Days seemed to just pass by slower than ever at the processing station. It was early spring, the beginning of March. I was in Lawton, Oklahoma, waiting impatiently to embark on my journey. Becoming a soldier was the most cherished achievement I could have ever completed. Being in this different atmosphere made me feel as if I was in a twilight zone. The smell of fresh cut grass; mixed along with chicken houses were the usual back home. Here, I couldn't smell anything I recognize. Not only were the senses I had changing, but a new daily schedule I had never witnessed before. We would all wake up at 0430, then shower and shave. The uniforms were all always the same. It was long sleeves, pants, and boots; just filled with camouflage from head to toe. If there were wrinkles in anyone's uniform, there would be hell to pay: The importance of looking neat and perm pressed was mandatory within these circumstances. .
As the days continued to pass, each and every soon-to-be soldier would complete a list of tasks. Those tasks included physical examinations, eye tests, hearing tests, fresh bald haircuts, uniform handouts, IQ testing, dental exams, shots, etc. Just simple things to weed out those who didn't belong was the main objective. Looking around one afternoon while waiting for our pre-picture, it looked as if every guy sitting near me had second degree burns on their head. The blazing heat felt like lava after about 5 hours in lines outside of each building. There was quick feelings of relief when we got breaks and went inside for a task. The main portion of the day consisted of sitting and waiting, which is why the saying, "hurry up and wait" became so popular. .
As the processing period began to come to a conclusion, we came upon the day we got to first meet our drill sergeants. That was called, "Shark Attack." Honestly, I can attest to that nickname. I can remember the first statement that came out of Drill Sergeant Peeler's mouth.
