The last time I was at Ft Jackson, SC was November of 1982 when I was Honorably Discharged from The Army. But.. I had always visit the place in my dreams. Laugh all you want, but wait until you hear more about these dreams.
I remember the place as when I was a Soldier, it was alive, hustling and full of activity. Being that it's a Training Post, Basic Training and AIT, Advance Individual Training..there were and always was Soldiers all over the place..even on the weekends. I went through Gate 2 on a Saturday and I was shocked.
First off, while I was stationed there, I don't think I covered the whole Post. I mean I was only in one area, did my Duty that was assigned to me. I was a 64C, a Motor Transport Operator, a Truck Driver. I had assigned to me a 2 1/2 ton truck, truck number 209 of The 342nd Transportation Company. I had to get my bearings, it's been over 30 years since I was last here and the place sure has change. I went to where I slept at, the barracks. The ONLY thing that I recognized from back then was the mess hall, it STILL looked the same. But the barracks, were all modern now and looked NOTHING like what I slept in back then. In fact, I think it's a motel or hotel or something, not sure. Where the Motor Pool was at..NOTHING but trees..TALL trees. Time goes by quickly because I know for sure, you DON'T replant TALL trees, they GROW that way.
Building were still in the same place, but were upgraded to a more modern look which threw me off quite a bit. So, I drove around a bit. Plenty of fast food places on Ft. Jackson though. Memories were coming back to me slowly but surely too. But the feeling I got..a LARGE area..warehouses..being it's the weekend, not many workers around. It didn't feel like a Military place at all. Another thing..the vehicles. ALL modern, nothing from my era either. Being that it was Post 911 and I was driving area with NY license plates..probably in areas I wasn't suppose to be in.. But I had my ID and my Veteran's Card, but I still felt out of place.
Like I said I went driving around. I came across some activity in a recreational area, so I stop and ask for directions. They weren't in uniform, but for sure were Military. I'm not knocking them but. I remember when I was here back then, and any civilians approached me and asked for directions, they could always tell I was Military. As this group of Soldiers, because I KNOW they ARE Soldiers..showed no..they didn't look Military. My wife who was sitting besides me, an Air Force Vetrean also asked me were they Soldiers. I told her they were. She said they look like some type of 'thugs'..all out of shape..from off the streets. When I told them that I was here over 30 years ago, they asked me how old was I now. Told them 55. They looked at me..couldn't believe it. I told them it was in the shots I got to go overseas to Germany. Prolongs the aging process. They STILL couldn't believe how good I looked for my age, and called someone over and ask them to guess my age.
I went to Ft Jackson for the sole purpose of going swimming at a beach made on a lake there. Found it, paid $1 for entry. Rented a Paddle Boat for the first and LAST time. Too much work for me and I haven't rode a bike in over a year. But the water was nice and cool. Beach clean and less than a city block long. Okay, string together 15 cars and that is how long the beach was and is. But I had a good time in the water.
I'm going back to Ft. Jackson..soon, really soon. New uniforms are on the market and I need a Wet Weather Suit and a Camo Backpack
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