We flew and directed air strikes near and over the DMZ. We flew out over the A Shau Valley. Many of of missions were combat assult missions. One time we went looking for a buldozer driven by the NVA building a road toward Hue. We saw the dozer and as my pilot was looking left out his window I was looking straight ahead and saw the hill and jungle blowing up. I tapped the pilot on his shoulder and pointed and he saw what was coming at him and banked the plane sharply and we just got away from a B-52 air strike. The bottom of our plane was a total wreck. I felt very bad for the young Warrent Officer whe had to explain this th the commanding Officer at the 220th RAC.
On December 12 I was asked to extend for six months. I declined and was told I could go home on 24 December.
I flew to Cam Ranh Bay on 19 December and found out I was being bumped back to Christmas Day. I was very angry. Then I was told I would get home the same day because of the Internationl Date Line.
We spent Christmas eve night on the beach singing Chirstmas Carols by a big bonfire. I was very worried it would attract mortars or rockets. We watched to ROCKs in the mountains around Cam Ranh Bay fighting with the NVA. Their red tracers crossing the NVA's green tracers.
At 0606 hours Christmas Morning we left the ground from Viet Nam. Japan, Guam and landed at McChord Air Force Base at 0545 hours Chistmas Morning. We were then take to Fort Lewis. I thought for sure being Christmas Morning no one would be there to greet us. Was I wrong. Hundreds of volunteers were there to hem pants and shirts. Many churches were there to give money to soldiers who had none so they could get home for Christmas. They did not expect to be paid back. I went to eat. I had a steak, pizza, real green beans with butter, mashed potatoes, chocolate milk, white milk, fudge sundae with nuts and went back for seconds.
At 9:00 Christmas Morning I left Seattle/Tecoma Internationl for New York City. I arrived at 5:00 in a heavy snow storm. I then found out Mohawk Airlines was on strike so I would not make it home Chistmas night. At 10:00 I took a bus out of Port Authority in New York City. I arrived in Corning at 9:00 December 26, A taxi took me to Marilyn's mom and dad home and got stuck on the road going up the hill. I had to walk the last half mile. I walked in on the family having breakfast. I had not called Marilyn to tell her I was coming home. She was very surprised as were my parents about an hour later when we both walked in on them.
