I grew up hating big band music because I thought it was all like Lawrence Welk! How wrong I was! The big band era had some of the hottest musicians that ever lived and the writing of the best hits of the day equals anything of any era. The problem is that all the old stars got old, fat, bald, and it didn't resonate with my era (rock lovers born in 1950)
I'm with you, Al. 👍 I was drafted in 1968 and sent to Fort Polk for basic training. I extended for an additional year in Reception Station to avoid becoming an 11Bravo. AIT at Tigerland held no interest. The Army promised me a school for the additional year - and they made good on their promise. I (smartly) choose the LONGEST school available which was a 48 week language course at DLI in Washington D.C.. As it turned out a great decision on my part. I delayed going to Vietnam for 2 years and didn't arrive until 1970. Much better than 1968! I also hated the first day, the last day, and every day in between at Fort Polk. They damn near killed me - lost 60 pounds in 8 weeks, but the drill Instructors were trying to prepare young men for war. So many from Fort Polk were sent to Vietnam directly after AIT. Glad you made it home and hope you had a good life. ✌
This had to be before 1968 because that was the last year of the M-14 rifle was authorized for use by the U.S. Army. I don't remember if we had 'scores' when we qualified. We sited in our rifles and shot at targets. You took three shots, and kept doing it until you had a 'shot group' (that could be covered by a quarter) of three rounds close enough to show your weapons sites were aligned. Then we proceeded to shoot at targets 100s of yards away. So far in fact, that you'd fire, and lower your weapon to watch the round hit or miss. I was fortunate enough to qualify as 'Expert' with the M-14 and M-16, so I finished my qualifying very early. It allowed me to sit in the shade during the hot summer sun in Jersey that year. Those of us who finished early, loaded magazines in a small covered building that looked like a booth at a carnival, and handed the ammo out to the guys who were still qualifying.
I had basic in 1968 at Fort Dix, NJ. Almost as hot and humid as 'Nam that summer!! We had to quality with both the M-14 and M-16 that summer because the army was making the change to all M-16s in Vietnam. This was back when the drill sgt. could knock you around if he felt the need to. There was a SGT. Hardy, who used a jockey's horse whip on his recruits when they were not sounding off while running laps at 5 in the morning.
I don't understand the video and the audio syncing LOL I'm probably either missing something or I'm too young to get it, but still, thank you for sharing this. It was pretty funny even without context lol. Freberg is really funny and more talented than I had known since I heard him as a child from my father.
I was in 'basic' in 1968. The TI screamed with his face about 1" from my face. The language was filled with F-bombs. Each of us seemed to have a day set aside where we would be picked on, I guess to see how fast we learned and well we could take it. Every night we spent our time polishing our combat boots until they were glossy, shiny black. From 5am until 5pm it was constant training. Mornings started with an hour of exercise and running a lap before and after. Then marching until noon. Afternoons were all class room work to learn about the military, its commands, and the mission of each command. I survived on pure adrenalin. I was scared to death. We were all told that if we f*ck up, the TI will make sure we get sent to Nam. I don't know if that was possible but I wasn't about to find out! I lost about 30 pounds during basic. I went in at 173. When I arrived at my tech school base, I weighed 143 fulling dressed wearing my combat boots. All my uniforms had to be tailored! One and done. I did my bit for 'God and country'. The lottery system didn't start till early 1969 so some people I knew from high school 'skated' and got a high enough lottery number they were never called up. Me? I got drafted right out of college. They changed my deferment from 2S to 1S (which meant the local draft board could draft you if they needed to fill their quota). About a month later, I received my "Greetings letter from LBJ" saying I'd been drafted into the US military. Afterwards, I went to college on the GI Bill.
Boot camp Navy 1972...we were out of our racks immediately. No wondering, eye rubbing. Reveille at 0500. You had to explode out of your rack and pop tall. Everything was done fast, fast, and faster.
We laugh about it now, but not back then. This video has definitely been edited, leaving out the real crap we endured. But, the results made ‘Troops’ out of us. “All the way, and then some”. O yeah, by the way, we were issued new boots after week five. They were following apart. And, our CO was Special Forces!
Did Basic at Leonard Wood in 72, never went back during my 27 years. As a civilian contractor I got to go back and it was a shocker. During basic we seemed to march every where in the dark and we marched forever. In the daylight in a rental car I was surprised how close everything was. My barracks were still being used but most of the other buildings were gone. I still wonder what happened to the guy that went AWOL.
