Laundry & Uniform War Stories ? (Read 387 times)

Them early years I was just starting out in the U.S Air Force. This pic taken of me in early 1972 Norton AFB, CA in my barracks room. Room mate was a drummer and he could play good. We had an agreement he'd play only when I wasn't in the room. I always made sure I worked a different shift than him; usually graveyard shift so he'd practice after I went to work at 11:00 PM. I don't know how the guys in the barracks delt with the noise at those hours. He live someplace in California and would bring his dog back now and then from a weekend trip and keep the dog in the barracks room for a week. Of course it was against regulations but he never got caught. I always wondered what would happen if they had and inspection when he was at work and I in the room with the dog. Some of the things that went on in those early years. Never get away with it now.


We were issued two pairs of those white coveralls because it used to get damn hot in southern CA and they were much cooler to have on than the green fatigues. I made the mistake of washing both my pair one day after I got soaked with red hydrolic fluid. My coveralls came out of the wash with a pinkish tint to them. Next day I requested through our shop chief for a reissue of the coveralls. He laughed and said, "OK I'll approve that, but you have to ware them the rest of the week." I replied, "I can't ware pinkish coveralls out on the flightline, I'll get laughed at." The chief said, "If you want new coveralls issued then you will ware then for a lesson on doing laundry." I was glad it was Wednesday afternoon and I was comitted for only two shifts, in pink coveralls. Today's USAF they likely would go after the chief for PC and harassment. I never made that mistake again. Its about 0230 hours and still awake, was hoping some writing would make me tired.

The chief was a good old boy and I liked him. He was very firm and very fair. Don't seem to have that much in todays USAF.