Army Transportation OCS Vietnam Era 1966-1968

  I remember Colonel Coffey for allowing me to remain in my class (15-67) after spending a week in the hospital. He told me I should be recycled to 16-67 however, if I kept up the academic and physical grades of 70% or higher I could continue. The last thing I wanted to be was an intermediate candidate subordinate to the senior class I should be in! After graduating I thanked him for the opportunity.

  I was in the 1st Platoon and our TAC Officer was 2nd Lt Davis. He was an excellent officer who made our experience more interesting and tolerable as we all acclimated to the harassment he and others dished out. He went through our living quarters every morning and circled spots on the mirrors in our bathroom and circled them with lipstick and the bold word (Sloopy). From that time on we all referred to him as Lt Sloopy and it somehow gave all of us in the 1st Platoon a rallying point that eased all the tensions we had to endure. I’m sure everyone in our platoon will have a big laugh over this, Somehow this was a pivotal moment tickled our motivation to take everything in stride.

  I was in TOCS class 20-67, Echo One. During the first 15 weeks or so, I had several assignments in the candidate chain of command but nothing that made me stand out or come under special scrutiny. On Sunday afternoon we had a new candidate chain of command installed, and I thought, oh man, I can “skate” because I had no assignment that coming week.   The following day, Monday, we were in formation after lunch about to march back to class. I heard a familiar voice, with a Georgia twang that I recognized as that of Captain Shelton Wood. He said, “Candidate Cousins, report!” He had never done that before, to anyone, so I thought I was being dropped from the program, where I would revert to being an Infantry PFC and shipped to Viet Nam.   I reported to CPT Wood, and the rest of the company marched off down the street toward the classroom. CPT Wood said, “Follow me candidate.” He led me into the day room and asked, “What do you see Candidate?” I was pretty nervous but po...