When Big Sandy native George Rice was drafted in 1952 he could hardly believe it. After all he was in college at Montana State College. That didn’t seem to matter and Rice was drafted into the United States Army.

Drafted he was and he went to Fort Lewis, Washington for his basic training. After that Rice went to school at San Louis Obispo in California. Rice was trained there as a small engine power maintenance mechanic. Rice says it was a good course with good instructors. It lasted about three months. Then Rice was sent to Fort Hood, Texas. It was there that Rice volunteered to g...