Chapter 23: Rachel Airlines, What The Heck Is Going On?

Apparently it's unusual for the random shack guard to recognize and salute the officer flying classified aircraft without the reaction of, "Oh my god." written on his face.  The secondary runway at Castle AFB is hidden in a fairly remote and desolate area just west of Death Valley.  What The Sargent did not know is that he was going through a rather obscure recruiting process.  Standing guard next to a nothing shack in 100 plus temperatures without complaint meant something.  He was met at the shack by a blue Dodge Ram truck, replaced by another guard and handed an envelope that read, "Your Eyes Only."  

The Sargent was ordered to report to the Base commander in respectable condition.  That meant after taking a shower and changing into an appropriate uniform, So He got cleaned up, shaved, and put on his best, and only set of class A's.  The dress uniform of The United States Airforce.  Because of his training that included an earned Red Barret with the SAC Prime Beef symbol dead center.  The uniform was meticulously kept with ribbons and awards arraigned in the correct order.   Bloused boots, Gold and Maroon wound rope over the shoulder and around the waist, and the service 45 tucked in it's holster just under the left arm inside the jacket.  This was His dress uniform, and it made him feel special. 

The Sargent reported the Base Command Headquarters.  At the Entry He produced the correct ID card and used the correct secret code name then went through a short ritual where the SP at the door placed a box on a table and opened it.  The Sargent un-holstered his weapon, placed it in the box and closed the lid.  The SP locked it with a key then handed The Sargent the key and placed the box on a shelf.  He then opened the door to the headquarters and was instructed where the command office was.  The Sargent walked in, the door was locked behind him, and he walked down the hall to the Office of The Base Commander, One Brigadier General, One Star, George Eastepp.   Inside the office The Sargent approached the General's desk, removed the Barret, tucked it under his left arm, and snapped a quick salute, "Reporting as Ordered Sir." He said.

The General pushed an envelope across the table to him and asked him to produce the envelope he was given on the flight line, the one that said, "For Your Eyes Only."  The General told him he could open it now.  It contained orders hand written in blue ink with three destinations, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Belize.  The General then told him to open the envelope that was just pushed towards him.  The envelope contained a set of Staff Sargent stripes.  The Sargent had just been promoted contingent on the orders he was just given.  "You are now on leave until the date on top of your orders telling you when to report to this location.  Good Luck, Staff Sargent."  The General shook his hand, sat back down and said in a commanding voice, "Dismissed."

The Staff Sargent saluted, did an about face, took the Barret from under his arm and secured it back on his head and walked to the door.  It was opened from the outside by a guard.  He walked down the hall to the exit and the original guard.  There was another short ceremony where the Guard placed the box in front of The Staff Sargent, opened it and said, "All yours sir."  The Staff Sargent holstered the Colt 45 service weapon and left the compound.  He was officially on leave.  For the 1st time since joining the Air Force. 

The Staff Sargent found his bag already packet in the Dodge.  He drove to the main flight line of the Base.  At the main gate was a waiting plain white red tailed Boeing 737.  He and his 5 friends all entered the plane.  When on the plane they all looked to him and said, "What's next Sarge?"  

"Leave, then report to the Base on the tops of your orders." Is all he said.  The plane took off and a female Airman appeared offering refreshments, then approached him, "The Captain would like to see you sir." she said.  

He got up from his seat and made his way to the cockpit of the plane.  The door was opened and he entered.  The Captain turned in his seat to face him and said, "Good to see you again Staff Sargent."  It was Captain Knapp.  Again he appears in places unannounced, "Welcome to Rachel airlines he said. Our first destination is Las Vegas where you will each board flights to your leave destinations. We'll be in the air approximately 45 minutes."  He shook The Staff Sargent's hand, "Congratulations." 

The Boy suddenly felt a sickening urge to puke over take him.  He held on, and the Airman helped him to his seat with a shot of Pepto Bismol.  Everything was just to coincidental, and the mission began.

