WRideout
05-06-2017, 03:15 PM
It was my first winter in Pennsylvania, and I thought I was prepared for a weekend drill with the 28th Division Artillery in Palmyra, near Hershey. I was lodged in the transient barracks at Ft. Indiantown Gap, which is a twenty minute drive from the armory. I pulled into an empty parking space, put the transmission of my Nissan pickup in neutral, and set the park brake. A chill wind brushed my ears as I lugged baggage across the frozen parking lot to my room.
The next morning, I got up and got myself ready, walked out to the pickup, and turned the ignition key, bringing it to life. I shifted into first gear, and pulled straight ahead, when something strange happened; the truck was being held back as if by a giant hand. I glanced back over my shoulder, and backed up. No problem. I pulled forward again, same thing as before. Now I was starting to get agitated, going back and forth, to see if something would loosen up; no dice. After about fifteen minutes of futility, I walked over to the PX store to see if I could call my unit, and tell them I would be late.
The young lady at the counter was very obliging. She let me use the phone, and offered to find someone who might be able to help. After that she offered me a free coffee, which I gladly accepted. I mentally ran through all the diagnostics that I could come up with, but I had never had such a problem before, and I was truly stumped. After about a half hour the store clerk had located one of the post engineers, who came to my aid. We discussed the problem; shortly he came back with a propane torch, and crawled under the truck to thaw the frozen brake cables. Ten minutes later, I was back in business, and drove off to Palmyra.
At the next drill, I looked up the store manager to let him know my appreciation for the help I had received, and asked for an address to send a letter. He said, “All those types of correspondence go to the main AAFES office in Texas, and they will handle it from there.” He gave me the address, and a few days later I did send the letter to AAFES, expressing my appreciation for the store clerk’s help. I mostly forgot about it after that.
In the Spring I was back for another drill with DIVARTY, and once again staying at Ft. Indiantown Gap. I visited the PX for a few things I needed that weekend. While browsing the aisles, I heard a female voice behind me, “There you are! Thank you!” It was the clerk who had helped me. She gushed her story about receiving a commendation from AAFES headquarters, and said she had received an award and a US savings bond. She went on to say that she would use the award when applying for higher level positions. Suddenly serious she said, “You know I won’t be working here for the rest of my life.” We chatted a few more minutes, then I made my purchases, and departed with a warm glow inside.
Wayne
The next morning, I got up and got myself ready, walked out to the pickup, and turned the ignition key, bringing it to life. I shifted into first gear, and pulled straight ahead, when something strange happened; the truck was being held back as if by a giant hand. I glanced back over my shoulder, and backed up. No problem. I pulled forward again, same thing as before. Now I was starting to get agitated, going back and forth, to see if something would loosen up; no dice. After about fifteen minutes of futility, I walked over to the PX store to see if I could call my unit, and tell them I would be late.
The young lady at the counter was very obliging. She let me use the phone, and offered to find someone who might be able to help. After that she offered me a free coffee, which I gladly accepted. I mentally ran through all the diagnostics that I could come up with, but I had never had such a problem before, and I was truly stumped. After about a half hour the store clerk had located one of the post engineers, who came to my aid. We discussed the problem; shortly he came back with a propane torch, and crawled under the truck to thaw the frozen brake cables. Ten minutes later, I was back in business, and drove off to Palmyra.
At the next drill, I looked up the store manager to let him know my appreciation for the help I had received, and asked for an address to send a letter. He said, “All those types of correspondence go to the main AAFES office in Texas, and they will handle it from there.” He gave me the address, and a few days later I did send the letter to AAFES, expressing my appreciation for the store clerk’s help. I mostly forgot about it after that.
In the Spring I was back for another drill with DIVARTY, and once again staying at Ft. Indiantown Gap. I visited the PX for a few things I needed that weekend. While browsing the aisles, I heard a female voice behind me, “There you are! Thank you!” It was the clerk who had helped me. She gushed her story about receiving a commendation from AAFES headquarters, and said she had received an award and a US savings bond. She went on to say that she would use the award when applying for higher level positions. Suddenly serious she said, “You know I won’t be working here for the rest of my life.” We chatted a few more minutes, then I made my purchases, and departed with a warm glow inside.
Wayne