Remember

Remembering Back Music 60s and 70s

2009-03-23T15:11:00.001-07:00

Posted By Webmaster

While working on This Day In History I came across the Date
24th March 1973 that Pink Floyd released Dark Side Of The Moon which reminded me about a time in my 20's when the album came out.

What it reminded me of most what not just what a fantastic album it was, but how I played it full blast on an old player for LP's until the album became so scratched It would spend more time skipping tracks than listening .

I wonder how many remember that back in those days you only had to slam a door for the stylus to skip or scratch, or how compared with the sound from a modern CD player even a Walkman so much was lost , but thank you for those great albums from those days

Just a few that were played full blast in my teens and early 20s bring back great memories

The Beatles "Abbey Road"

Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall"

Pink Floyd "Dark Side Of The Moon"

The Who "Tommy"

Bob Dillon " The Freewheeling Bob Dylan"

Creedence Clearwater Revival "Bayou Country"

Jimi Hendrix "Electric Ladyland"

Simon and Garfunkel " Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme"

The Beatles "Abbey Road"

The list could go on forever and I am sure I Have forgotten many great great albums without even touching on 45's what great great times for music

Many I have replaced with CD's but I think I miss something when I think of my old LP's

Steve

Traditional Milkman

2009-03-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Milkmans Son, United States, My father was a traditional milkman

My father was the traditional milkman. Up at 3:00 a.m., got to the dairy by 4:30, on the milk route by 5:00, home be 5:30 p.m. He had (and still has some) of the original wooden milk crates and glass bottles w/caps. He would be given bottles of "booze" in the milk shoots as gifts from his customers. No matter how much snow or ice, he would get the milk/cream/etc delivered to everyone. I treasure those days when I would get up early with him and eat breakfast and watch the sun rise. He taught me a great work ethic and you do not have to make alot of money to have a happy life. He is 80 now, and his granddaughter is interviewing him for her 4th grade project on being a milkman. He still roller skates/dances and can bike up to 20 miles per day. I thank God for him.

Life must have been so cool In The 60s

2009-03-03T04:22:00.000-08:00

Posted By
jackee lynn, United States

well i wasn't alive in the 1960's but i have researched it thoroughly and i have to say life must have been so cool! and lots of cool inventions were made in those years.from playdoh to zip codes....and all the stuff you got away with like no seatbelts and hanging out with who ever you want..i would have loved it.and also back then they had the best music that the words of the song really had an exact feeling and meaning.

50s Book Of Memories

2009-03-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Book of Memories, United States
My passion for my memories of the 50' and 60's grew into a rather large collection of nostalgic items (incluuding a costume actually worn by Bozo The Clown in the 1960's, he is now my close friend).

I also spent several years on an oldies radio staion playing the music I loved and interviewed hundreds of celebrities from the 50's and 60's, some of whom are no longer with us but survive on tape.

From all that came two and a half years of writing that culminated in something called "Nostalgia: The Big List". It is a compilation of EVERYTHING nostalgic. Nearly 8,000 entries from tv and movies, to hairdo's and fads, cars and clothes and everyting else in bewteen.
You can take a serious walk down memory lane with this book. It's cheap too because it is available on compact disc reducing the cost of printing a book. Pop it into the computer and read it there or print it out.

Visit www.waxstuff.com for information on ordering.

I Want To BE Friendly

2009-03-01T04:49:00.001-08:00

Posted By

wrs, United States

I remember going to church play in the summer inthe late 30s. They would have us sing a song I beleive named I Want To BE Friendly. I guess it was a song to stay out of war. Any one remember the words?

Remember Those Great Seventies

2009-02-26T18:49:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Sue, United Kingdom

I remember the fashion of flares, platforms & wedge shoes, liking school, hating school,

Dib Dab Sherbert sweets,

The Partridge Family Show, The Osmonds (Cartoon) Show, Land of the Giants, Lost in Space,

Getting my first record player & playing my compilation album hits such as The Sweet, Alvin Stardust, The Glitter Band....oh my goodness!!

We played outside without a care in the world, playing snails, hopskotch, rounders, piggy in the middle, american skipping. There was loads to keep us kids entertained.

No computers, mobile phones, iPods or PSP's. We made do with paper doll cut outs from comics & made outfits for our dolls out of mums old clothes.

My favourite food was chips (french fries) from the van that used to come round the area, you could smell it before the siren was sounded. That vinegar & chips smell was delicious.

I remember the 70's well, loved it better than the 80's.

