I have a very sensitive sense of smell. Not only that, but smell jogs my memory more than any other of the senses.

I walk in somewhere with a certain smell, close my eyes and almost feel the emotions associated with it.  Your sense of smell may not work that way, but I'll bet you remember some smells from your military service.

Here are four odors I shall never forget:

1.  Pine Sol.  That cheap, piney scent that every military base seemed to have gallons of to "clean" the latrines and mess hall.  When I smell regular scented Pine-sol I have flashbacks to latrine cleaning details where I cleaned up other girls' hairs (disgusting) and God know what else from the floors.  Not my idea of fun.  By the way, the floor never seemed clean no matter what you used or did.

2.  Diesel fuel.  If I am near a truck stop or behind a diesel truck at a traffic stop, the smell takes me back to sitting in a motor pool or riding in a convoy.  I don't think they do it as much today, but in the 90s we rode everywhere in a convoy.  It was hot in the summer, and cold in the winter, but it could be pretty fun.

3.  CS gas.  How could you forget that sickeningly sweet smell and pungent odor of CS gas?  It stays in your clothes and hair and lines your nose and lungs, not to mentions burns them.  One time during training I went to help a guy who didn't have his mask on.  Stupidly, I ran to him before putting on my mask and stood right next to a freshly opened canister.  See my story in the forum on the gas chamber, Gas chamber and picture day.

4. Metal.  I call it the "Army smell".  All the equipment from the weapons to the vehicles to the tents, had this metallic funky smell.  This was true during my training and at my Guard unit, or any military place we went.  It wasn't terrible. just distinct and in my mind very much related.

I am sure many of you have other smells you remember- salt water for you Navy vets, jet fuel for you Air Force people, etc.  Some smells may hanut you, and I don't blame you for not wanting to remember those.

Do you have a certain smell of service you'll never forget?  Reply here and share it.