We have been learning about Russell’s Marland Burckhardt, who graduated from Russell High School in 1959, enlisted in the Army, and served in Italy before returning to pursue his love and college.

His return from Italy was an adventure.

“(My friend) Montz, and I volunteered to return on a troopship. That was an experience! I became one of the sergeants of the Guard on the troopship and Montz volunteered to work in the galley.”

Marland avoided seasickness by beginning each day with a box of saltines and a Coke from the ship’s canteen. Not everyone knew of or followed that guidance.

“Some people got terribly seasick. The bunks on the troopship were stacked five high with about 14 inches between you and the guy above you. If the guy on the top bunk got sick and vomited over the edge, it could fall in the lower bunks.”

Marland recalled the weather was clear, but cold for their Atlantic crossing. The troops got time on deck daily for fresh air.

“The troopship came through New York Harbor and we were discharged at Fort Hamilton, New York. The World’s Fair was in New York City in ’64, so we stayed in the (downtown) YMCA for a week. We’d get up in the morning and go to the World’s Fair or tour the city and attend Broadway plays.”

Their adventure continued after leaving New York City.

“We decided to hitch-hike across the United States. Our ride from New York to D.C. was with a family going on vacation. Then we hitched west.”

The two friends got rides through West Virginia to Ohio and west to Missouri before hitching north to Minneapolis where Marland’s special someone, Barb Livingston, was living and working. Marland checked into fall enrollment at the University of Minnesota.

Marland and Montz delivered a car to Eugene, Oregon, where Marland’s dad was living. Marland took Montz home to Wenatchee, Washington, and then worked at a paper mill before returning to Barb in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota in fall 1964.

The couple married in December 1964 and rented a small apartment in Minneapolis. Barb worked for an insurance firm downtown and Marland worked part time at the library as he pursued studies in political science and secondary education. He explained his decision to sign up for Army ROTC at the University.

“I enjoyed my time in the service in Europe and I wanted to be part of something bigger. The Army was that.”

Marland’s prior service gave him an advantage in his ROTC courses and at ROTC Summer Camp at Fort Riley, Kansas. He stayed on top of his other academics and earned a strong GPA. He graduated in August 1967 and received a Regular Army commission as a 2nd lieutenant.

Marland and Barb began experiencing the mobility of Army life.

“The Army sent me to Fort Carson, Colorado. So, we packed up what little we had and drove there. I was in an infantry company as a brand-new lieutenant who hadn’t been to the Basic Course. The troops at Fort Carson were either back from Vietnam or on their way to Vietnam. So, you never knew what you were going to have for morning formation and what sort of trouble they may have gotten into. That was interesting. Then we packed up again and went to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Infantry Officer Basic.”

Marland and Barb rented a cabin outside Columbus, Georgia. His course was eight weeks of range, classroom, and field training. The war in Vietnam was a constant presence.

“It was a lot of Vietnam orientation and tactical lessons. (Marland chuckled) The instructors would often say, ‘You listen to us or you’re going to die in Vietnam.’ (Marland affected a Southern accent) That was something you heard a lot.”

Marland graduated from the Basic Course in October 1967 and moved on to the Ranger Course, a grueling, eight-weeks of advanced, small unit tactics and field leadership training.

“The Benning Phase was basic Ranger training: patrolling and tactics in the field. It concluded with a 15-mile road march. It was physically and mentally challenging. Then you went through the Mountain Phase in northern Georgia. You’re worn to a frazzle. You never knew when you’re going to lead a patrol and that’s where you were really tested. The patrols would be things like an ambush patrol or a river crossing patrol. The Jungle Phase was at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was a lot of the same kinds of training on different terrain. You graduated at Eglin.”

Earning that Ranger tab on his uniform was a big deal.

“That was an accomplishment. (Marland laughed) It was pure mental and physical perseverance. I saw guys fall asleep walking and go off the trail into trees. You’re so tired and stressed. They’re getting you ready for what combat can be like.”

Barb stayed in the couple’s cabin in Columbus until Marland’s Christmas leave when both traveled to Russell. She stayed with her parents when he returned to complete Ranger training in February 1968. Marland received assignment orders for Germany.

“We drove to Washington, D.C. first and then drove to New Jersey to put the car on the boat to Germany. We went to a Broadway play in New York City, ‘Hello, Dolly!’ It was a Black cast and I remember the energy didn’t seem to be there. At curtain close, they notified us that Martin Luther King had been assassinated. We went back to our hotel and I remember the crowds outside, protesting. We were off the next day to Germany.”

©2025 William D. Palmer.