It was so cold at Fort Leonard Wood that post guards were issued heavy greatcoats and caps with fur-lined flaps all around! Forecasts from the weather officer had determine whether guards wore flaps up or down.

 Although the Fort Leonard Wood of the 1960s was the Army's Combat Engineer Training Center, it was also the Army's Adjutant General school. All specialties of clerk resided and learned in the World War II comfort of the old hospital, which had been converted into both barracks and classrooms. I had been with Class 28A, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 5th Combat Support Training Brigade, 3rd United States Army.

3RD BATTALION

5TH COMBAT SUPPORT TRAINING BRIGADE

US FIFTH ARMY

One of the more interesting features of Fort Leonard Wood was that the entire Adjutant General's school was housed in the old hospital. Each building, whether barracks, mess hall, or classroom could be reached without ever going outside. Heated hallways connected all, including buildings on opposite sides of the streets. There wasn't much to do on off hours at Fort Leonard Wood other than wait for mail call. The Ozarks was that kind of place.

The interior of the C/3/5 barracks was not typical of most Army company-size billets. This could, undoubtedly, be attributed to the building's hospital ward heritage. Although the decor was hardly outlandish, the red checked curtains certainly got my vote for Army TO&E unconventional. Sleeping on the squeaky, double-bunk, spring mattress beds would be good practice for Vietnam. As this view attests, there were no erect poncho liners during billet inspections at Fort Leonard Wood.