WOW !!

got a "drop", left next day, but spent four days and nights at Cam Ranh, waitin'..

You guys remember the cheers and almost nirvana when the wheels went up with that schweet
buh-bump ???

Sat next to an SFC on the plane who knew my Dad.
We got plowed. Twice over.

Arrived at McChord in the wee hours of the morning, it was a week 'til Christmas-and about 35 degrees... arrived in khakis, with no outerwear. Stood in line, outside, after de-planing, for well over an hour- . Some welcome. Customs took their sweet time, and once done there, and having processed thru the military desk, got my Chit for a Steak- gave it to another G.I.- I just wanted to un-ass the AO ASAP. Got to a phone and made arrangements for Frisco, to fulfill a solemn promise to visit the family of my former (Pleiku) roomie, Dane Juarez.

Decided to get a GOOD night's sleep first, and taxied to the Hyatt at SeaTac. Checked in, left my 'Nam savings in the hotel safe, contacted Dane's wife, and told her to expect me the following afternoon. That was a Friday. Got a good meal in the coffee shop, and went out and scored a nickel bag of dirtweed. It was . (Nothing like ol' Red, or BongSon bomberz .) Drank my butt into the third shade of oblivion, up at about daylight, finished the dirtweed, and attempted to check out. No one had the safe combo. They could not reach ANYONE with it, and the "Manager" was in Tahoe for the weekend. I was their guest until oh-dark thirty
Monday a.m., at which time the proper buttons were pushed, and I departed Seattle (WITH MY MONEY) after taking extreme advantage of their generosity in food, lodging and drink. Too bad they didn't offer to get me some Red.

Arrived in Frisco that afternoon to a REAL homecoming. Dane's parents, wife and daughter met me, took me home, then out to dinner fit for a king, and the tour of Frisco. They were like my family.

Next day, El Paso bound- on arrival, taxied home, and just walked in, to find a houseful getting ready for Christmas, down to the venison on the
barby. Whew !!

They hadn't expected me until late January- or did they?

I had a little over eight months to go in the Army at that time. At Fort Sill, they did their best to get me to "take six"- promised me E-6 and almost
15K bonus- thanks, but no thanks.

I salute you guys who went "back", if you had a choice in it, didn't have a choice, or volunteered.

Brothers and Sisters, and to all of Yours-

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Chanukkah,
or whatever else is appropriate. I'm not politically correct, whatever that really is...

Love you folks.

Lump and Family