Wonder how many of those kids did not come back. I joined the Army in 1967, was medically retired in 1972 after a bad experience skydiving. Thank God the Army still treated women like women while I was in the Army.
We loved this, and all of Freberg's recordings. I understand that Lawrence Welk got legally feisty. I am reminded of Jay Ward's "Rocky and Bullwinkle" show, with the Kerward Derby, a spoof on Durward Kerby, the rather bland straight man to Gary Moore. Jay Ward Productions got a Cease and Desist order from Kerby's attorney, threatening a lawsuit. Ward challenged them to sue, promising to pay ALL legal expenses for both parties. to me sure, Durward Kerby lives on, only from Jay Ward's spoof.
Did basic Ft Ord we never were measured for uniform they looked at you and handed you your new clothes, then you packed up your civilian clothes to ship home then 5 weeks later they have you contact home to ship your clothes back.
Drafted ‘71, a year out of college and sent to Basic at Polk. Even today as I watch this video it brings back such memories. I hated every second of it until a long letter from my girl friend (now my wife) inspired me to take matters into my own hands. It was what I needed and suddenly I discovered ways to “fight back” on my terms. It’s a skill I’ve used every day of my life. Although a rough start I actually came away with skills, tactics, and a tenacity I’ve used all my life. Looking back, the Army taught me, and I never realized it. As I’ve grown old and reevaluate my life I owe everything I learned during my time to this very trying time in my life. May God Bless all those men and women that have served and serve today keep them safe. I pray they will one day look back with pride and honor to their service.
I just watched her performance on the Lawrence Welch show she gave me chills I started crying she touched my heart RIP MS.QUEEN DORSEY and thank you God bless us all 😢🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💕💕💕💕
I used to make Willa Dorsey Cassette Tapes for her to sell in Oregon. Back in the 90’s, one rainy night I jumped on a bus to go see Willa sing in person, at a local church. Unforgetable voice! 🙏❤️
I enlisted in July 1966 as a Private E-1. Twenty-six years later I retired in July 1992 as a lieutenant colonel. It was an interesting life and I wouldn't change a thing.
Interesting to think that just 5 years after this was recorded, WPKM would change its format to Top 40/Hit Radio and its call letters to WRBQ (Q105). One of the earliest FM radio stations in the country to enter this format and remain successful in it for years.
My uncle did his basic training here, after Vietnam he came home worked in construction, eventually got lost in the bottle and went missing, my mother cries for him to this day, they where from Mexico, came here in the 50s she use to take care of him while my grandparents would work, she changed his diapers fed him his bottle, she said he was like her son. My mother named me after him, as she said I was a spitting image of him, I’m 31 married and two girls, I’m in the process of joining the army, I passed my asvab passed MEPS, now waiting on a waiver then I’ll hopefully be headed to ft Jackson to start my basic, either June or July. My mom is taking it a little rough, but I’m not going to be an infantryman, I’ll be working on tanks, Abrams. Wife and daughters are very supportive. God willing all goes through and I’m able to finalize my contract.
Very sad to hear about the difficulties your uncle experienced, but his army service and sacrifice speak highly for him and we are very grateful to him. Congratulations also to you for your decision to serve. This month marks 60 years since I entered Basic at Ft. Jackson, (as a 2-year draftee), and I greatly value that time in the military. Your own time in the Army will be what you make of it, but I think you will someday look back on your decision as one of the best you have made in your life! Thanks for your comment -
I went there with my family in the late 50's and early 60's as a young child. My fondest memories was going to the Super-Test amusement park and the Sea breeze restaurant. I especially enjoyed riding the carousel, the ice cream, and corn dogs. If I remember correctly, when you filled up at the gas station, your purchase was free if the pump stopped on an even dollar amount.
“ Help ah, Help ah, turn off the bubbles….Help ah…” Stan was beyond genius in this and many other satires. A friend had this record in my college dorm in the 1970s and it was right up there with Firesign Theater as our go to comedy fav .
You can hear the Lemmon Sisters sing “Thank you for all the cards and letters from all you folks out there in television land” around the halfway point of SVENGOOLIE. I love it!
The only thing I can think of would be to search in eBay under the terms Fort _ _ _ _ or Ft. _ _ _ _. The 2 spellings of "Fort" could produce different results. Good luck!
