On January 5, 1971 I boarded my own personal Freedom Bird to finally get out of that crazy place. It some ways it seems as if I had been there forever and yet the year had passed by very quickly. We were so close to DaNang that I remember hearing those jets taking off from time to time; it sounded as if they were passing right over the top of us. I would sit there wondering if I'd ever make it and thinking about Rick and all those other men who went home in a different way.

No one on board was saying very much; I guess we were all nervous worrying if something might go wrong. As we finally began to roll down the runway most of the men spontaneously began to shout louder and louder "GO"! "GO"! "GO"! I couldn't say anything; I kept thinking about Rick. As the wheels cleared the ground a tremendous cheer rose from everyone on board. I began to cry softly to myself. I suppose it was a combination of relief, sadness, joy. I was finally going home.