"the Age of Innocence"

The sixties was an era of great distress andpart-time as a stockroom boy, in a Mama, and Papa
confusions. Yet despite all the bad events, taking placePharmacy earning ten dollars a week. Out of my
it was the age of innocence. There was an unpopularsalary, I was able to pay two dollars a week for my
War waging across a large ocean, in a Country, whichMothers washing machine she had bought, and still
few people new little about. A country, which had beenhave enough to take my girlfriend to the movies in the
at war with France and had known war forweekends.
generations; a country, which the United States in tryingHowever, when I saw my best friends come home in
to help bring democracy became in tangle with itsbody bags I decided to do my part in sharing the
internal affairs, having unpleasant results.responsibility for going to Vietnam. I attended many
It was a time, when there were demonstrations allfunerals of friend with whom I had gone to school with,
across our Nation, dividing the country. Still it was anhang out and gone to parties. That is when I realized I
era rich with charm and grace, a time of innocencecould not seat by idle while my friends were being kill in
when hippies, flower people held hands while protestinga foreign land.
the war. I was the era for giving, an era of caring, anI pulled my Father and Mother; aside and I told them I
era for forgiving. The hippie's philosophy was to loveneeded to make a difference that I was not going to
your next-door neighbor, not meddle in other countriesstanding by while watching my friends die. Both my
affairs and smoke grass.parents did not like the idea however, after explaining
A time when there was a War, which caused the USto them the importance in helping my country they
thousands of lives with nothing to show for but a blackunderstood.
marble wall in Washington DC with over fifty-eightIt was a hot period during that summer school vacation
thousands names on it. A time family members wouldin July 1962. Most fire hydrants throughout the city
gather on weekend BBQ's to discus the War thatwere open by young kids trying to keep cool. I was
was unpopular, and gather their thoughts about thedesperate; it was hot and nothing to do. Most of my
doubts that lay ahead.friends had already left and joined the army. Most had
We had the youngest president ever elected, Johnalready left for Vietnam. On July 11, 1962, I decided to
Fitzgerald Kennedy. A man with dreams cut short bygo downtown to the Army recruiting station in lower
lunatics' bullet whose ideology and twisted agenda weManhattan, Whitehall Street.
will never know. It was suppose to have been the ageAfter a series of academics and psychological test, I
of "Camelot" for this country. It was a period in ourtook my oath. I was proud that day because I new
country's history when it was going through a transitiondays, I was on my way to the Army training base at
and everyone was full of uncertainties. A time whenFort Dix, New Jersey. When the day finally arrived, I
democracy was at it highest and peoples rights tested.was full of gratitude knowing I was going to contribute
The war was having grave negative impact to themy share in the fight alongside my bodies.
economy and was causing great disparity among ourI spend sixteen weeks in training. The first eight weeks
younger generation.was basic Infantry training, the second eight weeks
It was the age of the Supremes, Otis Redding's, thewas in Advance Infantry training. I graduated and I
Impressions and many other groups, which kept ourwent to Fort Benning Georgia where I received training
young people and our nation regardless of the war,as a Paratrooper.
dancing and happy. An era of warm love when everyAfter graduating from paratrooper school I went to the
one cared for one another. It was the age ofelite 101st. Airborne Division, "C" company 327 Infantry
innocence.First Battalion First Brigade the "Screaming Eagles" at
During the war, I was still in High School. I was workingFort Campbell, Kentucky.