our readers write

After 44 years absence, it was my great pleasure to recently visit Fort Knox.
I recall in the 1960s that Fort Knox was a beautiful post, well-run, efficient, and full of friendly people (even with the pressure of thousands of neophyte Soldiers—like me—first exposed to Army life). I was pleased to see a modernized facility, no longer overrun by recruits (like me), even more beautiful and well-run.
One thing hasn’t changed. The people I met, uniformed and civilian, were warm, friendly, and to this long-time civilian, seemed capable of fulfilling their mission. I was proud to be among such people and reassured, as an American, by their competence, confidence, and self-respect. For this wonderful group of people, I offer my heartfelt thanks—for my friendly reception by the officers at the Main Gate, to the librarians, and the cashier at the Leaders Club who remembered me the second day I walked through her line (I guess I was the oldest person she had seen there in a while).
The people at Fort Knox make me proud to say I once served there.
I came to Fort Knox to do research on a project to tell the story of the Officer Candidate Brigade that was activated on post in late 1965 and deactivated in the spring of 1968. In that time 4,294 second lieutenants were “produced” (that figure, by the way, comes from a Turret article of March 1, 1968).
In addition to the OCs, there were hundreds who served as cadre and, as witnessed by my talk with a retired lieutenant colonel who was in that cadre, may still be in the Fort Knox area. If anyone knows about the program and would like to get in touch with us, Doug Burmester is putting together a history and would welcome your input. Go to Doug’s e-mail at Burmester_4@msn.com or mine at dleifel@frontier.com.
Thanks again for the fine job being done at Fort Knox.
Danny Leifel
Bloomington, Ill.