An Unamarican Hippy

2009-02-20T04:57:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Sassy, United States

growing up in a small town in kentucky was so exciting in the 60s.
i remember writing a paper in high school on why i thought the vietnam war was wrong.i was expelled for 3 days.
my father was really mad at me.
i remember him calling me an unamerican hippie.
the 60s were my growing up years and i have such wonderful memories of them.i still love the music from that era.

The Dustbowl Years

2009-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Elizabeth, United States

I was born in 1923 and grew up during the dust bowl time. Mom, my brother and I lived with my grandparents.
We lived on a farm, which turned out to be the best thing we could have done. As a result, we had beef, pork, chicken, turkeys, mutton and eggs. We were never hungry like lots of folks that lived in small towns nearby. However, we did not have any money. But with cream and egg sales, my folks were able to buy occasional sugar and flour. Our trips to the small town were made about each week, as we could not keep the cream any longer.
When there was a dust storm imminent, the western sky turned a sickly yellow. The sun was blotted out, and a little later we could see a boiling, angry cloud arising on the western horizon. Grandma would call to us all, that there was a dust storm coming. Grandpa would hurry to the barnyard to see that all the livestock was put into barns and sheds.
I remember that I went to try to get the poultry into the henhouse. Mom and my brother were getting in the horses and sheep.
Meanwhile Grandma was hanging any dampened cloth available over the windows, and stuffing the cracks around windows and doors with rags.
When it came mealtime, Grandma would cook, using pots she could keep the lids on to keep out the dust.
The table was set with all the china turned upside down. We turned it upright only when we were served in order not to get too much grit in the food. The dirt was so fine like talcum powder that it filtered into everything. When the storm was over, which sometimes was several days, there were drifts, like snow drifts, but it was all the fine dirt. There was a sifting of dirt over everything in the house. Sweeping the floors took several attempts to get it all out. And all the bedclothes had to be washed.
We kids were kept home from school, and we only went out of the house to water and care for the animals and fowls. We did have two good wells, one for the house, and a windmill for the farmyard. Mom liked to grow flowers, and she hand pumped water every day to keep them alive. After a dust storm, she would go out to the garden and use a broom to try to sweep the dirt away from the plants so they would not be smothered by the dirt. We had only vegetables that we could grow in our garden. During the drouth during and after the dust bowl days, it was hard to get anything to live. One year we had only a few potatoes, and other tough vegetables.
The green beans, however, did bear a good crop. Most of the produce that we could harvest was canned for winter's use. That year we had only meats, some potatoes, and lots of green beans. It took me 10 to 15 years before I could eat green beans again. It was a hard time, especially for anyone living off the farms. And for the farmers, too, because they had no crops (mostly wheat in our area) to sell. We lived along the Kansas, Oklahoma border north of Wakita, Ok. Our farm was north in Kansas along the border road.
A few years after the storms had subsided, the government helped farmers plant "windbreak" trees. Even today in some part of the dust bowl area you will see several rows of trees lining the sides of fields. That and contour farming helped keep the wind from picking up the dust and blowing it away.

Reflecting Back To The 60s and 70s

2009-02-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Posted By Sun Village --Chester Pa. United States

The things I remember growing up in the 60's & 70's are having to be in when the street lights came on,
In the Summer Playing release / Olie olie ox infree as in playing tag, YOUR IT! or Jail and someone on there teem had to come and release them with out getting caught them self or playing Army with out leaving a city block running through the alley's on the block, riding our bikes as we had gotten a little older as in around 10 years old and gosh at the age of 12 being able to venture out for about a five mile ride was like leaving the country, LOL and in the winter at christmas time walking to the boy's club on the Avenue and seeing Mr. Jones playing Santa giving out candy kanes Boy were did the years go!

Ed Video memory

2009-01-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

This is truly a fantastic memory from a Man who helps us to understand what is was like in the depression years of the 30's and needs to shared

I had Very vivid memories of my childhood some good some bad, when I was little a circus came to town and I wanted to see it , I had no money so I snuck in under the canvas the circus and I got caught. So as a result they made me part of their act and they put me on this horse and I didn't know it put they put pants on me that were big and lifted me up and the pants fell off. I can always remember my mother used to make zachinky and that's a poor food, and I hated it , she didn't have any money to make it was just boiled dough as thick as your finger and that's what we ate and that was horrible stuff. We lived in a poor section of Amsterdam New York and for Christmas my mother gave me a little red wagon, I knew that we were poor so I just made it a point to go into the city and to go into the back yards of furniture stores and so forth to pick up these boxes for heating and I remember one day I was near a police station and the policeman took my hand and I thought he was going to arrest me for taking these boxes and instead he put a bushel of food into my wagon and I thought that was pretty good so we had some food.

