OUR ETERNAL STRUGGLE: "THE MEN FROM THE BOYS"

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, it's time to watch a movie!

Well, ACTUALLY - - - ,

It's NOT really a "movie", but instead, it's a television show.

For the best effect, please be sure and enjoy watching, in "FULL SCREEN" mode, this video recording of, "THE MEN FROM THE BOYS".

This video copy of a 1969 production, "THE MEN FROM THE BOYS", an episode of the official United States Army television series, "THE BIG PICTURE", is presented through the very generous courtesy of the NUCLEAR VAULT channel at the YOU TUBE web site, where it was posted on Monday 16 April 2012.
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COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER

Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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So, gather 'round your young'uns, pop some corn, send out for some pizza, grill some hot dogs, pour some frosty mugs of ice cold root beer, snuggle up on the big comfy couch, dim the lights, and - - -

"ROLL 'EM ! ! !"

Pass the popcorn, please.
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Folks, this show has REALLY special significance for ME (!), because it was on Thursday 07 December 1967 when I was drafted into the United States Army, and began MY (!) own Basic Combat Training at Fort Lewis, Washington, which was part of the United States Sixth Army, in Company "D", Third Battalion, First Basic Combat Training Brigade.

Do you notice the extra white tape, located just above the white name tape, on the right breast of the trainees' fatigue uniforms?

Because of the constant threat of a spinal meningitis epidemic, that extra white tape identified our unit, as mine said, "D-3-1", and also because of that same threat of an epidemic, we were completely isolated throughout our training, never being allowed to mix with other platoons, leave our company area (unless marching in formation), go to a movie, or go to town.

This show was apparently filmed at Fort Ord, California (which no longer exists) during Summer months.

But, I had MY (!) Basic Combat Training at Fort Lewis, Washington in the dead of Winter, doing everything in rain, sleet, or snow, with some of that training being done in total darkness!

In the film, they mention that participation in the Confidence Course was voluntary.

I sure as Sam Hill don't remember ever being given a "choice", and/or "volunteering" for anything!

I just simply went and did whatever I was told, although occasionally grumbling and growling my opinionated protestations rather grudgingly.

After completion of my Basic Combat Training, I was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia to be trained at the Southeastern Signal School as a Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Operator (MOS 31 M 20), from whence I was given additional specialized training in Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Repair (MOS 31 L 20).

(Uh - - - , don't bother trying to research those MOS codes - - - , as the MOS and/or the equipment were obsolete many years ago, and thus, no longer exist.)

In the year 1969, when, "THE MEN FROM THE BOYS", was being filmed, I was stationed in Germany, at Kaiserslautern and at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, assigned to Company "A", 11th Air Defense Signal Battalion, 32d Army Air Defense Command.

On Friday 12 December 1969, I would land at Cam Ranh Bay, in the old Republic of Viet Nam.

For the best effect, please be sure to enjoy watching this SLIDE SHOW in "FULL SCREEN" mode.