It's early morning and the Freedom Bird had landed at an airbase in Japan. We got off the plane while it's refueling. Inside it is a stark contrast to what it was a year before. Last year there were GI's like us who were returning to the World. I remember how old they looked and they looked so sad and we very quiet. I remember how dirty they jungle fatigues were compared to our new and spotless ones. However our return, there were no "newbies" just us. At the time I really wasn't aware that they war was winding down and fewer soldiers were going to Vietnam.
After the plane refueled, we took off for Travis Air Base in California. The plane was an old 707 and there was no movies or really anything else. We got three meals and the Sky went from dark to light and back to dark again. After about 10 hours we landed at Travis, on Thanksgiving night.
I had on Khaki's so was able to get a flight and not wait to get a new uniform. When getting my flight another guy yelled "Hey Mahoney". It was a guy had been with in either basic or advanced training. He must have been on the same plane as me. Anyway, he needed $20 or $40 to pay for his flight. I gave him the money. (For those who know me, this is probably the one time in my life I actually had extra cash on me.) He wanted my address to send the money to me and I gave it to him, knowing full well he would not send it and me not really wanting him to. I was really glad I could have helped.
I shared a cab with some other GI's and I think we went over the Golden Gate Bridge and headed for the San Francisco Airport. When we arrived I checked in for my flight which would leave the next morning at 9:30 a.m. After that, I joined the ranks of the other GI's, quietly walking around the airport. One GI did approach me to ask how old I was. I was 21 and he wanted me to rent a car. I turned him down. I can't remember why he wanted me to get he car.
The remainder of time I don't believe I talked to one person, just joined the ranks in pacing the airport with my fellow GI's.
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