Employed 6 Part 4

Arriving in Reno in the late afternoon of the next day, l first stopped at a couple of Ben and Ted's favorite casino cabarets and then a couple of the lesser
ones before taking a cab to Ben's house. lt was near dark as we arrived  and l could immediately see that no one was home at either place;there was not a single light on at either of their homes. The cabby dropped me at the Golden Hotel, where l got a room, had dinner and then settled into the cabaret for the rest of the evening(Johnny Mathis and Abbot and Costello).(Henny Youngman     was at the Mapes)
The next day, l was up early, hoping to accomplish much, before catching the
evening train to Elko County.But, in the end, l accomplished nothing, put 275 
miles on the car l rented from Avis, and though l still had enough cash for my 
train ticket, l was 20 miles from the station when the train left it. On next day 2.0, l did better: l checked Ben and Ted's places for the last time before 8AM,
returned the rental and caught the MORNING TRAIN to Elko Co. This train,#28
runs eastbound between San Francisco and Chicago. lts counterpart, train #27
runs the same route westbound. They are both named the "Overland Express."
Those who rode it regularly called it "the Ox". It was a "Streamliner" of an order
only a little less opulent than #101 and #102, "The City of San Francisco" and 
"The City of Los Angeles".(all of the trains mentioned are Southern Pacific.)
l was home just a little after 3PM that day but that was not soon enough for my
Mom; she had assumed that l'd travel directly to home, without stops along the
way. So, two days in, she had worried herself up something fierce. And the worry became anger. When she saw me she lost it. She said she wouldn't allow
her home to be treated like a hotel and recommended the State Hotel if l was planning to "grace the town with my presence" for the night. l should have tried 
to calm her, maybe explain why l was late, but l didn't. Instead, l did an about-
face and headed for the hotel, to have some dinner and then to wait for the next east-bound train. Which would be #102, the City of LA, running  a little less than three hours late,that night. Making the arrival about 11PM. Soon after
my dinner was finished, l  moved to the hotel's lounge to wait. My Dad joined me soon after. He agreed that it was probably best that l skip the visit this time
and concentrate on what lay ahead for me. During that visit we put my miserable results at UNR behind us and optimistically looked toward my future
with the ASA.
l don't remember the first time l rode the train with my dad and mom but, growing up, l rode it many times. Usually, the destination was either Salt Lake City (actually Ogden) or Reno (actually Sparks). Those destinations were five or six hours away, a trip easily done while riding coach. The trip to Boston would require nearly six days. Railroad employees and their families ride the trains free of charge, even into the employee's retirement. But free-riders go by coach; if they want the comfort and convenience of a "roomette" (a small room
with a bed and a couch and its own rest room) they must pay for it. l had never
before traveled with a roomette (on trips of less than a day it's an ill-afforded extravagance)and l had no thought to get one, even though this trip would be many times the distance of any l'd taken before. But Dad thought of it and bought it for me.  His gift to me for my 18th birthday, he said.
So, later that evening, l found myself on SP #102, ensconced in my room after
a fine dinner and a visit to the club-car.
The train station in Boston is located on the first floor of the Manger Hotel. l 
found that very convenient. Arriving there on a train from Chicago l rented a room for the night, had breakfast in the hotel the next morning and caught the train to Ayer (the town where ASA has its HQ)all in the same building.
l arrived in Ayer a day early (thought tuesday was wednesday)and decided to go ahead and report in early and perhaps put myself on the good side of the First
Sargent. lt was good; On the day before the reporting date, l had his un-divided
attention. Happily, we hit it off. l said something self-deprecating about folks that don't know which day they're in, he laughed and we went from there. When
l asked how long it would take us to complete the testing and receive our assignments he said it varies depending on an individual's results: Passing your
first test can make you eligible for a second test or more.  Most will likely be here more than a month but less than two months.
He also told me that testing wouldn't involve everybody every day. lf one is not testing on a given day, work assignments may be given. They will include KP
(Kitchen Police),shoveling coal into furnaces,removing refuse from lawns, gardens and pathways, assisting with specific tasks. Usually you'll be assigned
to details only two or three days a week and rotating through the different jobs.
After all that, he offered me a way to avoid a situation which sounded like something l might find unpleasant. He needed a Day-Room Orderly who could
paint signs. A day room is a large living room. Actually, very large. Furnished with couches, stuffed chairs,coffee tables, a pool table, vending machines covered trash cans, two telephone booths and a brand new 1956, 21" TV.
(lt was actually delivered during my first two hours on my job as DRO). OK, so
l'd never painted a sign in my life. But l liked the DRO job, knew l could easily keep up with the demands of the job (basic house-keeping and topping off the vending machines)and since l was already into drawing, l'd just draw the signs
and then paint inside the lines. l told Sgt. Manning (Greg) as much. He agreed, but said, knowing that, he'd be looking very closely at my results. They turned
out fine.

