Carl Hughes' Recollection of the 581st Signal Radio Relay Company - Page 1
Camp Gordon, GA 1950 This story should have been written fifty years ago. It should be written in the third person; it's not my story it's everyone's story. If you find it interesting, let Paul Noll know [pn@paulnoll.com]. If you have something to add send to it to Paul and he can forward it to me. I will add whatever you send to the story. We were only one team of many teams. The unit was formed in the summer of 1950 at Camp Gordon, GA. Apparently it was An active unit during WWII and was deactivated at the close of the war. A large portion of the men for the 581st came from the 24th Signal Service Battalion.It was located across the quadrangle from the barracks that the newly formed unit occupied. It was a hectic beginning. I remember being near the tennis courts to the rear of the post chapel and a large Quonset hut like building which was the post gymnasium when they announced over the public address system that all men of the 24th should return to their barracks immediately. Things happened swiftly. We were told to lay out all of our personal equipment and we were given new clothing for anything that was missing or worn out. We were also given two wool mountain sleeping bags and sent across the quadrangle to our new barracks and the newly formed 581st.Korea War Begins Once the teams were formed, we unpacked all of the equipment, tested it, and then repacked it for shipment over seas. It took two weeks of long hours to accomplish this task. We were then given two days off to do anything we wanted. Apparently, a deal had been made by our officers and the military police to forgive almost anything short of going AWOL. They had trucks that would take you into town or return you to the barracks after you were wasted and couldn't navigate on your own. No questions were asked! I remember passing out on a street corner waiting for I don't know what and waking up on a two and half ton truck on my way back to Camp Gordon.