I made sure I got a window seat, and the center of Australia looks like my type of country, red desert! We don't have any luck, and do not get the privilege of being stuck in Darwin for a day or two. Gail, one of our Navy MILPHAP nurses, who went home six weeks ago, was on a plane that had engine trouble, and she was put up in a Aussie service member's home for three nights. Said she had a ball!

Oh, my head hurts! My stomach is churning. This is a long journey, from Australia back to Cam Ranh Bay; and I am complaining about the bus ride to the Sydney Airport.

I made sure I got a window seat, and the center of Australia looks like my type of country, red desert! We don't have any luck, and do not get the privilege of being stuck in Darwin for a day or two. Gail, one of our Navy MILPHAP nurses, who went home six weeks ago, was on a plane that had engine trouble, and she was put up in a Aussie service member's home for three nights. Said she had a ball!

We get back to CRB around mid-afternoon, and as we deplane, we spot the next bunch of lucky guys and gals going to Sydney.

I'm able to get a hop on a C-130 headed for Saigon, and we land around 1900. The air terminal tell me it is too late to get down to the Delta tonight. No one can tell me where the transient quarters are located; so I go over to MACV to ask about a place to stay over night.

The only place near by that had a bed was the MACV Headquarters enlisted barracks.

The NCOIC tells me to grab any empty bunk on the second floor. There are 20 bunks, and there is only one EM in house. He tells me everyone else has a permanent shack job in town, and we have the floor to our selves. Clean, bright, and the place was air conditioned!

I couldn't believe it, GIs living in the lap of luxury in the middle of a war!

The next morning, I am back on Delta Flight 440, and return to Soc Trang. When I take my gear to the Engineer House, I find Joel on the phone. He is trying to get permission to take 30 days leave in Australia before going home. Dumb shit! He goes home tomorrow, to his wife and kids, including William C Westmorland Xxxxxx, born a few months ago. Go figure! Me, I can't wait to get home.

But, I know I can do the next 20 days on my head if I have too. Three weeks, and I'll be home - that is if you can call Hohenecken, Germany, home. At least that's where Liliane and my two boys are! Oh, my head hurts! My stomach is churning. This is a long journey, from Australia back to Cam Ranh Bay; and I am complaining about the bus ride to the Sydney Airport.

I made sure I got a window seat, and the center of Australia looks like my type of country, red desert! We don't have any luck, and do not get the privilege of being stuck in Darwin for a day or two. Gail, one of our Navy MILPHAP nurses, who went home six weeks ago, was on a plane that had engine trouble, and she was put up in a Aussie service member's home for three nights. Said she had a ball!

We get back to CRB around mid-afternoon, and as we deplane, we spot the next bunch of lucky guys and gals going to Sydney.

I'm able to get a hop on a C-130 headed for Saigon, and we land around 1900. The air terminal tell me it is too late to get down to the Delta tonight. No one can tell me where the transient quarters are located; so I go over to MACV to ask about a place to stay over night.

The only place near by that had a bed was the MACV Headquarters enlisted barracks.

The NCOIC tells me to grab any empty bunk on the second floor. There are 20 bunks, and there is only one EM in house. He tells me everyone else has a permanent shack job in town, and we have the floor to our selves. Clean, bright, and the place was air conditioned!

I couldn't believe it, GIs living in the lap of luxury in the middle of a war!

The next morning, I am back on Delta Flight 440, and return to Soc Trang. When I take my gear to the Engineer House, I find Joel on the phone. He is trying to get permission to take 30 days leave in Australia before going home. Dumb shit! He goes home tomorrow, to his wife and kids, including William C Westmorland Xxxxxx, born a few months ago. Go figure! Me, I can't wait to get home.

But, I know I can do the next 20 days on my head if I have too. Three weeks, and I'll be home - that is if you can call Hohenecken, Germany, home. At least that's where Liliane and my two boys are! We get back to CRB around mid-afternoon, and as we deplane, we spot the next bunch of lucky guys and gals going to Sydney.

I'm able to get a hop on a C-130 headed for Saigon, and we land around 1900. The air terminal tell me it is too late to get down to the Delta tonight. No one can tell me where the transient quarters are located; so I go over to MACV to ask about a place to stay over night.

The only place near by that had a bed was the MACV Headquarters enlisted barracks.

The NCOIC tells me to grab any empty bunk on the second floor. There are 20 bunks, and there is only one EM in house. He tells me everyone else has a permanent shack job in town, and we have the floor to our selves. Clean, bright, and the place was air conditioned!

I couldn't believe it, GIs living in the lap of luxury in the middle of a war!

The next morning, I am back on Delta Flight 440, and return to Soc Trang. When I take my gear to the Engineer House, I find Joel on the phone. He is trying to get permission to take 30 days leave in Australia before going home. Dumb shit! He goes home tomorrow, to his wife and kids, including William C Westmorland Xxxxxx, born a few months ago. Go figure! Me, I can't wait to get home.

But, I know I can do the next 20 days on my head if I have too. Three weeks, and I'll be home - that is if you can call Hohenecken, Germany, home. At least that's where Liliane and my two boys are!