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 go overseas. He ended up, after a thirteen day journey on a ship, in Japan where he spent most of his time playing war games between Japan and Okinawa.
The Cold War was on hot and heavy at the time and this was the time of the Korean War very close to where Rice was stationed.
“I wanted to go to Korea because I always wanted to be where the action was,” said Rice, smiling.
But that was not to be. He served out his term in the Armed Forces in Japan.
“I was in Japan for one year,” said Rice. “I came back home to the United States and was discharged in California. I came back to California by plane in one day which was far different than the thirteen days it took to get there.
Rice thinks it was a good thing he was mustered into the Army for every time he got on board a boat, he got sick. Probably he wouldn’t have made a very good Navy man.
George Rice said he never thought of re-enlisting as his two year tour was over but he was glad he went to Japan and saw a brand new culture so up close.
“Before I was drafted as far as I had gotten away from home was to Idaho,” said George. “When I was drafted I saw Washington State, California, Texas and Japan and that was good for me.”
Back home in Big Sandy George Rice worked at a service station for a while, then on his uncle’s farm for two years and then at the grain elevator for 40 years. After retiring from the elevator, he bought a farm just to keep busy.
“You know it was work to go to that elevator every day but the farm never has seemed like work, I like it so much.
George Rice married Helen aka Toots and has four children; Gaylen, Joy, Kay and Brenda. There are ten grandchildren to haul around and if that is not enough there are ten great grandchildren too.
As for the experience of getting drafted, Rice thinks it would be a great experience for many people. Matter of fact he thinks it might be a great idea to reinstate the draft.
Certainly that would be true if everyone enjoyed the experience as much as George Rice did. To this day when he talks about it, one can see how he enjoyed most every aspect of it (except those darn boats).
It is truly an honor for “The Mountaineer” to honor George Rice as our Veteran for Memorial Day.
Job well done Mr. Rice.
