Charles Ray Livermont CWO II - U.S. Army - 1966-1968

Charles Ray Livermont (Ray) was a twenty year old kid who had graduated high school and had completed some college at South Dakota State University. One of the courses he enrolled in was the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). After a year and a half of college, he stopped at the US Army recruiter’s office and took the tests and inquired about flying in the Army. He almost maxxed the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with a score of 99. With that score, he could pick any field there was. He liked the aspect of becoming a pilot!

After the physical and other preparations, he soon boarded a Greyhound bus and was headed to Fort Polk, LA. With a starting point in South Dakota, the ride was a long one.

On arrival in February 1966, he was faced with the usual things… meeting the Drill Sergeant, learning new words: barracks, chow hall, gear and stuff. The Drill Sgt was SGT Short. Basic training went pretty well for Ray. He did recall that he liked the Pugil Stick piece. This event pitted man against man each wearing protective helmets and vest (sorta). The sticks were about four feet long and had a rounded pad on each end. The soldiers would go mano-a-mano, trying to knock the other down. One occasion called for anyone who thought they could, would take on the Drill SGT. Ray did both! He fought the Drill SGT and won!

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