There are funny memories sometimes to be found at museums. I reminisced with my children yesterday over Facetime, when I saw this 80 passenger “Cattle Car”. I remember riding on them to and from field training when I was in ROTC, maybe when I was in my Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in the early 1990’s.
I remember putting on my “Ruck Sack” or back pack on backwards with the load in front and getting in line. From there the Seargants would march us into tightly into the Cattle Car for the trip to the field for the typically overnight training. This training occurred in my memory in the summer time. What was already a warm day, was made even warmer by the cramped and crowded trailer, with little ventilation windows and no breeze. Many times, it was humid because the Leaders didn’t want the Soldier marching out in the rain. If you were lucky, you would have a seat on the benches. You would ride in comfort with the backpack on your lap. If you were not lucky, you would stand in the aisle, crammed into the trailer, flanked on all sides by bodies or ruck sacks. Then after the hour or so drive, you would do an about face and file out one by one.
I have thought from time to time about these Cattle Cars. It is obvious to me why we do use them anymore. It is amazing that we used them at all in the, now, very safety conscious Army. But, I never thought I’d see one again. So, yesterday, when I saw what it was, I enjoyed reliving the tales with my kids.