January 31, 1967 has much meaning to me as on this day I began my trek to serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam! I left the Worcester Airport following an ice storm. I said good bye to my folks and had no idea of what I was in for. I acted in good faith.
From Worcester to New York and Idlewild Airport I boarded a commercial jet to San Francisco non-stop. As we descended to the ground I looked out of the plane's window and noticed green grass. Quite a difference from my New England.
I arrived a couple of days early so I could take in the sights with my friend and fellow soldier - Tom Cleveland. We hit the topless bars and forgot what loomed on my life's horizon: WAR! I had been training for nine months so "getting on with the program" was not any big thing. Oakland Army Base was flooded with thousands headed for war ad thousands coming home..
My Trans-Pacific sojourn saw a stop at Honolulu then to Okinawa own to Saigon. All of us soldiers were khaki dress uniforms. All of the jet was without First Class sections. From winter to summer and landing at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, my year began. It was lots like M*A*S*H. I reported to Long Bin Junction, the reception center. There were no less than 16 X-ray trained GIs waiting for assignment. It was the luck of the draw!
ROBERT L. POTVIN
