The good times didn't last too much longer after this photo was taken. My grandfather is standing second from the left- these men were sent to Pusan in Korea the next summer, and I believe they were training to operate Quad 50's for a AAA battalion.

This was only five years before my father, a marine with an armor MOS, was stationed at Fort Knox, to attend the Army's armor school. I don't remember, having been only 2-8 months old while we were there. We returned in 1966, when the post was full of young men, most of whom were facing deployment to Vietnam. The uniforms were different and, unfortunately, so was the mood.

Later: Yes, I figured they probably faced service in the Korean war, not long after this. I hoped they all made it home safely.