Robert E. Thayer, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Becky B. Lloyd, December 3, 2002: Saving the legacy tape no. 552 and 553

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ROBERT THAYER B 2 2 strictly physical. We did drill, we played basketball out in the sun in the op n. I 11 t 11 you by the time my orders come through I was in real good shape (laughs). And I was happy for it because the cadet training was quite rigorous too. But I didn't have any problem with any of the physical activity, and I did very well in the class too. BEC: Now I was just trying to think, while we were talking, you were in your upper twenties by then, weren't you? ROB: BEC: Yes, when I went in the service I was twenty-six. That's pretty old. That was probably older than most of the men you were with. ROB: Yeah. I was older than most of the draftees and the people-though, they took quite a few of my buddies up there. At the time I was at Fort Douglas I had several of the fellows I played ball with downtown up there. BEC: ROB: BEC: So it wasn't really unusual, there were just more younger guys? Yeah. They were taking anywhere from eighteen to thirty. Of course, now when we talk about that, the difference between twenty-one and twenty-six is just nothing, isn't it? ROB: It is to me now (laughs). But after I got my orders to go to Scott Field-and I went all alone; there wasn't another cadet going to Scott Field from here­so I was on the train all alone, and went back to Scott Field. I think right about then you start becoming a man and losing what boyhood you had because you're all alone, and you're on your own, and you don't have anybody to look out for you. You look out for yourself and you try to do the best you can. BEC: So then do I understand that while you were based at Fort Douglas you didn't live at home with your wife? 11