Journal the Last, 1.4

Journal the Last ©
Book 1 Part 4

Journal Contents

December 21, 1969, Date Summary
Jul 10, 1969 Went to Navy Recruiter (Criscola)
Jul 15, 1969 Went to Columbia for Physical & Tests
Jul 22, 1969 Clemson & Navy Recruiter, started Paper Work. Took Bob along
Jul 30, 1969 Drove to Columbia -- enlisted in 120 Day Program (Navy Reserve) 3:00PM
Jul 20, 1969 4:17:42, Moon Landing
Aug 7, 1969 Navy Recruiter with Joel.

September 25 thru October 5, 1969, Summary
Took a vacation by myself to the Beach & Cape Hatteras. Details in summary sheet. Went to movies a lot the last three days, Oliver, Gayful Deceiver, The CHAIRMAN

October 6, 1969 thru October 21, 1969
Lazy Days with boring routine of Television, eat & sleep. Went to some movies with Dad & Mom "Oliver" and Bob and others.

During the last Days of this period I built some Book cases which sit in the Den. So I spent some time organizing books to put on them plus getting things in order for my leave

October 22, 1969
Spent the Day eating, and talking, Joel was homoe for a couple of days. Dad & Joel and I left about 3:30 P.M., watied a while at the Bus Station.

The Bus left at 5:30 so I was on my way. The Bus made several stops along the Old Road Down. Had a long wait at the Station in Columbia with some others.

Got on Base about 12:00 midnight.

October 23, 1969
Slept in some old Barracks til 5:30. Thought a while before I tried to sleep. Most of the Day was spent waiting. Signed more papers and was IN ACTIVE NAVY AT 3:00 PM.

After this there ws more waiting in the same Barracks. The Group going to Orlando gathered i the Bus so they swapped Jokes and I listen, there was 10 of us with our orders. We left for the Train at 8:30. At the Station we waited some more wehre I did a little woundering (sic).

The Train Ride was a new experience.

Two month summary: {Probably written while at Beach in Sep 1969 for the July period}
The days were filled with work at night and sleep during the day with few exceptions. Unforanatly it was not the other way. The last entry is dated july 6 so between july the six and ninth I simply worked and slept. On the tenth however Imade my decision I went to wee the Navy recuiter. On this day I got home from work showered and left for Greenville. We talked from eleven to twelve. I made arrangements to go to Columbia on the fifteenth. Had lunch at Morrison's. Again the eleventh to fourteenth was work and sleep, with a new worry. How to tell Dad I was going to Columbia for my physical and testing. The afternono before I told Mom my problem. In the evening Dad. There was no show but I could tell the tension was there anyway. The last few hours before I left I watched television and when that went off I sat and reas some of The Ring. At three-thirty on the fifteenth I left for Greenville. Waited till five parked my car got in the back of the government wagon and we left. I switched cars on the road. At Columbia at twenty til seven we stop at a resturant outside the gates. By seven-twenty i was in the crowd at building 1237. The AFQT was First. Then came the physical. There was only one physically fit boy in the crowd. After the physical, lunch at twelve-thirty; my first government free meal though not Army chow. After lunch it was wait few minutes then head for home in the afternoon sun. At Greenville we went to the office for a few minutes then I and one of the boys from Anderson left. I took him home. He mentioned that my offer was a good sign of human brothership. We stoped to get gas then it was petty conversion the rest of the time. Idrove from Anderson alone. The sixteenth was the Apollo eleven liftoff so I watched television after work this day. The days of the Moon Mission were added to my thoughts of work and sleep. On the twentith I watched television til two-thirty of the twenty-first. On the twenty-second I drove to Clemson to get a transcript then to Navy Recuiter. I had Bod for company on this trip. At the Navy R. I signed the first Military Contract and thus started the paper work for enlistment. We ate at Morrison's.

Nest came the return of the Apollo eleven. This was mixed with work and sleep. Then the big day. July thirty. On the thirtyth I left for Columbia at Three i the morning. I traveled alone. Arrived at six-thirty. Waited in the car till seven-twenty went inside building 1237. Had a quick physical. Then from eight-thiryt to two forty I waited and waited and waited. Broken by lunch. At two forty I signed more papers: benificiary, reserve contract, allotment papers. Then waited till three oclock. Went to ceremony room and was sworn into the reserve. Waited for orders then left the building at three thirty. Had a cigerette, then left for home.

Last, one day in August the seventh or fifteenth, I went to take some more test in Greenville.

The Days of August were only work and sleep. The last day i worked was August 30 in winding. Made a weekend trip to LonePine in Pisgah on Labor Day with Dad and Mom. The next few days were filled with television, food and sleep. Went out to Duke to watch them move the steam generators.

Packed the little car and left for the beach on September Twelveth.

