This is how I remember it. I was teaching in Albany in my second year. I had recently received my "Greetings" letter that said I was drafted into service. The letter arrived in February, but contained a note that my induction was delayed until after the current school year was over.
The letter followed a year long effort by myself, my superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, parents, banker, a pastor from a church I didn't attend, and others to try and keep me teaching in Albany. All that had failed. The prior summer the chair of the draft board told the superintendent, "He's had his deferment"
In spite of this we were still trying to get pregnant. We were uncertain about the future, but we had wanted a baby since we were first married. In April, Connie had a doctor's appointment. I clearly remember her coming into our house with a big smile on her face. We were going to have a baby.
Then I began to worry about medical bills. We had insurance as part of my teaching job, but it would end in August. The baby wasn't due until January. I was going to have to pay the full insurance premium. Back then, if you didn't have insurance when you got pregnant, new medical insurance considered pregnancy a "pre-existing condition" and wouldn't cover any of the expense. I was too stupid to ask if the military covered the pregnancy.
Connie wasn't showing when I left for the army in June. We decided she should go live with her parents while I was gone. Although this wasn't what she wanted it helped me to know she would not be alone. I took basic in Fort Lewis Washington. Her daily letters and my Sunday phone calls let me know she was handling the pregnancy well. Still I missed all the early part of pregnancy.
Our biggest worry was Vietnam. It was still waging, but we all knew it was a lost cause. I didn't want to go. I thought it was pointless to give your life for something so worthless. I even considered Canada, and we talked about it on more than one occasion. Connie was willing to go as well. I decided to wait. The infantry, who did the fighting, trained across the parade field, and Fort Lewis was a major departure center for Vietnam.
In the final weeks of basic training was rifle qualification. I had struggled to shoot accurately because of my inability to sight with my right eye. I was unable to close my left eye to sight the rifle. My only solution was an eye patch or to tilt my helmet over my left eye.
With rifle qualification came a week-end pass. Connie planned to fly out to spend the week-end with me. Unfortunately, I failed by one target. No pass. Connie had to cancel her flight.
A clerk came to speak with those of us that had been drafted. The army would decide what our military job would be. Supposedly this was based on the tests we took at the beginning of basic, but it was mainly based on need. The army needed infantry soldiers in Vietnam. The clerk's role was to give us some options. One was to enlist for an additional year to get a job that wasn't the infantry. I considered enlisting to becoming a missile specialist. The missiles were in Europe, but it was an additional year. The clerk said we might be assigned to truck driver training. I decided to wait and see what happened.
Two weeks later, rifle qualification was scheduled for those that failed earlier. It was a Saturday morning and I qualified. I would receive a pass for the remainder of the week-end. I decided to fly standby and try to get to Chicago. I called Connie to meet me there.
I arrived in O'Hare in the late afternoon. I had called her Dad with my flight number, but Connie was already on the way. Her Dad had her paged at the airport to let her know. I walked off the jetway towards the terminal, not knowing where we would meet. As I walked up the terminal, I walked right past Connie and didn't even recognize her.
In my defense, she had cut her hair, was wearing glasses, a new dress, and was showing. I had never seen her with glasses or short hair, or pregnant. I was dressed like every other soldier on the flight, had lost about 35 pounds, and had short hair. Still, she recognized me first. We hugged cried and headed for a motel. I had to leave early in the morning to get back before my pass expired.
On the flight back, I sat next to an officer who asked me where I was headed. When I told him I was on a weekend pass, he told me that passes were for a 45 mile radius from the base. Oops, the 1700 miles I traveled was against regulations. Fortunately he didn't turn me in.
I finished basic and was assigned to Military Police training along with a number of draftees who had also been teachers. We were flown all the way across the country late at night and arrived in Georgia in the morning where the workday was beginning.
Vietnam was still looming. We were all trying to figure if we had to go. MP's were in Vietnam trying to manage the prisons and the draw down. Each week a new cycle of trainees graduated and we listened carefully where they were being assigned. The week we arrived, the entire class went to Vietnam. The following 7 weeks, no classes were sent to Vietnam. Most were optimistic . I thought the cycle would hit us and we were going to Vietnam. Connie was ready to head to Canada. We decided to wait and see.
After graduation, the entire 250 man company waited for assignments. If your name was called you were to get a urine test. It meant you were going overseas. Names were called out alphabetically to get the test. The First Sergeant called out the names, "Kramer, Krapkowitz, Lindberg, Murphy...." I was skipped.! There I was standing with only 15 other soldiers. Everyone else was going to Korea or Vietnam. Unfortunately most were Vietnam.
I called Connie as soon as I could get to a phone booth. I was to stay in Fort Gordon, Georgia and she could be with me. Later I flew home for a 2 week leave.
In September, we packed our Fiat station wagon with almost everything we owned and headed to Fort Gordon. Now very pregnant Connie had to endure the long drive in a very small car. As we were driving, the radio news said there was a riot at the stockade in Fort Gordon, Georgia and that part of the prison had burned. I didn't know that would effect us later that fall.
We were not sure of the best route and ended up driving down the mountains in the dark. It was very frightening. We wound down the eastern continental divide with no place to stay in sight. Finally after midnight we entered South Carolina and found a small motel, the Magnolia Inn. The clerk was from the Midwest and took pity on the exhausted couple. The room had a coin operated radio and vibrating bed. The towels were full of hair, but it was a place to sleep.
We arrived at our rented trailer the next day. The following morning I reported to my company and Connie was left alone to settle in to our new home. The baby was due in about 3 months.
After 6 weeks as a patrol MP, I was told to report to the stockade. The inquiry into the riot had determined that too few MP's were assigned to the stockade. As I sat with a group of other low ranking MPs, we were asked by the sergeant if any of us could type. At first I didn't volunteer. Then he repeated that he needed two people who could type. I raised my hand.
I was assigned to the front office of the stockade. There I would stay for the duration of my service, Vietnam still loomed everyday, but I had options.
On a Saturday in January I had to report to the office. We had an upcoming inspection, so the entire staff was to report to make sure we were ready. Before I left, Connie's water broke. We rushed to the hospital and she was admitted. The doctor said she wouldn't deliver for several hours and that I should go home. I decided to go into the stockade office as it was closer to the hospital.
I got the call in the early afternoon. Connie was going in to the delivery room. I arrived but couldn't see her. At 3:15, military time 15:15 on January 15 our baby was born. We had expected a girl, and had a girl's name all picked out. Our baby boy was a surprise. We had discussed Spencer, but decided on Scott.
He was all red from a rash. The doctor was using him as a case study. The military treated the new mothers like soldiers. They were in a ward with little privacy. "Mothers get up and go get your babies" was the call in the morning. We also found out the military would pay for every thing except Connie's meals, about $5.00 a day. Our bill for his entire delivery and care was less than $20.00.
50 years have passed. I assume some of my memories are not accurate as that happens more and more. The feelings are accurate. I still can feel the fear we had, the joy and relief and the love.
Thank you Connie for putting up with all of this and more and making our lives better. Thank you , Scott for being. Happy 50th!
