Thanksgiving Rememberance

Well, Thanksgiving for 2009 is over but not my memories of Thanksgiving of 1971. I was to leave Vietnam that evening. I was due to leave in two weaks but my youngest brother was hurt in a hunting accident. My brother's doctor put in a medical leave for me. It was a rush day as I would not be coming back. I had to process out in a very short time and catch the Freedom Bird that night. I got out processed that day and had little time for farewells especially for my Hootch Mate and best friend, Tom Hamilton. I got to a part of the base for the urine testing for drugs. I was the only one there and as luck would have it, could not go. They GI there gave me a sticker anyway and told me to head to Bien Hoa to catch my flight that night. He said I'd have to grab a ride outside the base. On the outskirts of the base I was confronted by Vietnamese civilians asking me if I wanted a ride. I sorta panicked and went to the MP Shack and called the 24th. With panic I told them I could not leave, that they were my family and I wanted a ride back. A short time later an ambulance from the 24th showed up with a couple of the drivers. I didnt' know them as I worked the night shift but they said there were to take me to Bien Hoa which they did. When we got there they advised the MP's and they kept an eye on me until I got on the Bird. The MP smiled at me as I boarded and told me to get on board and said he didnt' need to check me for anything, just had to get me on the plane.

The airline was Overseas International. We sat on the runway for a period of time and some GI's started screaming to take off before we get shelled. We took off and after it appeared to we were well into the sky, cheers were yelled out and the pilot came on welcoming us. We stopped to refuel at a military base in Japan. There were no newbies there as when I was going over there a year ago. It was just quiet with our plane being the only one there. We took off and flew straight to Travis Air Base in Oakland where we arrived about 15 minutes before we left Nam as I seem to recall. I purchased my tickets and took a cab with other GI's to San Francisco. It was late at night when we got there and the only thing I really remember is walking the terminal along with the other GI's returning but not really talking to each other.

I got on my flight to Omaha around 9:00 a.m. and sat next to an older lady. I was so happy she lit up first and I quickly joined here. (This is when the airlines moved smokers to the back aisles.) When she found out I was coming back from Nam she cut half here turkey dinner and give it to me saying I needed it more than she did. I got home and we went right to the hospital to see my little brother. I remember being exhausted. We got there and he said 'Aren't you glad I got shot, you got to come home because of me" or something very similiar. We got home and my brothers and sisters were there and said "Mom, show Mickey what he did you you while he was over there." She pulled off a wig and was totally grey. And my language/slang was what it was except a year older and mixed with Vietnamese pharses and my family laughed.

I knew right then that coming home was a mistake and I should have stayed with my brothers in Nam. I came from getting wounded off choppers, bagging bodies, etc. to ridicule and being called a baby killer - yes, my 2nd or third night.

At time goes by I thought I would forget but find that these are memories burned into my soul, mind and being. For some reason they seem so much stronger and I think and miss my brothers so much more. I know I will never forget my brothers and they are always in my prayers, thoughts and heart.