Page 112 - Firehouse Pond

Try to imagine being nineteen, not well educated, and finding yourself on a

team of soldiers given the responsibility of always being on-call to respond to
any EOD incident.

You need to understand I was NOT on the “THE” team that disarmed
anything. I was on the “support” team that rendered assistance to the “THE”
team. We performed tasks such as traffic and crowd control. Exposure is the
name of the game when it comes to EOD. I was “too close” for comfort the

very first time. Enough said.

Once upon a time, way back when, I earned a weekend pass for being the

“best-prepared soldier” during an inspection.

Upon returning to my unit and while signing back in from enjoying three days

of exploring central Germany, on a PFC’s salary, the unit First Sergeant
yelled at me to report to his office immediately.

RADAR, I DID BECOME

The unit was short-handed and needed a company clerk. The First Sergeant
reassigned me to the unit Orderly Room as the company clerk. Radar, I did

become. (If you watched MASH on TV, you understand). I was ready,
willing and able. Get me out of the warehouse please and thank you, First
Sergeant.

With that move, a little reading, and a few tests, I was awarded the
Administrative Specialist MOS as my secondary (SMOS) job description.

I was a good soldier and later promoted to Specialist Fifth Class and Sergeant
in that MOS.

The First Sergeant (TOP), mentored me. He explained the ins and outs of
becoming a professional soldier and how to survive and excel where others
would fail.