I spoke to Edd for a while after this video was made and he truly is a wonderful man who should be an example to us all and help us realise how lucky and privileged we are today. We take for granted so many things like education which he did not have the opportunity of until a few years later

I would like to thank him so so much for sharing his memories for this and future generations.

Label Memories From The 1930's

30s dust bowl

2009-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

Memory From:

Debbie , USA The Dust Bowl Years

I didn't live during the 30s, but my Mother did and she experienced the dust bowl.
It may have only impacted Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Kansas directly, but it was a major event which isn't mentioned on the this sites list of events.
Many farmers lost their farms and they and their families were made homeless and the migration to California began. Dust storms so severe that the sun was blocked out were daily occurences.
It was a big deal, partly caused by irresponsible land developers and farming techniques that weren't appropriate for the time.
Any dust bowl survivors out there? I'd like to see your memories here

TV shows I watched in the 70s

2009-01-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

Posted By:
John, USA, TV shows I miss from the 70's

I was remembering some of the TV I watched as a child and missing them , just a few of my own favourites I can remember below

Chips
2 officers from the California Highway Patrol riding their motorcycles through southern California

M*A*S*H
About Field hospital based in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

Added By Webmaster for The People History
Vietnam should read Korean War as pointed out by our visitors in comments

Sanford & Son
Sitcom based around father and son junk dealers

Happy Days
Teenage life in the mid-1950s. featuring The Fonz who can forget thumbs-up gesture,"aaayyh!", and leather jacket

The Muppetts
The Waltons
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Bob Newhart

If you look at the list not one was based on violence how times have changed

I am sure I missed some others that I can't remember right now so please leave your comments with your own favourites

I Hate Green Beans

2009-01-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Greybeard, USA, I Hate Green Beans
I remember a frozen food product marketed to help Parents of picky eaters eat vegetables...They were called I Hate Green Beans, Corn, Beets and Peas. They were french fry type food I think made from those vegetables.

Does anyone else remember these or am I the only one

Best Years Of My Life

2009-01-31T10:12:00.001-08:00

b. February 26 , 1931 ; lived thru Great Depression era ; on a small [ 160 acre ] country farm ; no electricity , one line party line phone w/ 1 ring ; kerosene lamps & lanterns ; 2 room school house , 42 students total ; 8 grades ; no radios , TV , cell phones , etc ; no sports or swimming pool , gyms , etc ; well water by hand pump ; Saturday nite bath ; etc. every SPRING & FALL I rode with my GRANDFATHER 10 MILES to have the team of horses shod ;fished in the brook with wood pole and worms ; etc.

BEST YEARS of MY LIFE

GEORGE , RETIRED TRIAL LAWYER and Real Estate investor
MASSACHUSETTS - 12-18-2008

http://www.MySpace.com/georgetet

HAPPY SEASONS GREETINGS to ALL

The Thirties

2009-01-18T05:58:00.000-08:00

Posted By

Inscho, United States

My grandmother was born in Kansas in the early 1900's.
Our family had farms and were respected members of the communities they lived in.
My grandmother married and became a teacher.
During the 30's her husband lost his job.
She worked as a teacher, traveling from town to town, sleeping in other people's homes. Eventually, they relocated to Oregon.
Once there the two divorced.
She had other family members that made the move, as well. She like to tell me this story about her cousin and her husband who rented a room and everyday for dinner they would cook a potato on a hot plate. He'd have her cut it into two pieces and she would always give him the larger half.

From Webmaster Thank You So Much Inscho
Some of these memories passed down from family members provide truly great insight into much harder times and one of the reasons I set this site up was to allow the sharing of these special memories so they are not lost for future generations

Steve The People History

The 70s were best decade

2009-01-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Samantha, United States

Playing outside, Races, Bike ramps, hide and go seek,
Saturday morning Cartoons,
The Music was the best, all I wanted to do was dance.
I helped my Grandfather on Saturday mornings and he'd pay me a little money.
I also remember collecting pop bottles to get the refunds on them.
Building go-carts out of Big Wheel tires.
Going from door to door asking if they wanted their yards cut (for a fee of course).

Most of all FRIENDLY PEOPLE!!!

Best Memory

2009-01-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Samantha, United States

One of my best memories growing up was when
I woke up on Christmas morning and found the bike I was waiting for forever!