Employed 6 part 3 Army

On our last day as civilians we were fed lunch and dinner and put up for the night at the National Hotel. The next morning, after breakfast, we were each given a bag lunch as we filed onto the bus to Fort Ord. (The Army travels on it's stomach). Arriving at the fort we had just enough time, before dinner, to go thru the many lines to be issued uniforms, shoes and boots and all that goes with them. After dinner we were treated to our first "formation" at which several
of our soon-to-be drill instructors gave welcoming addresses as well as pointers
toward successful soldiering.
l had a lot of fun in Basic. There was some slogging and crawling, in training. ln the mud, even. Lotsa marching, hiking. One day we actually hiked fifty miles
carrying fifty-pound packs,(in about eleven hours). We were taught all there is to know about the M-1 Garand rifle:Cleaning, assembling and dis-assembling,and
loading and firing. With instruction, comes testing. l'm pleased to report that l did quite well firing the M-1: scoring high in the "Sharp-Shooter" range. Only
two points short of "Expert Marksman" range;the top category.
Knowing that basic would be as close as l'd ever get to combat made every day
a lay-down. l put a lot of myself into it and did my best,(our peers are our most
severe critics).
Mom surprised me by showing up at Fort Ord  on the Saturday before the last week of Basic, to celebrate my 18th birthday. She had flown to Monterey and
rented a Chevy convertible. We visited the Seventeen-Mile Drive, Carmel By The
Sea, Pacific Grove, and of course, Fisherman's Wharf.
During that last week of Basic, our C.O. spent a half-hour-or-so with each recruit, to let us know where we'll be assigned and what we'll probably be doing.
He told me that l would be reporting to ASA HQ in Fort Devens, Mass. There, to 
be tested to determine what job in the ASA would best fit my abilities. One test
measures language aptitude.A high score could result in an invitation to attend
The Army Language School. Those graduating there are considered the top 1%
of the Army.(for whatever that's worth).The captain said that there are many
occupational specialties at ASA. Al's (students' nickname for A.L.S.) is probably the most-sought of the ASA schools (Monterey is a nice place to go to school, no
matter what you study, and becoming proficient in another language can be a
big plus for anyone. l certainly agreed with that and so soon after visiting Monterey for the first time, l liked the idea of spending up to a year there. But,
l dropped out of High School Spanish in the first month of my freshman year and never had another thought about languages. l was pretty sure l wouldn't be
returning to Monterey any time soon.
My orders gave me ten days to report to ASA HQ, so my first stop on the way
back to Elko county was reno; l was anxious to share my news with Ted and Ben. 

