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Fort Sill Ok




1st Training Bde Fort Sill Ok


This was our barracks that was on Wilson St, across from the mess hall, and not very far from the motor pool. There were several guys in the unit that had recently returned from Nam. We worked hard, but partied harder.

Below is how the area was setup back in the 60-70s.




In the next 2 photos, the 1st Training Bde Motor Pool is out lined in red.
The motor pool buildings were still there in 1995, but are now gone.
Our barracks were in the area out lined in blue, and were on Wilson St.





I was at Fort Sill in 68-69, after returning from Nam. I was a Mechanic in the 1st Training Brigade Motor Pool.

We had the old WW2 building for our shops, and one of them had a open section with a drive across pit for changing oil , etc.

The transmission in my car was worn out, and would no longer work properly at highway speeds. I located a good used one very cheap, so bought it. I asked my Sgt if I could use the outside pit on the weekend to change it, which he said OK.

Well, we drove it in, then let it cool for about 30 mins, then drained the fluid. These transmissions are pretty heavy, so I had brought a old orange crate down from the mess hall and placed it in the pit, to catch the transmission in case it got dropped. Well, we got everything unbolted, and my buddy grabbed the rear, and I grabbed the front, and we proceded to slide it out. Well with us being in a hurry, we forgot to drain the torque converter of fluid. Well, when the front of the transmission came out of the converter, about 6 quarts of Hot Red transmission fluid hit me in the neck and shoulders. I dropped the front of the transmission, and ran up the steps of the pit and out into the motor pool screaming from the hot fluid. Well, just then, one of the AIT Students walking around the motor pool on Guard Duty was walking up, and starting hollering louder than me, "OMG, what should I do?"

He though the red fluid was blood.... There was a water hose on the side of the building, and I pulled my tee shirt off, and hosed myself off to get the excess fluid off, and to cool my self some. We all laughed, then got back to work putting the other transmission in.

I wish we would of had a camera that day....



The tire shop building and my Bird.
We swapped the transmission in that open bay.


Below is how the area looks now, and where the old motor pool was located. Our motor pool was located almost directly behind the new Anderson Hall.




This is a M211 2 1/2 Ton Truck like the ones that pulled the Howitzers during the Training at Ft Sill. The Mechanics had to inspect and repair them each evening, and have them ready for use the next day.

At some point the GMC 2 1/2 trucks were replaced with M35 Series Mulitfuel Trucks for towing the 105mm Howitzers. I was told the motor pool was still in use in 1973. Any Updates on the 1st Brigade Motor Pool?

Below is some of the training that took place in the 1st Training Bde. These 105mm Howitzers were only one of the many types used to train at Ft Sill OK.



When I returned from Vietnam, I was assigned to Ft Sill OK, after a 3 month stop off at Ft Benning Ga. I was assigned to Hq 1st Training Bde, and worked in the large motor pool as a Mechanic. I filled in for SSG Ericman when he left, and ran the Parts Room.

I am looking for any of the guys that were in this unit during the late 60s, and any photos of the guys, buildings, or motor pool. Some of the guys I remember are: Roger Haynes, Ron Davis, Joe Tholand, Bob Osmas. Bob had a girl friend named Fran. I also remember a guy, Stanly that worked in the Tire Shop. He stayed jacked up sniffing glue. Seen him laying on his bunk with a glue soaked rag on his face.

This is the car that I had while I was at Ft Sill Ok. I traded it in on my 67 Mustang GT. We spent a lot of weekends in Chickasha OK, and Ada OK, home of East Central State University.




Me back then

Locally, we spent a lot of time down on D Street, and out at a couple of Clubs on Cauche Rd. One of them was the Chatter Box. This was our winding down from Nam. There is a Walgreens located where The Chatter Box was back in the 60 and 70s.


Places like this were all up and down D Street.





Downtown Lawton prior to the tornado in 1979

There was a huge tornado in 1979 that leveled the downtown area






Barracks in the 1960s and 1970s


My 62 Thunderbird I had at Ft Sill

The 67 Mustang I traded the Bird in on

I am still a Gear Head, my Hot Rod T-Bird

The Big Guns of I Corp Arty in Korea

My Time in the Army

[email protected]
If you were in HQ 1st Training Bde, drop me a short note.