Our First VCR

2009-01-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Beth, United States

I can remember my family getting our first VCR.
I was so excited at the idea that I could watch any movie any time that I wanted.
Our neighbors had gotten one a few year earlier when VCRs first came out and costed a fortune. My sister and I were invited over the day they set it up.
Everyone just sat around amazed at this great new technology.

Living In The 80s

2008-12-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Stephanie

Well if you lived in the 80s it was a whole new era "For Sure For Sure"
and the boy sitting next to you was
"Totally Awseome Dude"
Like Totally!Only if we could go back to those days and relive them I wouldnt change a thing! I had such a blast making memories with my friends and going to the movies and watching "Fast times At Ridgemont High"
and Spicoli ordering pizza and having it delivered in class!Like Oh My God! If you can remember these days you have lived!
Rock on to the people that made the 80s for what they were! Like Totally

Glad To Be A Kid In The 70s

2008-12-10T08:41:00.000-08:00

Posted By
What Happened, USA

Hi All. I'm 37 years old, and I grew up as a child in the mid-to-late 1970s.
We all have are own experiences as kids growing up when we did, but all I can say is...I'm glad I was a kid when I was.
I wouldn't want to be a kid growing up today.
I remember when staying out and running in the field in our backyard, and playing outside was the only things you could really do then.
We didn't have the cell phones, and the video games like they do today. Atari was just starting to come around in the early 80s, but we didn't have it until a bit later.
But we had to actually "do things" to have fun. Our mom had to actually yell for us to come inside the house.
Now it seems you can't get any kids' out of the house and off the sofa. I was watching some old archival footage of the 1950s and 1960s, and wow, I had a great time growing up when I did, I can just image from the footage I've seen and heard about those days, that it must have been soooo great!
I remember the t.v. shows too from the 70s...nothing like they are today. We had little house on the prairie, and sanford and son, and grizzly adams...so I guess all I can say is, what happened? Glad I grew up when I did :)

Kids Back Then

2008-12-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Posted By
The Kids back then, United States

I was 8 years old in 1979. I remember being able to roam around my block as much as i wanted without my mom having to worry about where I was.
I also remember how much "cooler" the older kids were back then. By older I mean...14-15 years old. I remember one day I was looking at something that was in a small puddle by the side of the street.
It was probably nothing really important, but I remember that bubbles seemed to be coming up from the bottom for some reason. Two older kids, I would say about in the 14-15 year old range came by on their bikes.
They were the "cooloest" bikes to own back then...the bmx ones with the plastic mag. wheels. One kid wore a gold chain around his neck. I remember them stopping by me and asking me what's up. I was a really quiet kid then and pretty shy, but I was able to show them the puddle and what it semmed to be doing. They got off their bikes and watched the bubbles for a short time and then got back on their bikes.

They then just said something like, "take care man," and left. They didn't bother me at all. So kids just seemed to be alot "cooler" then. But, that's just my opinion from back then.

Sixties Memories Growing Up

2008-11-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Nancy, United States

I was in first grade when JFK was killed. The teacher brought in a radio. She looked stricken.
She told us, just said it. I didn't get it.
Why would anyone shoot the president? It wasn't personal enough for me to understand. We stood around the radio and listened.
I don't remember what was said, only that we were all so quiet, all our regular activity stopped.
Later, my father took us to Mass, which was singular in itself because he was a lapsed Catholic and we never went to church, I'd never set foot in a church before that.
I didn't even know my father was Catholic until we attended. I remember the elections after that. "Johnson, Johnson, he's our man. Gold water belongs in the garbage can!" We were kids.
Then Johnson began to dissapoint fast: Vietnam happened. My brother, who was draftable age, managed to stay out of the war by remaining in school.
I remember one day he and his girlfriend - now my sister in law - came to my house from jail.
My mother, me, and they all sat around the kitchen table while they debriefed. They'd been arrested in Berkeley, protesting the war.
They were elated. They felt powerful, and also - I'm pretty sure - relieved and triumphant that they'd survived. They'd been teargased, had not even gone home to clean up yet, and stunk to high heaven.
Several years later, I was at summer camp, and a t.v. had been set up in the courtyard. We all watched the first human set foot on the moon.

Mom's 50s Cadillac

2008-11-24T17:32:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Mamie http://dearbabyboomer.com/, United States

Mom's Cadillac ...
It was big—it was real big.

Shiny black with a white hard top—rounded fins in the back, rounded trunk—1953, a few years before the lines on the Cadillac became sleek and the fins sharp. It was very classy—but it was just too big.

