For our American Brothers...A topic that's a little on the lighter side

[Scoobie Newbie]

Pretty bad when the Americans don't even know why that is.

 

[geo]

Do you folks ever get portaloos out bush? I dont know if thats what you call them, but portable toilets? Nothing like using one of those suckers on a 40degree day! Step in, light a match and hope that you make it out without sweating out your body sweat.

There are shower curtains in the RCD's shacks, is it not a common Canadian thing?

Portaloos..... called many things but - usually known (around here) as "Blue Rockets".

WRT shower curtains in the RCD lines???... must be an armoured thing.
(So that's where they got the bolt on armour for the Leo1C2s (jk) )

 

[George Wallace]

There are shower curtains in the RCD's shacks, is it not a common Canadian thing?

Hale

Those were in the showers.  The discussion is about the toilets.

 

[BernDawg]

Been to a few spots in the US with the open concept crappers.  The first time was at Yakima Firing Center (your knees would touch during a full house the morning after!) and we were told at the time that the US Army had rules banning "self abuse" and that's why they had no stalls or doors.  Now I don't know this for fact just some old crusty CSM passing on his wisdom but you never know.

 

[Boxkicker]

Been to a few spots in the US with the open concept crappers.  The first time was at Yakima Firing Center (your knees would touch during a full house the morning after!) and we were told at the time that the US Army had rules banning "self abuse" and that's why they had no stalls or doors.  Now I don't know this for fact just some old crusty CSM passing on his wisdom but you never know.

Bern the last time I was in YAK they had put up stalls and doors, but you could barely sit and close the door. But it was a step up. Boy did those cans get busy after a night at the DI drinking those 22oz drafts.

 

[Boxkicker]

Was anyone here in Yakima in 91 when the reserves caused all the problems that year. I think the last straw was when some individuals ran our flag up the main flagpole outside of the MP's and DI, at 2 AM and it was the base commander that noticed it in the morning. He just had no sense of humor about that sort of thing.

 

[Danjanou]

I took Engineer basic training at North Fort Lewis in February 1947. The two story wooden barracks, had open bays with bunk beds on both sides of the aisles. Latrines were on the rear end of the bottom floor. Comodes were lined up and in the open side-by-side. The shower was one large room with many faucets/showerheads. No privacy at all.

We had the same type of barracks at Ft. Benning in Parachute school and Ranger training at Harmony Church area

There was also NCO/Cadre rooms at the end of the second floor and the front of the 1st floor.

At North Ft. Lewis, the barracks were heated by a coal furnace.

I remember those same ( or similar) barracks from assorted Milcons and gun camps 1977-1980,  complete with comunal showers and er other assorted plumbing :-[

Box nice to hear Canadian traditions at Yakima continue. Last visit there was the week prior to Mt St Helen's going up IIRC.

 

[Boxkicker]

Box nice to hear Canadian traditions at Yakima continue. Last visit there was the week prior to Mt St Helen's going up IIRC.

I transfered REG Force in 98 but the last time we were HQ in YFC (91) there was a lot of mischief mostly from the DI, caused by the ARTY. but then a couple of people raised the Flag and saluted of course and then blamed the ARTY, of course I have NO idea who that was (HEHE what a hoot). After that we got banned from base except as a shower point and Laundry. 

 

[pablo]

Stop your whining mortar dude!  At least you are warm in Florida.  Are you using mortars there or did the unit neglect to bring them?

Pablo "the mexican sensation"

PS  Will you be my valentine?

 

[ex-Sup]

I've been to places in the States that did not even have stalls, just the open concept style.  Very airy and conducive to conversation.  

Ahhhh...memories of Ripley '91. Definitely an experience; makes you really appreciate a stall...even if it doesn't have a door. 

 

[BernDawg]

Oh Ya! the 22 oz "super big gulp" draft.  Never have I seen such a projectile vomit producing product.  Prolly cause you had to drink 6 to catch a buzz.  They had the walls and doors the last time I was there too and yes it is a tight squeeze but, at least, your knees touch steel not your buddies!
;D

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I took Engineer basic training at North Fort Lewis in February 1947. The two story wooden barracks, had open bays with bunk beds on both sides of the aisles. Latrines were on the rear end of the bottom floor. Comodes were lined up and in the open side-by-side. The shower was one large room with many faucets/showerheads. No privacy at all.

We had the same type of barracks at Ft. Benning in Parachute school and Ranger training at Harmony Church area

There was also NCO/Cadre rooms at the end of the second floor and the front of the 1st floor.

At North Ft. Lewis, the barracks were heated by a coal furnace.

We also had the WW II Type mess hall. (Wooden long one story building, kitchen and serving line in the front and entrance in the rear. They served family style, with large bowels of food brought to the long mess tables by the KPs serving as DROs.