Employed 6 part 2 Army

As the three of us walked back to Ben's house l told them the details of my visit with the sargent, including the O.C.S. test that l almost passed, which the sargent said made it likely that l'd easily pass the ASA test. "And, Ted said, if you've never been in jail, you can count on passing the FBl investigation. l think
you have the ASA in your future!
l thought he was right and l said so, but l couldn't be sure until after basic training. l resolved to proceed as if l was sure of the outcome. That meant l should return to Elko County to tell my folks the good news, visit with friends, sell my car and a few other personal items and return to the Reno recruiting ofc
by 8:00 AM on Feb.5,1956.(the sargent's instructions).
By the time we got to Ben's house, l had brought them up to date on my schedule,apologized for sucking up all their valuable training, only to then do a change of venue, etc. both of them were completely supportive,though and had no problem with my new plan. When l told them l needed to leave on the train 
which would leave in little more than two hours they complained some but said,
"we better get you packed." They drove me to the train station in Sparks. We 
shared good wishes, 'till we meet agains and hugs. l boarded the train and was never to see either of them again.
No one was happy to see me at home;aren't you supposed to be in school? And 
it got worse when l shared the details of my departing UNR. l was surprised to learn that both of my parents still seemed convinced that l could be a succesfull
engineering student, and thought the Army was a big mistake. l explained that l had no love for the Army, either. But if this goes as planned, after three years l will have satisfied my military obligation and even if l'm recalled at some future
time, l can't be assigned to a unit that could be involved in combat, once l've 
worked for ASA. That part, they liked. They well knew of my fervent desire to
avoid forever the hell of combat in war. They seemed amused  but also, in
some way congratulatory. And obviously not for the way l exited UNR. That
would be a sore spot for some time. (for some). But my having found the solution to a problem that had perplexed me for years, really did please my mom. She wasn't a big fan of my studying engineering anyway. She had always
liked my drawing and drafting and she encouraged me to stay active in that,
whatever else l might do.
As l boarded the train in Elko about 11pm on Feb. 4, the temperature was 
minus 25 degrees F. Arriving in reno at about 7am, the temp was plus 25. l was
on-time at the recruiting ofc., as were the other five inductees who would also make the trip to SanFrancisco that day and presumably on to Fort Ord, like me.
As our pilot prepared to land in San Francisco he announced that Pacific Standard Time was 10:49AM, Temperature, 62 degrees F. l thought to myself:
When you have put the Army behind you, you're going to come here to make
your home. And don't forget that.


.

Employed 6 ,part 1 Army

That day, Monday January 12,1956 would mark the end of my near life-long quest to avoid the fore-mentioned Hell of combat in wars that America seemed
(still seems) to adore. l know, not all of America, but you gotta admit; the ones
who have some product to sell the war effort, or have other ways to profit from
it, will do whatever they can to keep 'em happening. How many are going right now?
l arrived at the recruiting office a couple minutes after it opened and was immediately introduced to and seated at the desk of MasterSargent Jack Harper.
He had seen action in Korea as a combat infantryman, but didn't seem to revile
my cowardly search for a way to avoid "fighting for my country". ln fact, he told 
me that soldiers assigned to ASA or any where else in the military services are
making their unique contribution and Uncle Sam appreciates every single one of them.
Sgt. Harper verified everything Ted and Ben had told me about ASA and added
some more detail:The Army tests all inductees for aptitudes and l.Q. during the first couple of weeks of basic training. Results of that testing will largely determine your assignment;very high scores might buy you an invitation to
Officer's Candidate School. A somewhat lesser score will be required to be as-
signed to one of the security services (like ASA). Those who request assignment
to ASA or another security service will be the subject of a background investigation which is conducted by the F.B.l. Usually,the results of that are in
before the inductee completes basic training. lf everything has checked out as hoped, after basic one will have two weeks for a little time off and the trip to ASA HQ in a little town about forty miles from Boston. The first week is all testing with the goal of determining the occupation best suited to the individual
soldier's abilities and whether or not the Army Language School will be a part of the experience.
When it was time to sign up l hesitated a bit: l wanted some assurance that l could pass the test for ASA. Could l take it before actually signing up? lf l fail
the test after signing, there's no telling where l might wind up. Right now, the
National Guard has me covered, but l'd rather complete three years in the Army
and have my "military obligation" satisfied at discharge,  than spend years in the Guard.
He had O.C.S. tests which, he said, were (obviously) more difficult than the basic
test given to all recruits. l could try it, he would correct it and if l got a good score on that l could almost certainly pass the ASA entry exam. So, l took the
exam, he corrected it, showed me my passing score: lf l understood what the Sgt. showed me, l was only a few answers short of passing the O.C.S. test. He
then assured me l,d have no trouble being assigned to ASA.
l was signing the contract to spend three years in the US ARMY when Ben & Ted
came through the door both grinning ear to ear when they noticed me with  pen
in hand.