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PICKEL MEADOWS PAGE |
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Who can forget those wonderful thrilling days in December 1965
when we went through survival training at the U.S. Marine Corps
Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport CA (PICKEL MEADOWS).
Ah yes the snow, freezing temperatures, rabbit head stew, Marines
chasing us while we were snow shoeing in freezing conditions, and the mock prison
compound all bring back fond memories of a bygone era. Let us not forget those warm campfire chats and great meals
we had and after a hard day of trying not to get caught by
the Marines. However if you were unlucky
enough to get caught by the marines you were taken to their prison
compound where I am sure they would have played poker or checkers with you while you
were in one of their sweet box's and they were interrogating you. Sleeping conditions in the mountains were Five Star by any standards. I have fond memories of sleeping on the snow and getting my feet to close to the camp fire trying to keep warm then in the middle of the night my sleeping bag catching on fire. I have many things to be thankful for because of Pickel Meadows. I never became an alcoholic because of making and drinking Pine Needle Tea which caused me to I acquired a strong hate for Gin. I never became a butcher after watching a Marine instructor cut the throat of a live rabbit then drink the blood, and I never made a fool on myself by ordering rabbit head stew in a restaurant. My experiences in the USCG, Squadron One, on the Point White and at Pickel Meadows played an important part in shaping the rest of my life. I would not trade those experience for anything. After four years on active duty with the Coast Guard I got out and joined the Coast Guard Reserve and Seattle Police Department retiring from both. When I retired from the Coast Guard Reserve some great person sent me my entire personnel file which contained a lot of great things including my original orders to Pickel Meadows which listed everyone's name who went there. About five years ago we were RVing and were close to Pickel Meadows so we stopped and I took two pictures. Pickel Meadows has no information that the Coast Guard had ever been there although they have a large history display. Maybe we should change that. The pictures and orders are below and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Jerry Sampont ET2 Point White 1966 |
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