Mom had learned to drive only the year before. Having grown up and lived in New York City until their move to New Jersey after getting married, she never had the need or desire to drive a car.

When the older children were young, milk was delivered to the doorstep, our pediatrician came to the house, even groceries were delivered. But now, with growing children and a home in the country to manage, learning to drive became essential. She learned quickly, and before long was on the road, usually with a carload of kids. "Mr. Sawdust' was now bringing in a substantial income, and he wanted his Jeannie to ride in style.

As I said, the car was just too big for Mom. Maybe it was from where I was sitting in the back but it did appear that Mom looked through that great big steering wheel, rather than over it. She was a good driver, but as you might imagine this required her utmost concentration.
And I do believe the car was as wide as it was long. Children in the back were merely 'assumed', because they couldn't be seen in the rear view mirror. Seat belts had not even entered anyone's mind at the time, and our outings were very "relaxed." A little brother with a bottle hanging from his mouth would ride standing next to Mom, and another would occupy himself with a truck or two on the floor in the back seat. Of course there were not as many cars on the roads and not as many accidents, and we were young and oblivious to such things.

I'm afraid we were not the only ones who were oblivious. I had discovered the joys of an open window at high speeds. I loved leaning my head out and feeling the wind whip my pony tail just like a galloping horse. I'd pull it back in when I started to lose my breath.

Then I discovered something even more exciting than that. I would very carefully stand up on the back seat, sit out the open window, hanging on to the roof for dear life. The view was wonderful from up there. I remember doing it several times and feeling quite safe. Apparently an off-duty policeman traveling behind us one afternoon, didn't have the same "safe" feeling. He was blinking his lights and motioning for my Mom to pull off the road.

It took a while for her to realize he was behind her. When she finally pulled off the road, he ran over to the car and yelled, "Hey lady, do you want to lose that little girl?" Funny how his exact words have stuck in my mind to this day! Maybe it was that "Now I've seen everything" look that accompanied his words. He allowed me to sit up there just long enough for Mom to turn around and take a good look. She was stunned! I slipped down onto the seat and listened to the frantic conversation, but suddenly was hit with the realization that my Dad would be the next one to find out.

This was not a good thought! Only a few months earlier I had received a spanking from him that was still fresh in my mind. My dad rarely spanked me. It had to be a life threatening situation for him to do so. That casual stroll I took one afternoon with my two best friends, gathering flowers along the busy road in front of our house, was in his mind one of those situations.

What would he do when he heard about this? Funny thing, I don't remember ever receiving a spanking for my little joy rides. Certainly I was in much more danger than picking flowers along the roadside. Now I'm wondering if my Mom ever really told my Dad. I know he knew about it years later.
Maybe she decided not to tell him….for a little while. ….I'll have to ask her about that. (for more of Mamie's musings from the 50's and 60's go to: http://dearbabyboomer.com/

An Army Career In The 70's

2008-11-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

Posted By
M. Layport, United States, Choosing a Carreer Or Did It Choose Me

I never did know what I wanted to do for a living the entire time I was going to school. I was "warned" that I needed to start thinking about it, and start planning!

I never was a great student anyway, so made it hard to plan on anything, and the “warnings” just increased my anxiety!

I had gone to Jr. College after high school primarily because that was what you were "suppose to do" ...didn't do great there either.

Took me 3 years to get a 2 year degree!

I only got a degree in mechanical drafting because it was easy for me, but never had any plans to work in the profession.

So late 1972 (just before finishing J.C.) I started thinking of what I can do next with my life.

Dad had been with the 25th Div in the 35 Infantry REGT in the Philippines during WWII, and I always loved his "war stories". So I came to the bright conclusion of enlisting in the military!

Funny I remember telling Dad of my plans and that was the first time I remember him talking about the bad points of being a grunt in the military.

But “I knew what I was doing” and helicopters had caught my eye! ...Although I've never been in a plane in my life at that point! I went into the Army recruiters and discussed the idea, I was informed that that MOS (military occupation specialty) was not in high demand at this point in time,

Viet Nam was winding down and the need for helo pilots was not as high as it once was. I was determined to be a gun ship pilot, so they sent me in for the written test.

It was pretty hard, but was happy I scored the minimum acceptable grade! ...Then I was informed there's qualified and best qualified! ...i.e. I didn't make the cut! I was heart broken!

Went home that night and thought …the Army doesn't even want you! The next day I went over to visit a buddy at his house, he had another one of his friend over, and this guy had just gotten out of the Army’s armor AIT (advanced individual training) class at Ft. Knox ...he talked about armor training and how the M60 tank was an ass kicking machine! …I was interested!