Peace and Balance,

John

 

Chapter 22: Look, Bat Man's Plane

 

The Boy traveled to San Antonio Texas to attend the Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base.  The training was the standard Air Forces 8 weeks of Emotional and mental torment.  The Physical part of the training wasn't difficult for The Boy as he was pretty physically active already.  Because of his education and experience when The Boy graduated Basic He left the base with two stripes making him an Airman First Class.  He had attended college for a couple years at Northern Montana College in Havre before joining the Air Force.  This gave him a head start. 

The Boy was waiting for a set of orders telling him where he was to further his training and education.  He was asked to report to the base command when an unknown Captain intercepted him on his way to the head shed.  The Capt. was the same officer that had saved The Boy and a couple other Airman from a verbal lashing earlier in his education.  His name was Knapp, Captain Knapp.  The Captain took The Boy to the Main Base front Gate had him get into the back seat of a blue Ford Galaxy sedan.  The Captain got behind the wheel and drove off base, down the road about 15 minutes and in the Main Gate of Kelly Air Force Base right next door to Lackland.  

Turns out that Kelly is the training base for many Air Force special units including some of the Engineering units that support tactical command operations.  The Boy was thrust head long into the first step of what is militarily known as FooBar.  FooBar is a non word that indicates that the recipient is basically screwed, The Boy was now FooBar.  

He thought that waking at 5 AM. was early until a metal trash can was throne into his room at 3 in the morning followed by a large screaming meanie who's first name was Sargent, or rather Master Sargent.  The Sargent informed The Airman First Class that it was time for all good children to get out of bed and begin morning drills.  The Boy found a 50 foot cord of rope tied around his waist and shoulders while he and 5 of his new friends ran in form around their new Base singing a silly song about The Master Sargent's sister.  Sounded all pretty insane to The Airman First Class, but who was he to question The Sargent? Not going to happen.  

6 more weeks of tactical training, security training, and The Boy's favorite, Hand to Hand combat training.  This was the stuff that The Boy excelled at.  He was already a fairly trained killer, but as the saying always goes, "Never enter the Dojo with a full cup, somebody is always willing to empty it for you"  This happened almost immediately.  The Boy found himself looking up at the sky from his back on the ground after a failed attempt to unbalance The Master Sargent.  The Squad found the ordeal amusing until each fell to the same fate, one by one.  

After 6 weeks there was a short graduation ceremony that consisted of a handshake and a cup of coffee, then the squad was shuffled into a blue Air Force bus for their very long trip directly north through Texas to Sheppard Air Force Base at Wichita Falls.  The trip lasted 10 hours and was very hot and uncomfortable.  Texas is a big state.  

At Sheppard AFB The Boy was introduced to his Prime Beef unit of Base Emergency Engineer Force.  These are the Airmen that are used to rebuild, protect, and support all operations on the Base command.  The Boy's previous training, and the Prime Beef training combined qualified him for the Advanced NCO school.  He was learning to lead.  There must be a mistake.  He was at this training base for another 8 weeks when Captain Knapp again found him on his way to class, The Captain handed him orders to report to Castle AFB California ASAP.  He was now a Sargent.  He was beginning to feel uncomfortable, something was up. 

 Castle AFB is in the middle of the desert right at the base of Death Valley a little north east of Atwater CA.  This is usually a step off point for SAC deployments over seas.  The Boy was made to guard an empty shack on the front end of an airstrip in the middle of a desolate range.  While guarding the shack The Newly Promoted Buck Sargent looked up into the western sky and thought he saw a shimmering way up and beyond the horizon.  He was straining to see what was making the distortion when the plane banked to turn toward the runway.  He was suddenly looking at Bat Man's plane flying directly at him from the western sky.  It was big, silent, and was landing at his end of the runway.  As the plane rolled by on the runway The Boy could see the pilot.  He offered up a salute and was amazed at the plane that was rolling buy.  This was his first view of a stealth bomber, a plane that at this time was still classified and unknown to the general public.  This was for lack of a proper name a UFO.  

The Boy's only thought, "Way Cool."

Peace and Balance,

John