I returned to Holloway from Lane Army Airfield on 12/24/68. The first flight platoon had been sent there on 12/1/68 to support Korean troops. I had been told my leave orders had come in and I was headed home for thirty days.

When I got to the orderly room, I was told that something was wrong with the orders and that I wouldn't be going anywhere for a few days. I ended up pulling guard duty with the Crocs that night because they were short handed because of gun stand-by duty.

Christmas morning I went to operations and asked if their needed a crew chief for the day. Didn't feel like hanging around base when the rest of the platoon was gone. I flew with second flight that day. Resupplying firebases around Kontum in the morning and then heading up to Dak to in the afternoon. By late afternoon, we had been released. We picked up some passengers at the "Hot Spot" to drop off at New Pleiku. The 4th Avn. Co. was also sitting there. Chris Noel has been going into the firebases most of the day, entertaining the guys for Christmas. They were heading back to Pleuki but she was walking around telling everyone Merry Christmas. I had taken her around to some firebases back in May. She one of the people that most of us will never forget for what her one or two visits did for us.

Got back to Holloway that evening and Sgt. Wyatt was waiting for us. Chewed my butt out for flying and not telling him because my orders had come down and he had spent the better part of the afternoon looking for me. Left the following day and made it home New Years day.