Next day the Army recruiter’s office called, wanting to see if I was interested in anything else ...I told them I'd be interested in armor!

You could almost hear them licking their chops! …"OH SURE …we could probably get you in that!" So I enlisted for armor training in the L.A. recruiting station California, and that evening I was shipped off to Ft Ord in a bus.

It was late Feb. 1973. As we pulled out of the recruiting station I looked around the bus, all kinds of people were there and I remember thinking, "Boy I hope I don't get stuck with this group!" *G* …We became 1st Platoon C-2-3 in the old WWII wooden barracks over looking the reception area. Actually “basic” was not that hard for me.

Yes I was out of shape, and was never the athletic type, but during my school years, because I wasn’t a good student, I developed the ability to disappear in the crowd! …To become so inconspicuous that the teacher didn’t noticed you!

This was probably the only time this ability ever served me, in a beneficial manor. The Drill Sgt. never was able to put my name to a face, until about the last 2 weeks of basic.

Basic in general was a positive event for me, gave me confidents in myself to a degree and got to learn about dealing with other people, both good and bad.

Eight weeks later I graduate for basic training, and the third week in May, 1973 we shipped out to Ft. Knox Kentucky for AIT armor training. Armor AIT was the icing on the cake for me! We were finally earning something we were going to work at.

The barracks were semi new and the food was real good! Each track (tank) had a crew of 4 trainees, with a T.C. (tank commander) that was assigned to the track.

Normal crew was 5 people; this allowed each trainee to rotate positions as we learned how to operate each position …except the T.C.’s spot. I was older then most in training, I was 22 at this time, I’d guess the average age of most of the recruits was 19 to 20 at this point.

Whether this was a contributing factor or not I’m not sure, but I became the leader in all training efforts. If the lesson was driving or any other skill, I was the first to try! AIT was semi easy for me. I didn’t have to “hide” in the crowd anymore; I looked forward in proving my capabilities! Actually this worked out well for me, because I was made PFC/E3 at the end of this AIT training.

I had thought I’d be able to get leave after AIT and visit home again, but the Army had other ideas. I was sent to Ft. Bliss Texas for “Redeye” training.

Redeye is a shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile …the grandfather of the modern day Stinger missile. The other guys in my AIT class went on the train on the M551 Sheridan “tank”, or were sent off to regular armor units. Redeye was a 3 week training course, there were only 12 regular Army people in this class and the other 24 people were N.G.s (national guard), who were there for their annual 2 weeks of training.

Actually this was 2 weeks of party time for most of them! They almost daily went down to Juarez, Mexico, after training too PARTY!

The next day they were a sorry looking lot! Afew had long hair …stuck under short hair wigs, and the D.I. (drill instructor) would yell at them to get their hair fixed right, or he’ll escort them to the barber to get a “proper” hair cut! The N.G.s only lasted the 2 weeks then they were gone, and it was just the 12 R.A.s (Regular Army) guys that were left.

During this training I discovered I had a knack for “aircraft recognition” I was scoring 100% on all my aircraft recognition tests and scoring high on the system test as well. I ended up number one in the class, and this allowed me to fire the one of the 2 missiles that were expended at the end of the class.

Unfortunately this was the only disappointment I came a crossed …my missile was a dud …a $3000 dud! *G* After leave at my parent’s house in California,

I flew to South Carolina and the AFB (Air Force Base) there to catch a flight to FRG (Federal Republic of Germany). We waited most the day there, meeting people and friends I knew there from training.

We finally went to board a plane, but much to my disappointment, it was not a military aircraft at all! It was an old 707 with the company name on the side “Flying Tigers Airline”. This was a very old and very used aircraft.

We were jammed into the aircraft and headed off for a very long flight. We didn’t fly straight to Europe; we stopped in New Foundland to re-fuel, and then on to Frankfurt, Germany and the Rheine Mien airport.

There we unloaded and were bused to the 503th replacement center …an old building that was a British prisoner camp during WWII! We spent the next 3 days there, before being shipping to another distribution center. This is where I learned I was to be shipped to “Alpha” troop 3rd Sqd. 12th CAV in Budingen, FRG. I remember thinking “Boy this sounds like a kick-ass unit!” …But before we got there we had to get an orientation to the Germany culture.

This was a 5 day class in Glenhausen, FRG. We got there late Sunday night and after all day coming and going to get assigned and picking up TA-50 (field gear) I fell into bed about midnight.

