Dear Garrett..

Chapter 29

PARTY OVER?

ORDER TO REPORT FOR ARMED FORCES PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

A notice arrived unexpectedly in my mailbox indicating to me that the two happiest years of my life might be coming to an end.

When I turned 21, my life was running smoothly, actually wonderful, better than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. I had my new aviation family. I lived and worked in the beautiful Monterey Bay California area. I had my great flying job and spent time at Nate’s Bar with the boys every night when I wasn’t flying. Jennifer was always eager and ready to see me.

I could have enjoyed things staying that way indefinitely. But there was this notice that showed up which looked like something that would require my attention.

I didn’t know exactly what to make of the notice. I kinda knew. I could read and understand the words. It said that I was supposed to be at a certain place on a certain day for a physical exam. I needed to speak with someone more familiar with what all this notice and physical was about.

Darrell Freeman and I were alone at Nate’s Bar the evening the notice arrived. All our other airport colleagues were unusually absent which made it a good time to show Freeman this notice and have a serious talk about it.

After a brief scan of the notice, I could sense that Freeman knew instantly what was in store for me. Upon seeing the notice, Freeman’s expression immediately turned somber. Observing his expression, I could sense this notice didn’t hold any good news for me.

Though Freeman knew it had become my turn to be drafted into the military for likely service in Vietnam he didn’t say anything about that. He didn’t have to. Freeman turned as serious as I had ever seen him. It’s the only time I ever saw Freeman obviously pained by something he saw or heard.

I could feel that Freeman realized the notice potentially held grave consequences for me if I was to successfully pass the physical exam.

Sitting at the bar with our beers in front of us, Freeman looked down and closed his eyes to gain his composure to speak to me. Freeman had raised me up from a fledgling young Aviator and now he was going to see me go away for a while and face the terrors of war in a place far from home. Freeman knew I’d be taking a part of him with me. I held a special place in his heart and thoughts which would be going to war with me. To Freeman, I was still a young kid now being called on to do a very big man size job. Freeman had to be wondering if I would be able to handle the job the military would train me to do.

Freeman took a few sips of his beer preparing himself to deliver his recommendation on a course of action for me to take in response to the notice I had received. Turning his head in my direction but without looking at me Freeman simply said “Go see the Army recruiter tomorrow. Tell him you want to join the Army and become a Warrant Officer. Tell him that you want to fly Mohawks.”

“TO BE CONTINUED”