Charles Morrison's Fort Devens Photo Page
--- CHARLES MORRISON > deerhunter@msys.net wrote:
Hi Bill: Want to congratulate you on a great page for Fort Devens, Mass.
It brought back some good memories. My name is Charles M. Morrison. I served in the U.S. Army Security Agency from January 28, 1965 through July 31, 1968.
I picked my M.O.S. before volunteering for a 4 year hitch. Thank goodness, I scored high enough on my battery tests to qualify for ASA. I feel we were part of the Cream of the Crop! But it takes all Branches and MOS's working together to win. I entered Basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri on October 24, 1964 and graduated on January 7, 1965. We loaded up that afternoon and flew to D.C. and then up the coast line to Mass. I remember some of the guys didn't like it because we did not have to A.I.T.
I entered 05H.20 Intercept school on January 28, 1965 and passed that. They then sent me on to 05D.20 Operator school. Last but not least, on September 27, 1965 they sent me to 05D.30 Special Ident. Operator school. Well, sick of snow and school, I tried to purposely fail out of the school. But my Instructor called me outside and and told me to buckle down, that the school would be over before they could cut my orders. I swear that guy could read my mind. So I did as he said and graduated on December 12, 1965.
While attending the schools, I was one of those nuts that wore the blue scarf around the neck with our ASA patch on it, Known as the USASATC Honor Guard. After a short time I made Squad leader, then Platoon Sgt. and finally climbing to the top, Field First (E-7). I enjoyed the many parades we went on, Boston, Mass.(51/2 mile march), Keene, N.H. and North and South Attleborough, Conn. and many others that my mind can't remember. It prepared us for O.C.S. and taught discipline and how to dress sharp. The spit shine shoes, Floors, and practice marching in rain and snow, and cold, etc. kept us out of trouble.Our day room and our sign. An arrow points to me. Picture 1, Picture 2
USASATC Honor Guard at Attleboro, Mass. Picture
Formation for St. Patrick Day Parade at Boston, Mass. Picture
1st Platoon marching at Boston, Mass. Picture
1st and 2nd Platoon Honor Guard marching in a parade 7-17-65
at Conway, N.H. PictureParade at North Conway, N.H. - Picture 1, Picture 2
Marching in the rain. Picture
I remember that Buck Sgt. Long was over the Honor Guard. He was short , but could cut you down to his size in a short order. Every morning there was push-up, and P.T. no matter the weather.
At times we would slip out the hole in the fence at the back and would follow the railroad tracks down to Ayer, Mass. Then we would slip back in before they caught us. Pretty cool, except when you heard someone coming or going and you would hide to see if it was a Sgt. or Officer.
At the completion of 05D.30 schooling on December 12, 1965, I was promoted to PFC E-3. I was on leave until January 5, 1966 in which, I had to report to Port of Call at Oakland U.S. Army Personnel Center.("yippee" if you remember). On January 14, 1966 my orders were cut for Bangkok, Thailand 5th RRU (also changed later to 83rd RRSOU). On April 27, 1966 they changed my MOS from 05D.30 to 05D.20 and shipped me north to Chang Mai, Thailand known as Det "C". They were kind enough to give me $18.76 for traveling expenses according to my orders.5th RRU Chaing Mai, Thailand -
Monsoon season made it hard to get to and from work.
Charles Morrison and the 3/4 ton truck. Work is in the background.
This picture was taken the day all of us at Det "C" had to shave off our Mustaches by orders from Bangkok Hdq. Buckner is the one in the top right and I'm in the bottom right.
By July 5, 1966, I made Spec. 4. On December 1, 1967, I received my Good Conduct Metal and was a Spec 5 at the time. I kept extending my tour until the time of my discharge on July 31, 1968. (Approx. 2 1/2 yrs). The recruiters tried selling us a package to re-up but couldn't convince me. As I was going thru all my copies of orders that I retained, I found some of the following documents:
1. Copy of orders to report to the "Passport Section with $1.00
2. "Casual mail call & Free postage service" with instructions on how to address envelopes.
3. Copy of " Transit Enlisted Policies at Oakland
4. Copy of "Incoming Processing Sheet"
5. Copy of "History of Venereal Diseases at Thailand. Do you remember the pictures? (Nasty)
6. "Request to Issue Turn-in"
7. 6 copies of "Military Standby Auth. for Commercial Travel to Home"Anyway, I'm going to try scanning some pictures of the Honor Guard while I was at Ft. Devens and myself some time soon. I am proud to have been a part of the ASA, to serve with some of America's best! My hats off to my counter parts that served at Phu Bai, Viet Nam. I don't know your RRU unit number. But you all did a great job. (And no, we did not use speed keys as some thought). Last but now least, my hat's off to the 55, 000+- that gave their lives for this great land. But shame on the Politicians and some of the Officers who made bad decisions and pointed the fingers at the ASA! I've never seen a fight or battle won just slapping fingers or hands and that is what our Government tried to do. Many thanks to Tim Olson who guided me to this web page.
" ASA ALL THE WAY"
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Charlie Morrison's Email is deerhunter@msys.net
Copyright © Charles Morrison, 2001-2004. All Rights Reserved.
