30 Years Ago; A Military Memory
by Greg Jacobs

I was in basic training, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.   It was a Saturday, a hot, July day in the middle of America.  Apollo 11 landed on the moon and there was an excitement throughout the camp.  But, it was basic training, and the weekend routine varied little.  As usual, we were in bed early.  But, for some reason, our drill sergeants or company commander decided we should witness this event in greater detail so, at 2100 hours, more or less, we were awakened, told to just put on a few clothes but not full uniforms, and in a light rain we were marched over to one of our classrooms.   The air conditioning and TV were on, and as we sat there, sort of half asleep, we watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.

Shortly after he did this, he and his flying partner (why am I drawing a blank - was it Buzz Aldrin, with Michael Collins flying above?) planted an American flag on the moon.   When they completed the task, and it waved (well, hung there, really) proudly, in the quiet of our little classroom, our Sergeant Boucher, a very big man at 19 years old, with a very big voice, called out:
COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!
TENCH HUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PREEEZENT ARMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And a ragtag basic training company, in varying stages of dress, stood at attention and saluted their flag flying on the moon.
I will never forget that very proud moment.
ISC Gregory R. Jacobs
NAVRESINTCOM
JICPAC 1070