Aww the good old days! (not!)

Although even these conditions were much better then below 0 degrees, wind and snow in Korea in a foxhole confronting a zillion chinese. 

They were pretty much the same in North Fort, Fort Lewis back in the 1980's

 

[Boxkicker]

Oh Ya! the 22 oz "super big gulp" draft.  Never have I seen such a projectile vomit producing product.  Prolly cause you had to drink 6 to catch a buzz. 

I went through 22 of those one night with a ranger, I was puking for about 2 hrs after.  It was probably the cheapest draft ever made. I paid twice on that one being on range the next day was not pleasant at least I was not still gooned.
  I do have to say that it was a toss up of what went down easier those super big gulp drafts or the local girls, right in the DI that place was like being in the P**N movie set some nights.

 

[time expired]

All the Cold War Warriors will remember those wonderful heads in Grafenwöhr 6 seats separated by
a knee high brick wall with a galvanized trough with running water underneath the seats.It was great
sitting with all your friends,after breakfast passing the Overseas Weekly or the Stars & Strips back
and forth and discussing the up coming days activities.That is until some clown upstream of you
made a paper boat ,set fire to it and floated down the trough and set 5 people springing ,cursing
in the air in perfect sequence.There is one in every crowd. And while I am on the subject what
about the beauties in Sennerlager,a 762 mm Honest John rocket wooden container with 6 holes
cut in it.You sat about 6 ft. in the air and were king of all you surveyed,not great if weather was
in anyway inclement or until some clown went about spreading the rumour that a guy over in the
Black Watch had got his b$%&lls bitten by a rat on just such contraption.Talk about pucker factor.
          Fond memories
                          Regards 

 

[Danjanou]

All the Cold War Warriors will remember those wonderful heads in Grafenwöhr 6 seats separated by
a knee high brick wall with a galvanized trough with running water underneath the seats.It was great
sitting with all your friends,after breakfast passing the Overseas Weekly or the Stars & Strips back
and forth and discussing the up coming days activities.That is until some clown upstream of you
made a paper boat ,set fire to it and floated down the trough and set 5 people springing ,cursing
in the air in perfect sequence.

Thanks for bringing back yet more repressed (and for a good reason) memories there. Ft Lewis and Yakima were bad enough. I've visited and used roadside gas station rest rooms in the wilds of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco  that were better.

What's next the glory that was Hoenfells (or however the damn place was spelled)? ;D

 

[LineDoggie]

The Latrine stall doors at NTC(Ft. Irwin, Ca. )  Cantonment area are still shower curtains, usually ending about  2 feet above the floor. Still beats the side of Route Irish in Baghdad at Night though.

 

[Trip_Wire]

As long as we're talking about such things.:

When I first got to Korea (10/51) I soon came down with diarrhea. We were using a slit trench at the time. I spent so much time with bended knees straddling the trench, that my knees gave out and I fell into the trench. I think that the diarrhea was caused by the  WW II type mess kit I was using to eat hot chow with.

I will always remember, the extreme cold in Korea, during the winter months in using the various types of latrines from 'cat holes' to the multi-seat outhouse types. (Usually with large rats, in the hole.) Talk about bravery, it took a lot of courage to bear ones arse to the cold and do your thing and even more to take the occasional field shower.   

I always also remember a cartoon in the Stars & Stripes of that era, of a GI sitting on the 'throne,' in the cold, shivering, etc. with a cartoon 'dream blob' over his head dreaming about a nice civilian type flush toilet in a warm normal 'bathroom.'

As a matter of fact, one of the most enjoyable things on my return to the USA, was doing just that! Taking a nice warm and comfortable crap on a flush toilet and reading the morning paper.  ;D

Aww! The simple pleasures! 

 

[glock17]

How can we possibly top that?  You deserve every simple pleasure that life can afford you, well done!

 

[Red 6]

Okay guys & gals. Unless you've had to do have a poopy like this, no more complaining about shower curtains open latrines!  : This is me  in Desert Shield. It didn't get any more fun than this in my 22 years of service. (In case you're wondering, that's the Stars and Stripes that I'm holding.)

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I used to do mining exploration in Northern Manitoba in the winter, taking a poop or a piss in –50 away from the camp was an adventure. Thank god for Styrofoam, it makes a great toilet seat, at least you were able to dig into a snow drift, so you were out of the wind!

The tent camp had propane burner toilets, the great thing was that the pilot light ran 24hrs a day and warmed up the whole toilet including the seat! Pure bliss to plunk your bum down on a warm toilet seat. When the cook flashed up the toilets everyday, you quickly knew if you were downwind of the camp!