in 1969 i went into the army, leaving the cowboy life behind. i was sent to for campbell ky. for basic trainning. when i arrived we found we were put in barracks that had been built in the 1940 s for world war 2. there was a assortment of people, a large contingency from the gehtos of milwauke, some fellows from missippi, a okie and a couple of arizona boys. it didnt take long for some of us to pick up nicknames. mine was easy, at home i was SLIM and i was 180 pounds on a 6 foot 4 frame, still slim. the okie was a dead look alike for the comic book hero SARGENT ROCK. it stuck. as time went on sargent rock and i became friends as we both had the same intrests and ideals. one of the rules was no radios in the barracks. well i dont remember how but sgt. rock got a hold of one. i believe he kept it hid in a boot. at nite some of us would huddle around the little transister radio and pick up news, and music. the sarges bunk was at the opposite end of the barracks. just about the time i was starting to get home sick, one nite before lites out sarge stands up on his footlocker and yells, HEY SLIM, LISTEN UP and he holds up the little radio and lo and behold it is merl haggard singin OKI FROM MUSKOGI ! the first tme i had heard it. thanks ronnie( sgt rock) this ole desert rat was up against it until then!
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