Gina, your father and I were best friends for 6 months at Fort Jackson...I once went home with him one weekend when he worked at the mill.
We were constantly together and he always bunked with me, he liked the bottom bunk--he was tall and I was short...like Mutt and Jeff.
We both stayed on base much during the weekends and always went to a very nice dining hall on-base each Sunday. The food was much better! It was the only day the army gave us off, most of the time.
One time, we were on bivouac sleeping in a 2 man pup tent, it was 9 degrees and 4" of snow on the ground and we almost froze that week--the army actually called of training (but we had to stay in the snow)--"Tacky," as I called him would go to morning call and in the dark answer for me when my name was called so I could sleep longer, then I'd do it for him next day. We would keep small cartons of milk in the tent to drink after training for that day and it would still be fresh at night--that's how cold it was.
Your Dad was a great friend, a great soldier and always did his duty. One day during the cold, above, we were coming down a tall hill literally shaking (the army had issued us a coat but did not give us the warm liner so the coat was more of a wind breaker...Tacky step on ice, it gave way and his foot was fully submerged in the water. He barely could walk on it and I noticed tears streaming down his face. He leaned on me and we got down the hill. I know he was in great pain but he never stopped.
I'm sorry we lost touch after service...life seems to be that way...I lived in Charleston, went to school and got busy with life. I did try many times before the internet to get in touch but was not successful.
Tack had a great sense of humor and we laughed and laughed.
He deserved a long and happy life and I miss him...would give anything to be able to see him again and share those times.
He was a good friend when I needed it the most...I was 18, first time away from home and all of us came to rely on each other...kind of in a "Band of Brothers" way. We didn't see combat but I always knew he would cover my back if we did.
God bless you and your family. Please keep in touch.
David Tester (Testerbaby, as your Dad called me)
1448 Saint Hubert Way
Charleston, SC 29414
843-557-6382
dat1923@yahoo.com