There was about two days left before we left our technical school. Time enough to take a photo behind a B580 Hustler. That aircraft was being replaced with a B-52. We also had to clean our barracks so that new people moving in had a clean place to stay. We picked up our tickets at the first shirts office. They were  tickets to go to Luke Air Force Base. We were told to dress in our dress blues with an overcoat. After all it was 58° in Chicago when leaving the base. We were told  to be proud we were Americans.  

 For the first time in my life, I was really proud to be an American.   The airline’s people at Chicago airport treated us like we were a rock stars. The people on the plane flying us to Phoenix treated us like heroes and the pilot and copilot along with the Stewards were fabulous. All  you heard from the people were, “yes sir, no sir , and thank you sir.” 

The plane flight seemed long but we enjoyed going over this country of ours.  The  citys,  towns, the mountains, the rivers and fields. My God what a view! 

When we landed in Phoenix, it seems that joke was on us. The city of Phoenix seemed smaller than Rochester. It seemed to be filled with restaurants, cat Houses and casinos.  We got on the bus and there was no air conditioner.    We drove for almost 2 hours before we got to the airbase.  Remember I said that joke was on us? Well when we left Chicago it was 58°. When we landed in Phoenix it was 89°.  I thought we were dying!

It seemed like Texas was better than this place!   I can remember that thoughts in my head; so far the Air Force has pulled two ‘gotyas’ on me.  

The first being the buddy system and now dressing like we were going to Alaska you know cold and snow?

Back in those days we did not have the weather channel. When we pulled up to the gate two  AP’s ( Air Force police) got on the bus and were checking everyone’s PCS orders along with names, and photo ID. Think about it, who would want to steal someone’s ID and go to a place out in the desert?  We went to our barracks to change our clothes.

Oh yes,  we had big fans at both ends of the barracks. There were no air conditioners. Somewhere along the line, the people who had been there said  it’s always hot but there’s no humidity. What a crock of crap that turned out to be!  

Hot is hot. Screw the humidity!   

The place had many runways. Planes were always taking off and landing. They had f-100 and f-104 jets. The helicopters used were hh-43  along with single bladed gunships.  The biggest surprise was that German Air Force was there flying the 104s. They were  training for bomb runs at GILA-BEND. 

They were real good,only one major difference. Not only were our guys the best but  their pilots were not officers   just like me, just a little better, as they could actually fly.

The first song I heard at the base was being pumped into the cafeteria it was called, “Magic carpet ride.”

Just like the one I was on! Most of the music was country and western. A lot of songs by Glenn Campbell.

You know I was a linesman for the county and so on. I had a great time with the German pilots and ground crew. I also learned some very bad language from the Germans.  It would make my father proud!  

Ha  ha!  I still can’t believe the jets they were flying.  These were high-altitude jets. They were not supposed to be used for bomb runs  and yes people were killed. I tried to keep this far from me as I could. I  didn’t like it it. Seems like at times you could cook an egg on the runway but when it rained, wow, did it ever! I can remember a lots of roads getting washed out and the thunder is nothing like the East Coast. It was very loud  and would last a long time.

I worked on engines for jets, both f-1oos and 104s and also changed engines on the helicopters. The only place I did get to go to off base was Scottsdale. It was a small town. Las Vegas was only 130 miles from the base but I never got there and did not care.  I was at Luke Air Force Base for about 4 1/2 months and went to work one morning and was called in to see the Colonel of our company. Seems I had done so well with working on engines and getting along with people and not getting into any trouble,  that I had been given new PCS orders.

Remember when I told you my recruiter told me I would never go to Vietnam? Well guess what? That’s where I was going!  a

Again, I scratched my head I wondered about my government. The buddy system wasn’t working, dress blues to Arizona  (89°) and now Vietnam. I had to remember I was property of the United States government. He looked at me and said you had a 30 day leave remember don’t get hurt, injured, sick or try leaving the country. In the back of my head I felt missused, along and very angry. This did not last for too long.

Talk about growing up! I did not want to but I had to remember calling my mother and father telling them and listening to some very long whimpers and cries as I hung up.  I would be home in three days on a plane. I kept on asking myself why, why, why? Then again it hit me.  Why not?  What makes me any different, why should I not have to go? Besides if I did what I was supposed,to do stay low and did not get any trouble? I would be home in 12 months.

I kept hearing that recruiter in the back of my mind, “be proud to be an American.” and from that point on I was. I wanted to help my country and be free.

Yes Bob, Times, they are a changing. When I landed in Rochester I could not believe how things had changed and boy did they ever.