Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama was my first duty station after basic training.  It was also the site of NASA during the space race with the Soviets.  We could often hear the roar of rocket testing.

I was here for a 44-week training course in radar electronics for the Nike missile defense system.  Classes were 5 days a week, 7 or 8 hours a day; evenings were spent at the "slop chute" drinking 3.2 beers.  Weekends were spent on soldierly stuff for the first few months.  But eventually, that slacked off, and we were given weekend passes.  I was able to experience the Deep South during the beginning of the civil rights period.  It was an eye-opening experience.