Aviano, Italy

It all started as a rumor. Cameron, our cockpit man, told me my orders to transfer to Nellis AFB near Las Vegas were changed, I was now going to Mountain Home AFB, in Mountain Home, Idaho.

No, no no no! It isn’t legal to change my next assignment less than 30 days before my last day.

I went over to the squadron to find somebody to complain. We were TDY, on temporary duty assignment, and the squadron I was referring to was the Tactical Fighter Squadron I was TDY with, not the maintenance squadron of home. Even though I had never been inside the squadron headquarters, I knew I had to do something. I asked around and sure enough, they had a copy for me. My next station is now Mountain Home, Idaho.

I had to get a map to see where it is. Well not so bad, it is still close enough I can go home and visit my mom occasionally. Most were jealous, Mountain Home is a choice assignment. It is a sportsman’s paradise they all told me.

I grew up fishing. I had guns, almost an arsenal. Sportsman’s paradise, eh? I guess I could get along there, but it still irked me that they changed my next base to Idaho.

I know now what happened back then. It was Jack Birch, he had me transferred to his base. He took a liking to me right away back when I first arrived at Bitburg, and now he was reaching out and having me assigned to his current home. Well, I guess it is always nice when you are wanted.

I had to get a letter off to Billy right away.

Dear Billy,
Them bastards changed me to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. My new orders are to arrive in Charleston AFB, South Carolina. My motorcycle is going to arrive in New Jersey. Now what am I supposed to do?

Your Buddy,

Joey

When I got back to Bitburg I got a letter from Billy.

Joey,
No problem, just send me a power of attorney, I will pick up your bike in New Jersey and drive down to Charleston and get you. Then we will drive to California together.

Billy

So I sent Bill a copy of my orders, a power of attorney, and the registration on my bike.

So I got another letter from Billy.

Joey,
Thanks a lot sucker. Thanks for the really neat motorcycle.

Billy

They all laughed at me.

All my roommates, all my motorcycle buddies, even Al Holsenbeck, by boss, thought I was a fool to send Dexter all that stuff.

I left Bitburg on the same bus I arrived in just two years and two months prior. I didn’t look back. I was jet lagged when I arrived. I was just as detached when I left.

I got on a plane in Frankfurt and I flew across the ocean to Charleston South Carolina.

I got off the plane and there was Billy.

He had his red van.

My motorcycle was in the back.