photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Roger Nordstrom | profile | all galleries >> Service to My Country >> Vietnam 1970-1971: A Grunt Remembers >> Basic Training - Ft. Ord >> Graduation tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Graduation

The day finally came, Graduation. I graduated from Basic training on 24 March 1970 and was to report to Ft. Knox, KY no later than 1200 hours, 26 April 1970.

It was a big day. We were now soldiers and ready to serve our country. Lots of family members came to the graduation ceremony and we strutted out stuff in front of them. Now it was time to go off to our various AIT units and learn the job that we would have for the rest of our time with the Army.

My mom and both of my brothers came up to Ft. Ord for the graduation. I was even able to spend a few hours off base with them. We went to the room they rented and had a nice time. It was the first time I had been out of the Army’s sight and it was nice to feel the fleeting moment of freedom. The time away was short since I had to be in Kentucky on Sun 26 April.
Marching in Formation
Marching in Formation		 Marching in Formation
Marching in Formation		 Spectators
Spectators		 Captain Spilberg
Captain Spilberg
Barracks
Barracks		 Graduate (No I'm not talking on a cell phone)
Graduate (No I'm not talking on a cell phone)		 Mom and I
Mom and I		 Robert, Myself and Ralph
Robert, Myself and Ralph

comment | share
Paul Gomez 22-Oct-2018 17:51
C-3-3. Arrived for BCT Aug 1965. Vietnam 1966-67.
Michael Pedersen 18-Feb-2018 05:44
C-1-3 January-March 1973.... Retired 1 December 1999
....
Ronald Bertao 31-May-2017 16:01
Jan 1970 basic on the hill A-3-3 then AIT wooden barracks B-1-2 its all gone now a time in my life I will never forget. Thanks for your story.
Robert Adams 19-Jul-2016 20:47
Drafted 11MAY70 Ft.Ord/graduated 7.11.70 C-5-1 in new barracks then to AIT Ft. Sam H. (Sgt. Winegar Drill Sgt "I couldn't care less!")
anybody oout there?
Mick Calkins 13-Aug-2015 20:22
Took a ride up the coast to Monterey and stop by the old Fort Ord.The old wooden barracks are just about gone,and they are getting ready to demolish the concrete barracks on the hill!City of Marina is wasting no time building eyesore buildings alongside Pacific Coast Highway 1. I understand progress,but they need to think about the skyline view they're demolishing!They sure don't mind destroying Fort Ords History! When you're a City Council Person you
think about tax revenues and giving yourself a big raise and don't care about skylines or Fort Ords History!
Mick Calkins 20-Sep-2014 20:54
Arrived at fort ord early morning 5 sept 67 graduated 10 Nov 67. Remember leaning marching drills
With the not yet solder behind me kicking my heels! The drill sergeant let him know everybody else
in the platoon must be marching out of step! Your left,your left, your left right left. Mighty Mighty
D 4 1!
Vicio Malo 05-Jul-2014 16:45
I served my basic at ft. ort...oct 22 thru xmas 1970 Delta Company 2nd Battalion 1st Brigade 6th Army (D21). It was a lot of fun...like visiting the dentist to have a tooth pulled..."The Hill", as it was known, was a row of company hq's alpha, bravo, Charlie, delta, echo...as far as you could see...running to the rifle range was my favorite...prepared us for torture...good memories...thank you for the post VM
jeff lawrence 16-May-2014 21:37
Aug.69, reception and then D-1-3 concrete barracks froze all the time. 12 hour break from basic to AIT. Eleven Bravo AIT down by the old parade grounds. WW2 wooden barracks, C-1-2 had to rake dirt under the barracks remember seeing German graffiti from WW2. Everywhere we trained, no cattle trucks but company airborne shuffle, always just a step ahead of the Benning shake and bake E-5's. Graduated and all went to Nam. !st Cav, 2nd Batt, FSSE, attached to the 5th of the 7th, and the 1st of the 9th Song Be RVN
Guest 13-Jan-2014 03:30
Wow, that was many moons ago. In 1964 I went through Basic Training at Ord, in D-1-1
Darrel Johnson 18-Nov-2012 04:41
I took basic at Ord in May 1970...left Texas 90 degree heat and stood at edge of pacific
ocean clift that night in 45 degree temps. Funny how tough times leave the best memories when it's all over. I ended up as a troop movement specialtist at Ord. I was
the soldier that picked you up at the parade grounds and took you in buses to airports
in california....exciting job....so many guys told me....I'm on the way to nam...I always
said a prayer for each group. Hold on to these old memories they are part of us all.
click on thumbnails for full image