Page 176 - 100 Hours to Destiny

Listen: Pittman & Listen: Bus Ride -
Waiting w/ Stuck Last to Come Home

Listen: Bus Ride - Listen: Bus Ride -

Coming into 29 - Baker In Twentynine Palms

Listen: Bus Ride -
Lt Williams w/ Witcher

It took nine hours to make it home. Our families had gathered in one
of the big parking lots and as the busses arrived total chaos broke out.
Families greeting their Marine. Wives and girlfriends refusing to release their
Marine in a long-winded embrace. Hugs and kisses abound, and it was just a
celebration to end all celebrations. We all were so grateful.
Delta Company was granted a month of leave. The patriotic fervor of
the Nation seen with this win had not been observed since the victory in
Europe and Japan in World War II. If a Marine wore his dress blues to a place
like Las Vegas, the world was his oyster. People would buy them penthouse
suites, complimentary world-class dinners, drinks on the house, cabanas at
the pool, free champagne, pretty much the sky was the limit. Go to Laughlin
NV and they would give you jet skis for the day. It was great times. How do I
know this, because they did it for me, and it was exciting! It was pure
patriotic grandness. The Country was doing well financially, and the people
were taking care of their troops…a grateful Nation showing its pride.
Slowly the hands of time would turn. Delta Company would return to
duty to fulfill further missions. The Philippine Islands were asking for Subic
Bay to be returned and some of us would go there in a 47-man contingent
and live amongst the beautiful people of the Philippine Islands, all the time