“Looking for an empty bunk. I just got in and gave my stuff to the first sergeant and he told me to head to the First Platoon. Any empty bunks in here?” Cory asked, looking around.
“There’s one across the hall. Conley left last week, and you’re the first RLO replacement to come in. The division is going home, so we aren’t getting a lot of re
placements. Right now we’re pretty thin on pilots, especially RLOs,” Stu explained.
“Okay, I’ll grab it. I need to go by Supply, Medical and Ops, so I best get my butt in gear. Beer later at the club?” Cory asked.
“You bet,” Stu responded.
Cory crossed the hall and dropped his duffle bag on the empty bed, then headed out. His first stop was Flight Operations. A new Flight Operations NCOIC had come in since Cory had left, and the Operations officer was out flying, so he really had no reason to stick around and reminisce. The same held true for his visit to the medical platoon and the unit supply. The Supply sergeant was the same NCO from when Cory had been there, but they’d had little contact during Cory’s previous assignment, so the conversation was limited. Getting his unit-issued flight gear, which was just a chicken plate, sidearm, and flight suits, as well as bed sheets, Cory headed back to his hooch to start unpacking and settling in. As he reached for the door, the company clerk approached him.
“Lieutenant Cory, Major Adams is in his office if you want to report, sir,” the clerk said.
“I’ll be right over as soon as I drop this in my room,” Cory responded and stepped inside. A few minutes later, he was entering the company commander’s office.
“Sir, Lieutenant Cory reporting for duty,” he said as he came to attention three feet in front of the commander’s desk and rendered a proper salute, holding it until the company commander returned the salute.
Standing and coming around his desk, Major Adams told Cory to stand at ease and extended his right hand, which Cory took. “Welcome home, Lieutenant Cory. Understand you’ve only been gone about three months. Sit down.” He motioned to a folding chair and sat on the edge of his desk.
“Yes, sir, but it wasn’t my plan to come back as a pilot. I was hoping to get an infantry assignment, but when it was obvious I wasn’t going to get that, I asked to come back here. I understand that the division’s going home but we’re staying.”
“True. Sometime after January first, we become part of the Fifty-Second Aviation Battalion, First Aviation Brigade. We will retain our call sign and unit designation, however. For the immediate future, we will continue our mission of supporting the ARVN units operating in this area, part of the Third ARVN Airborne Division, which is headquartered here and is covering the area from Tay Ninh to Bu Gi Map. They’re also operating on both sides of the border, so expect some cross-border operations. We have US advisors on the ground with these guys and they’re doing a good job of showing these guys how to operate around the aircraft.”
“Are we getting a lot of hours, sir?” Dan asked.
“We’re averaging about six to seven hours a day, so it will be enough to keep you busy.”
“Sounds good to me, sir,” Cory said with a smile.
“Let me ask, Lieutenant, why did you volunteer to come back? You already did eighteen months over here. You’re not married, are you?”
“No, sir, not married. Do have a girlfriend, but she was understanding about me coming back. I’m an infantry officer. This is what infantry officers do, and this is the only fight we have right now. I wanted to get back here to add some credibility to my infantry officer status. Also, I believe the grunts need officers that have their concerns and safety in mind while accomplishing the mission,” Cory explained.
Major Adams stared at Cory for a few seconds before he spoke. “Lieutenant, you’re an idealist, but I can use an experienced pilot. I understand you were the unit’s instructor pilot before you went home, and a flight leader.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How about we put you up on a few flights until you get your touch back and get a feel for the AO again and then we’ll make you an AC?”
“Sounds good to me, sir. I recall that when guys had been gone for a time, even thirty-day leaves, their touch was off. I recommended to Major Saunders once that any AC that was gone more than two weeks we should put in the right seat for a couple of missions. I’ve been gone for three, almost four months, so I have no problem climbing back into a right seat for a time.”
“Good. Well, welcome back. I’ll have some additional duties for you shortly that will come through your platoon leader. You’ll also be a section leader, and he’ll cover that with you. Any questions?”
“Just one sir. If no one has it, can I get my old call sign back?” asked Cory
“What was it?”
“Sir, it was Chicken-man One-Niner,” Cory said with a grin.
“I don’t think anyone has that one. Talk to Ops, and if no one has it you can have it again. Tell them to assign it to you now. Any other questions?”
The major stood, and Cory realized that this was the end of this interview. “No, sir, no questions, just glad to be here.”
Major Adams moved behind his desk as Cory came to attention and saluted.
As Cory departed the orderly room, Major Adams picked up the field phone and told the operator to connect him to Operations.
“Captain Beauchamp, sir,” the Operations officer responded.