My last assignment in the Army in 1968 was with CDCEC (Combat Developments Command, Experimentation Command), which was headquartered at Ft. Ord. CDCEC had a leg infantry battalion at Ft. Ord and a mechanized infantry battalion at Camp Roberts, about 100 miles south of Ft. Ord. Since I had experience in both types of units in Vietnam, I drew the short straw and ended up a Treadhead once again. We operated around the Camp Roberts area and up in the hills at Camp Hunter Liggett, which was once part of William Randolph Hearst's vast holdings on the Central Coast. Hearst Castle is on the other side of the coastal mountains. We frequently saw exotic game when we were up in the mountains. The hills were dry and dusty, especially in the Summer. After riding the tank trails back to Camp Roberts from Hunter Liggett on Fridays, we were so covered in dust that our Mothers wouldn't have recognized us.

I was given a choice of working in the dispensary or going with the line unit as the Senior Aidman. I wanted out of the medics' barracks, which had a few druggies whom I didn't trust, so I chose the latter. I conned the 1st Sgt. into giving me a room at the back of the Supply Hut, so that I could secure my medical supplies. Then I loaded up a footlocker full of unnecessary medical supplies at the dispensary, just in case he wanted to see them. I shared the room with another medic and we spent most of our time when we weren't in the field reading or playing Rummy. Nobody knew where we were, so they didn't have expectations or bother us except when it was time to "saddle up". This photo was taken of the track I rode when we were out in the field. All of us were Vietnam vets. Unfortunately, I don't remember anyone's name.

I was very happy to leave it when my enlistment term ended in September, and I could go home to Napa.