Thanksgiving November 25, 1971 in Vietnam

That day finally arrived. I'm leaving Vietnam tonight for the World. My little brother was in a hunting accident and they thought he would lose his hand. My mother was divorced with 6 kids at home and overwhelmed. She contacted the Red Cross and I was leaving Vietnam on Emergency Leave. Since I was "short" and due to return I would not be coming back.

I had difficulty getting my records as it was Thanksgiving Day and many of the branches on base were closed. There were a few GI's doing a hunger strike against the war but it was Thanksgiving and I heard they were still getting some chow so. So much for the hunger strike. I finally got all my records and hastily packed. I worked 7:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day so didn't' really get to see those night shift folks and the goodbyes were very limited. I remember one of the ambulance drivers crying and hugging me. I have never been able to forget that I never were able to say goodbye to those people I spend so much time with.

I got a ride over to the facility where I'd get my urine test that was required to leave the country. It was later in the afternoon and the clock was ticking. I went into the facility. Just me and another GI who gives and monitors the test. Along the wall was the urinals and large overhead round mirrors so they could watch and make sure you actually urinated in the bottle. A person would be away from the urinals until they started to pee, then run up to the urinal and fill the bottle. Shit, talk about bashful kidney's. After a while the GI said he know I was on Emergency Leave and gave me a sticker to confirm I passed the urinalysis.

After this was done I asked how I was to get to the airbase, Bien Hoa, to leave on flight R2B3. He said I'd have to hitchhike. OK I said but internally I was scared, confused and panicked. I went out side the base perimeter within minutes a car called pulled up with a Vietnamese driver asking if I wanted a ride. No I replied and went to the MP shack and got ahold of the 24th Evac and with tears in my eyes said "Your my family" and I'm not leaving. I was told to stay there and someone would be coming. Shortly afterwards one of our newer ambulances showed up. The driver and companion got out and got my gear into it. They said there were told to get me to the airbase.

I don't remember much from that point on other than them having a conversation with an MP when we arrived. The MP kept near me and kept asking if I was OK. Around 2200 hours they began loading the plane. As I walked out on the tarmac to get on the plane the MP was their with his dog checking GI's getting on the plane. He smiled at me and said he did not have to check me and for me to get on the plane.

It seems it was a long time to get the engines going and soon the GI's started to yell to take off, get off the ground before they hit us, etc. All was very quiet as the plane roared down the runway and took off. When it appeared we were high enough that nothing could happen, there were loud screams of joy. The pilot voice came over the speakers and welcomed us aboard the "Freedom Bird".

I didn't yell when we took off. I just sat quietly. I was so overwhelmed by the last 24 hours. Wasn't this what I had waited a year for, finally going home and but why am I feeling such sadness?