Daniel Kaiser

Austin, Texas

I left for Vietnam in early January 1966 landing at Cam Ranh Bay assigned to the 12th. TFW, 12th FMS as a jet engine mechanic on F-4C fighters. My year was simply doing my job but the end of my tour was my best Christmas present. My orders came in a couple of weeks early and I left Cam Ranh for Tan Son Nhut on 23 Dec. After debriefing and out processing my last meal on base on 25 Dec. was turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. The plane took off at 1300 hrs and once at altitude and settling in the air crew surprised us with turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. After a refueling stop and crew change in japan we were off again and in a few hours we crossed the international date line and now it was Christmas on this side of the world. The new air crew surprised us with turkey dressing and all the trimmings once again. Another refueling stop in Al aska and then it was touchdown in California where we were met but the ladies of the USO greeting the troops returning from Vietnam on Christmas Day with a dinner of turkey dressing and all the trimmings. Next it was a flight home to Texas where my wife and parents were waiting for me with Christmas dinner.