July 1966 Logan Airport the beginning of the journey to forever. There were about 15 of us on our way to the Old World, the world we just read about in textbooks. In reality it was the world that probably only existed in the minds of degenerates. Well we were supposed to leave for Rome on a commercial flight, not a military flight, but if you remember the airlines were on strike in July 1966. So we were met at the airport by some military officials from Devens and told we were going to Fort Dix and then on to McGuire Air Base to fly overseas on a MAT (Military Air Transport).

Well we went to the nearest Liquor Store picked up some booze and boarded a bus back to NY and from there we would leave for Fort Dix. We sang and got drunk, what a great time but we were still in the States. When would we be leaving for the real world? We arrived in NY around 2 in the morning. I’ll never forget listening to the PA system at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, as they kept saying, "bus for Fort Dix now on gate 12", then ten minutes later "bus for Fort Dix now at gate 30". We played leapfrog with our duffelbags all through the night. We finally arrived at Fort Dix in the afternoon, again now we were with hundreds of GI’s waiting for a MAT’s flight.

We finally took off, but where were we going. Frankfurt Germany, we landed at Rhine Main Airport then on to the AF Base. But we weren’t Air Force so they sent us to the 21^st Replacement in downtown Frankfurt. Looking at the buildings it was still like WW II Germany really hadn’t changed much. We stayed at the Replacement Center for a week. Again, we were lining up in formation every couple of hours until we could get a flight to Asmara. It didn’t matter that we were the top 10% of the Army we pulled details for a week.

Finally, we caught our flight. I looked out the window of our EAL Ethiopian Air Line plane and saw a mechanic putting duct tape on the wing, what am I doing here? First stop Cairo, we stayed for an hour. Back in the air finally on the last part of my journey for 18 months of fun and relaxation. We landed and were met by somebody who was going to accompany us by bus to our final destination. Asmara, Company A, Trick B. We passed by the circle with the favorite statue and then on to the base.

Norman Newguys arriving without a clue of what Asmara was all about? Well, I extended for six months. Wish I had stayed for my whole tour now.

That is a little about my background, now here are a couple of stories that I will share with the vets of Kagnew Station, 4^th USASFS Ethiopia.