Next day we found out there was about 15 of us, and after we got straighten away, we headed to our first class. The class was taught by an officer’s wife who spoke very fluent Germany and spent a lot of time in country.

Over the next few days we were taught basic Germany language, currency exchange, & cultural differences. During this time afew notable things happened to me. First I was assigned to a section headed by a Sgt. that was from Louisiana, he was a Cajun and he had an accent you could cut with a knife!

He would tell me to do something, and it was like someone speaking a foreign language to you! I had to ask 2 to 3 times what he just said! …And sometimes I never did understand him! Luckily this didn’t seem to be a new problem for him, and he wasn’t too upset about my asking what he just said! The other notable event happened about day 4, I was in class and it was about 10:30am when a sergeant came into our class road and wanted to know who PFC Layport was!?? Without thinking I stood up (from basic training), he looks me over and said you are to report to major so-in-so in the Battalion S4 building!

First thing I thought was “what did I do now!??” I headed over there escorted by the sergeant, and sit down in front of this major, he was the S4 OIC (officer in charge). He was looking for a clerk, and was trying to skim some of the replacements for this position.

After I learned what he was after, I told him I wasn’t interested! He was flabbier-gassed! He went on to tell me I’d be E.D. (eliminated from duty) from guard duty, K.P. & won’t have to do field duty! I still wasn’t interested. He didn’t care!

Then when he explains my duties as a “clerk”, I told him I couldn’t type! He didn’t believe me! He had seen in my records where I had graduated from Jr. College and wanted to know how I had gotten thru without typing a paper?

I told him I had my girl friend type it …actually it was my Mom, but I didn’t want to share that info! So after a brief test in typing skills he finally relented and I was allowed to head back to class.

Two days later the class was over and a VW vans pulled up to take the 4 people to the Armstrong Kaserne in Budingen, FRG.

It was Friday evening, early Sept. I arrived in Budingen, FRG about 18:00hrs we were dropped off in from of the troop location. These were barracks were built in 1932 to house a German unit; a rectangle shaped building 5 floors tall. The C.O. and 1st Sgt had already gone, only the C.Q. (Charge of Quarters) was there.

He temporarily put us (me and one other guy – don’t remember his name) up in a room where they had empty beds, and to my surprise we were issued M16s, and were told that we’d have to go to the range the next morning to zero the weapon! I thought “MAN, this is an ass kicking unit!” …

Next day we drew the M16s (brand new! …Unlike basic which were Viet Nam bring backs). I was impressed with my weapon; I shot a group you could cover with a dime! Monday we were marched into the C.O. (commanding officer) office and one of the biggest events of my tour happened! Original I trained as “11E” (M60 armor crewmen), after AIT training, I had the “Redeye” training. After you had, and passed this additional training, an attachment was added to your MOS title. People taking the M551 Sheridan training received an R8 attachment …Redeye was an R6. …SO as I looked at my paperwork when I first got to Germany, with all the other people being assigned to units most had the 11E10R8 MOS …mine was the only 11E10R6 on the sheet. …you could almost guess what was going to happen! …

SO I was “mis-assigned” to a Sheridan tank unit…by an error reading my MOS. As I stood before the company commander he was putting me down in his roster with my MOS title and the conversation goes something like this: CPT: ”Lets see your 11E10R6!?? ..Oooh that’s a mistake …I’ll change that!” ME: “No Sir, that’s not a mistake!” CPT: “What!?? …You’re not R8? …So what’s a R6?” ME: “That’s a Redeye attachment Sir.” CPT: “REDEYE!?? …They are only in Headquarter Company (HHT). Let me put in a call to Capt. Johnson in HHT and see if he has any openings.” …He picks up the phone and leans back in his chair and the charade starts …”Hello Capt. Johnson this is Capt. Watts in Alpha troop, hey I got a trooper here that’s been mis-assigned, he’s Redeye trained!” …a bit of silence then …”Oh full up Huh!?? …

Most of Redeye is just pulling extra duties!?? …Well OK, we’ll see what he wants to do, thanks again.” CPT: “Redeye section is full up, sounds like most the people there are just doing extra duties. …

So would you like to try O.J.T. on the Sheridans and remain here?” ME: “Well Sir since Redeye is full, I’ll try the O.J.T. …I like a challenge!” How naive I was! …

This whole conversation was done for me, and I swallowed it hook, line, and sinker! …So I was assigned to “A” troop, O.J.T. (On the Job Training) on a Sheridan …not for long, as it ended up! …But for now I was put on the Platoon. Sgt. track A15. …

I had NO training on the Sheridan, and as you may or may not know ...NOBODY had a full crew during this time! Normally just the T.C, & the driver, so when I got on board the track there was nobody to help me (platoon. Sgt. seemed to be “busy” else where)!

