Many people have memories that last a life time. Great memories can come from a high school graduation, the birth of a child, college years, or any other significant time in someone's life. Memories can be good and bad, sad and happy. For some people though, the memories that stay with them for the longest time come from times of hardship. One of those people happens to be me. The most challenging time in my life turned out to be one of the greatest memories I think I will ever have, and these memories are from the Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. .
Morning times, usually slow in a civilian life, were the fastest and most hellacious part of the day. A dark and quiet barracks, filled with the sounds of silence, would quickly turn into rush to make bunks and brush teeth. Tile floors became more and more unforgiving to those who fell while racing to the back of the room trying to make it to the latrine first. Even when in the latrine, the race still went on. Blood often dripped on the white porcelain sinks when people rushed to shave and received large scrapes from razors. While the frenzy at the sinks went on, so did the anxious waiting at the back of the latrine by the toilets. Those too slow to make it to the latrine first stood nervously with their hygiene products clinched in their hands with the frightening thought of being the last soldier to fall into formation. Even when the bathrooms cleared the rush was not over. Next was the morning cleaning of the bay. The sinks would be cleaned of the blood that had fallen just minutes earlier, floors would be mopped to an immaculate shine, and every crevice of the bay would be void of the smallest particle of dirt. Then the last soldier would exit that black door way to the out side and the bay fell silent once again.
While the sun still refused to show its face, we did not. Before the birds awoke from their nest to chirp, before the morning dew had a chance to settle, even before the stars lay to rest, we were there.