Friday, September 19, 1969
Dad, Mom,
     The excursion to Cap Hatteras was without any drastic trouble. After I called, I looked at the map again and decided it would be better to travel up by night since I was only going to spend the day there. I left about 8:00 that evening. Everything went smoothly, except the night driviing, through Wilmington, Jacksville, New Bern, and Washington (N>C>). In Wilimington I glanced at the USS North Carolina as I went by it. Got to Washington about 1:00. I figured the way from Washington to the coast would be through small towns, but I past up the last gas station anyway. The gas needle kept getting lowere and the small towns were locked up for the night. I made it to Engelhard; it was 40 miles to the next town and I didn't have enough gas. So from two-fifteen in the morning til 7:00, I slept in the back seat, parked at a Texaco place outside of the town. The Texaco was not open so I drove into town, about 150 yards, to an ESSO. Filled up and made it to the coast in a little over an hour. The stay-over in Engelhard was the only inconvenience, but it was a different experience.
     Driving in the daylight from Engelhard, I could see that the land was different, flat and swampy. Engelhard itself was a small town like a nice, cosy, village, community on the harbor. Had a boat inlet even. I would imagine growing up at Engelhard, one would hear many sea tales from the old about Blackbeard and other pirates who used Pamlico Sound as a hide away.
     Driving down the Cap is another unusual experience. The road is on a long piece of land, sometimes a mile and half wide. I could loo to the East and see water as far as the eye could see, and look to the West and see water as far as the eye could see. Actually from the road, the water to the East can not be seen, hidden from view by twenty foot sand dunes two hundred yards fro the road. In some places, after a storm or hurrican, the old road was sanded under by the dunes and a new road had to be paved farther to the West. There are two or three more small communities on the Cape. To live on the Cape, I am sure, would be quite an experience.
     There are 75 miles to the Cape; I drove only as fas as the Hatteras Lighthouse which would leave about 30 miles or less. The Hatterass Lightouse is at the Eastern most point on the Cape. The entiere Cape has been made a National Seashore Park. The Park operates a Campground which is 700 yards south-southeast of the lighthouse. There is little or no shade, but for a weekend or three days the trip would be its worth. You should go up to the Cape some time.
     It was ten by the time I got to the lighthous and it was a little over a day since I shaved. So I went to the campgrounds. No one at the office, so I went in without any fee. The buildings have no shower, only a wash basin. Met a boy -- from Virginia. After I washed and shaved I drove over to the lighthouse and museum. The museum was interesting, but I only glanced around. One could spend a day just in the Hatteras area. Next I climbed the Lighthouse. It is not a true lighthouse; it is a light tower with the caretaker's home about 150 yards off. It does have the spirial stairs inside. From the observation platform just below the beacon, I could see the Cape the way it really looks, long and narrow to the North, the most Eastern point to the south-south east, woods and Hatteras to th south west, pamlico Sound to the West. The immediate area to the south is shrubs, the campground is in the shrubs. The Ranger's home and a Coast Guard Station also in this area. A Navy Station to the very immediat North.
     With the binacolars I could see the light Beacon some miles out in the Ocean, it is on a platform like the offshore oil rigs. On the way back up the coast, I stopped at one of the turn outs. It was away from any popolus area, so I thought I would find some good shells. Walking up and down the Cape one could find most anything. I saw: one large sand crab, several large -- broken -- shells, wooden beams and boards, one crate from USS Independence -- emtpty, one Army gallon container, plastic pillows, cushions, one empty Scotch and one Empty Bourbon. I am sure it would be very interesting and profitable to hike the 75 miles of The Cape.
     Next I went to Kitty hawk, after I failed to find an open resturant -- I stopped at a bakery instead. Kitty Hawk was interesting and moving -- I stood where the Wright Brothers first flew. I also climbed Kitty Hawk Hill, the one with the monument on it. I left Kitty Hawk about 3:15. Near Nags Head i past some sand dunes -- 300 feet high and an easy million square yard of surface sand. I climbed them; it was like being on a desert.
     I cam back the way I went, saw some of the land I didnt see the night before. It started to rain about 6:00. Outside New Bern I stopped at Nick and I Resturant. It was a good Rib Steak diner for 3.25. After dinner it rainded - drizzled -- rained all the way back. Outside of Wilmington I picked up a Sailor. He was going to Jacksonville Fla. to get his car and drive back to Norfolk, Vig. He was about my age plus or minus six months. He has been in 3 1/2 years. Bill left high school after his junior year. (Probably enlisted becasue of the draft) Bill is a Boiler's Mate 3rd class so he is glad there is only six more months. He suggested Iget into electronics, radioman or yeoman. He said I should take a car to the base when I am i school. Bill was welcome company after six hours of driving. He seemd like a nice kid in uniform, but I would not bet any money on his suggestions until i knew the facts myself. We Got to lakewood at eleven. I let him out at the gate and we exchanged well wishes. I pulled on into the entrence, parked. I got out, lit a cigarette and watched him walk down the road. I saw him picked up and as the car pulled out 'It was peace, Bil.'