I had trained on M60s but this M551 was no where like a 60, but after looking over this machine I did notice the air cleaner indicator signal was like the ones on a M60 and this one was in the red.

This meant that the filter was dirty so I pulled the filter, but had no idea what to do to clean it. I guess I looked pretty puzzled because the driver of the next track asked what was wrong.

I told him and he took the time to show me how to hook up an air line to the breach air system and blow the filter out.

We became fast friends, SP/4 Dave "Barney" Bartnez. He showed me alot! I spent the next 6 months learning about the Sheridan and running around with “A” troop on field training, exercises, and border duty.

About this time I was in the mess hall waiting in the chow line and talking with another California buddy, he was talking about being at Ft. Bliss with the 13th CAV. I piped up and said “I was at Ft. Bliss …for Redeye missile training”! The guy next to me in line turned around and asked “YOU… had Redeye training?” I told him “YUP, sure did!

I got number one in class and got to shoot the missile and everything!” …He didn’t say another word. Next morning at formation the Platoon Sgt. called me out and said that I was to go over to HHT (Headquarters Troop) and “temporary” help the Redeye section.

Seems they were going thru a Division Redeye test, and they were short of people! … (NOT like the “A” troop C.O. had indicated!) …So I trained with the Redeye section for about 3 weeks and on Dec. 7th, 1973 we took the Div. test, and as it ended up my team got No.1 in 3rd. Armor Division (Sgt. Robert "MO" Molin & myself), HHT troop & Redeye section never let me go back!

So I was transferred to HHT troop (with a little resistance from "A" troop.) It turned out to be one of the best times of my life! …

But it was one of the saddest too! June 74, I was going home on leave. Barney was still in "A" troop he was E.T.S.ing (End Time of Service) out of the Army and heading back home to Minnesota. I joked "I'd beat him home"! …And he'd joke "Yeah, but you got to come back"!

…A month later I was walking thru the front gate, back from leave. I knew the U.P. (Unit Police) at the gate was a guy I semi knew from A troop and he asking if I just got off leave? I don't know what gave it away? My new suit or a 3 week old beard!?? He turns serious, and asked if I knew about Barney? I said Yeah I knew he E.T.S. out.

He then says …"But Barney drown 3 weeks later"! I didn't want to believe it! Two days later my old Platoon Sgt. from "A" troop. stopped me for a donation for flowers for Barney's family!

The rest of my time in the service was a series of stories, probably only interesting to myself (or so says my wife! *G*).

But to outline them, I got to visit Berlin on an admit leave (very interesting during “cold war” period), numerous field exercises, border duty, N.C.O. academy, E5 board, teaching Aircraft Recognition classes, becoming a Sgt. two years to the day I joined the Army, and becoming the Redeye Section Sgt. for a period.

There are a number of people I had that helped me go from a kid, afraid to grow up, to a man, ready to take on the world! …

And I’d like to list them here: LTC. Michael D. Mahler Cpt. James E. Johnson 1Lt. Glenn Duffy 1Sgt. Bille Evans SSG Ottis Matthews If any of you ever run across this story, I want to offer you my sincere thanks for your help and friendship!

The other aspect I need to mention are my buddies I lived and worked with! I think if you talk to any body that’s been in any armed service we’ll hear about how great their buddies were! IF they were in a real war (Viet Nam my era) that bond is deeper yet! It’s hard to explain to someone that hasn’t experienced that in their life how important it becomes!

I think of them often to this day …thirty-plus years later. For me I couldn’t have picked a better path in life!

I went on to work in the design/drafting profession, working with process piping. I’ve worked from Alaska to California and on projects world wide, for me it was a perfect choice in a profession!

I’ve been married two times(still working on the second one), I have three kids (a son and two daughters …last one I delivered on the bathroom floor!) and, I presently live in California.

Manchester Shopping Center Fresno

2008-11-14T19:27:00.000-08:00

Posted By
Jack, United States

Manchester Shopping Center with Sears as the main store opened in 1958 in Fresno Ca being the first major shopping center and it seemed to be so far out from downtown Fresno.
I told my mother, who in thier right mind would build a shopping center so far out of town. Today 2008 the shopping Center is really considered downtown. How times have changed