I was inducted into the Armed Services in Denver, Colorado. I got a uniform (winter) at Fort Riley, Kansas. I took basic training at South Camp Hood, Texas. We were told of Germany's surrender as we came marching into camp from a two week bivouac. We were equipped to go to the Pacific war area. We left the U.S.A. under the Golden Gate Bridge. I was sea sick for 23 days! We were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean when it was announced over the PA system, while we were sleeping, that Japan had surrendered. We gave a sleepy 'Hurrah' and went back to sleep. We landed on White Beach, Leyte Island and stayed there for two weeks waiting for assignment. Then we were transported to Cebu Island and city on a small navy ship. There I was assigned to the Americal Division. As we sailed to Japan there were ships in every direction as far as I could see. We landed in Yokohoma Bay and were transported back into the hills to a Japanese army camp. It was there that I was bitten by bed bugs the first night so bad I had to be led to the Medics by the hand. Although the room was full of sick soldiers, I was the first one to get attention! In a short time (three weeks) the Americal was disbanded. I was assigned to the 82nd Division. Shortly it returned to the U.S.A. I had a choice: Do I want to join the First Cavalry and stay in the Tokyo area, or do I want to be a paratrooper and become part of the 11th Airborne. I chose the latter. I accepted the challenge. Could I do it? I made five jumps at the training camp in Sendai, Japan. I spent a year in Aomori with the occupational troops. After a year, I came home and was discharged at Ft. Lewis, Washington.