Act Wisely

Here we go again!; It’s supposedly “Devil’s night”. .. some of the Airmen were itchy to get out ..
These were guys who may had been around longer at the base..
I had just Transferred in to active duty the previous June. One of them said come on you guys let’s go.. . I was an A1C like they were but I didn’t let their supposed seniority stop me.. “NO.. sit down and we’ll wait this out , you guys aren’t going out ! “. Alvarez who had been in longer got back up ..
“Who the **** you think you are ? I got more rank than you !” “Then act like it Al and support me.. you, We, I aren’t juveniles. Stand down and maintain ! We’re not adding to the mayhem out side them gates. Base is closed any way except for mission necessary personnel, so you would not Get off !” I settled back and watched TV.. it was getting late.. I said later guys ! I got work tomorrow ! Just stay in, it’s not worth it ! I was outta there ! I
went to my barracks and room and got some sleep .. I just remembered. I was off tomorrow !
I was still tired . I got what I needed
and went and showered . Definitely felt better. Back to my room and got in my rack after hanging my towel and putting bag in my locker.
Next morning came, I got up and clothed snd went to have breakfast.
I got my food and found a table. A1C Alvarez came to my table and asked me to join them at their table.
I soon found out why.. the shiftleader was there also. “ I hear you kept these Airmen out out of Jail last night ! They said you took command and ordered them to
“Stand down and maintain” what kind of talk is that? Somebody
Promote you y’day? Pretty gutsy move ! Cmdr and 1st on their way over.. there they are ! He acted like the stuff was going to hit the fan .. 1SGT spoke : A1C Herrst(here it comes ..ready?). I heard through the grapevine you talked 3 of your fellow Airmen to stand down and NOT take part in the devil night’s ruckus ....... Good going !” Then the Cmdr had his say : S’thing of showing responsibility (taking charge and some other .50 words like exemplary.. and.. (I really didn’t need this attention in the middle of the breakfast hour).
The Cmdr. Finished up , he asked the Shiftleader quietly when was my next APR due. And he wrote in his portfolio.. then he added some words; “ you’ve set a new higher standard for yourself and others by leading by example !” “ Yes Sir!” I started to get up but he motioned again to remain seated. I managed to get a bite in every so often .. I would of got up to get more... but I
Wasn’t hungry anymore.. So I got my tray and took it to the clipper and went back to see the board and
Escape all them eyes staring at me.. now a third of the base knows, it seems.. it was certainly crowded ..
I suppose I brought that on myself...
I have a habit of doing that.! It’s good .. reminds me of the saying “the good get punished for their deeds”.. (more responsibility is piled on your shoulders). <~ now to bear that added responsibility.. I did it in
AFJROTC.. but this is the real deal !
The ROTC just somewhat got me ready for it.. I went by the orderly
room to get me a new Air Base Group Cover.. I could of gone to the BX and bought one for$6.. actually those at Squadron were for new personnel.. i went in and said I need a new Squadron cover.. the ball cap ! The clerk just looked at me and at 1SGT.. 1St said get him one .. a good one ! There were a few had crooked logos on them..
or a logo had lousy sewing of letters . 1st took them and put aside to send back.. the clerk picked out a nice one.. I took it back to barracks to shape it.. where it was sewn I ironed sharply all around . Around the crown I creased and ironed again after that
I got a needle and thread and did some fine sewing so the creases didn’t come out. It took a few hours. My older cap was done too but was fading pretty good.. I bought a can of colorfast to lock in the navy blue color on this cover.
I put it in my locker . Save for special days. Cmdr calls , app’ts,
About couple months later I had a medical procedure to get done on my hand. It got hurt when I tried to stop a half filled 10 gallon kettle from getting knocked off a stovetop
by a Airman not watching where they were going.. kind messed my
Thumb and a couple fingers pretty
Bad. They looked bent up like a bad
case of arthritis set in. A MSGT at dispensary said he wasn’t going to let the Army at Dix mess my hand up.. maybe caused me to get discharged. So I went TDY to D.C.
To Andrews AFB.. They had to break my hand to reset it. It is great how the AF takes care of their own.. I’d find out about that several years later.. I ended up having a couple surgeries, and p.t. To get My
Hand strong again to handle them pots .. in later years it’s come back to haunt me. The hardness of movement .. “ we
‘We’re going to run you over Bethesda in Maryland, we’lol give you a lunch voucher.. They got a good Surgeon.. but you come back and he’ll operate on you here at Andrews.. I thought i’d Just be there a day.. ended up staying a night.. went back next morn’g..
My Military ride had to get back he said(he didn’t want to get caught on the freeway (it would of been rush hour). I wasn’t the 1st to be
Abandoned.. he’d left some dependents high n dry.. and their man was hot stuff.. I didn’t see him around.. I had another surgery to be done .. they weren’t happy .. they wanted it done right..
finally it got done and 2 days later
I’m back at McGuire . Light duty and going to P.T. Right at our own flight surgeon’s clinic.. I was itchy to be cooking again.. I finally got the cast off.. it was a snap on shell.
I was going to p.t. 2 to 3 times a week.. put my hand in a whirlpool bath .. once a week.. I got my orders and I was outta there .. Vietnam here I come ! They messed up at base.. I got 25 not 30 days.. that’s ok ! I found out later the Reserves.. instead of paying me for some leave I earned before transfer. Somebody somehow managed to transfer with me to the Air Force. So when I got PCS leave I wasn’t many days in the hole. I ‘d earn it back tout sweet..
It was kinda neat.. my Folks had been to Bayonne to visit dad’s sis after a surgery.. then came by and took me home.. I had track of my
Mileage by road and gas spent. I got them fueled at the px and got the receipt for my voucher.. we did good too on mileage.. I drove some miles ., Dad enjoyed driving, I estimated I drove the middle third worth .. when I got back to the. Van
Dad was waiting about 25 feet from the rest room.. 3 hours about and we’d be home . Dad said that rest reinvigorated him.. I think he had one eye open that part of the trip.
I think we got in about 5 or 6 In the morn’g. Now I had 24 days leave.
At about 20th day I recieved amendment to orders I got my other 5 days.. I put the envelope in my portfolio.. Mom signed for the envelope.. but didn’t open it..
Dad asked what about and I said I had to go live fire when I got to Phillipines before reporting in .. I was anxious to get going.. 5 days wasn’t helping much... just increased anxiety ! ...