Except for us beginning active duty, nothing of major significance had occurred on September 28, 1968. For much of the 18 weeks we were in OCS, we had little access to outside information. Weekend and holiday liberties and leaves were pretty much the only times our heads came up to look around. As usual with that incredible year, there was still a lot going on that September.
The Paris “peace talks” were underway. In Vietnam itself, Army Maj. Gen. Keith Ware and seven others were killed September 13 when their helicopter was shot down. Those eight were among 538 US troops killed in September 1968.
On September 14, Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McClain won his 30th game that season, first to do so since 1934 and last.
Presidential candidate Richard Nixon appeared on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In on September 16 and awkwardly uttered the famous words, “Sock it to me?” Here’s the six-second clip.
Iconic TV shows that debuted that September: Adam-12, 60 Minutes, The Mod Squad, and Hawaii Five-O.
On the Monday after we reported for duty, Boeing introduced its new 747.