On Halloween, 1967, 40 + of us landed at Dego , and I was the man with the records. I found two Marines at a podium type desk and told them who I was and where the rest were. A Sgt (non-DI) had me lead the rest to him, and he took us out side and we got on a green school bus. Then it started! It was like throwing a light switch, from nice Sgt to DI attitude.
“No talking on my bus! No smoking on my bus! No chewing gum on my bus! If you’re chewing gum, get rid of it, and I don’t mean under the seat. Swallow it!” I knew my life had just changed.
The rest of the ride was in complete silence. The bus pulled up outside a building (the barber shop), then, “When you get off this buss you will see yellow foot prints. Find a set and stand in them, and no talking. Do you hear me?” We weekly replied “Yes, sir.” “DO YOU HEAR ME?” “YES SIR!” we yelled. “Now get off my bus!”
Talk about being in a state of shock. We stood there and they had the first 8 go into the barber shop to get haircuts. 4 in the chairs, and one in front of each chair waiting our turn. I remember a guy in a chair that had shoulder length blond hair. In less time than it takes to tell about it, his hair was on the ground and he was out of the chair. All I remember is that it felt like I just sat down when the barber yelled, “get out.” My head felt cold standing in the night air.
I was definitely in a state of shock.
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