2nd Infantry Division	Tank Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 74th Tank Company and A Company 40th Armor	US Army Alaska
Ninth Infantry Regimental Crest		40th Armor Regimental Crest

    (Click on pictures to enlarge)

After completing advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in December 1955, I was assigned to my first line unit—Tank Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (Indianhead) at Fort Lewis, Washington.  The company was equipped with M48 tanks (90mm gun), but received five M41A1 light tanks (76mm gun) to familiarize with as they were the type we would have in Alaska.

    I was talked into becoming the company parts clerk, being promised faster promotions, etc.  It didn't speed up my promotions, but did give me an opportunity to sharpen my administrative skills and was a lot of fun learning new things.  It also was much more stable as I stayed in garrison when the company went on field exercises.   

We departed Fort Lewis in June 1956 following a regimental review.  I am in the last rank and sixth file because troops are always ordered by height front to rear and then side to side.  Shortly before departing for Alaska, Phil Shellabarger (enlisted with me from Coos Bay), Phil Dennis, & I managed to get to Seattle for a last fling.  This picture was taken at my Cousin Ray's

    We embarked to Alaska from Seattle via a troopship.  My mother, aunt Dolly, cousin Ray, and sister Kathy came to wave goodbye to us. We never lost sight of land during the entire voyage from Seattle to Anchorage.  Although this was my first sea voyage, traveling via troopship isn't really the same experience as a cruise ship.  There were a lot of cards played during the trip.