let
Too Funny!!!!
C company 15 BN 4 TNG BDE.... Where can I find photos?
You can screen capture mine, not sure about others.
Nice, best wishesi
You could smoke in the barracks back then. god help you if u do it now...lol
Yeah, you can see the red "Butt Cans" in some of the pics.
Makes a young'un old fast.
C 19 5 1969
In the fall?
April june
I must have came in as you left. Have a great evening!!
C-19-5 in 1972. We were given a Company T-shirt. Still have it upstairs. Went on to MP Academy at Ft. Gordon.