Guy had been ordered to Vietnam not long after the first men walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. We watched the historic happening, at least Walter Cronkite, on black and white TV at his family farm near Glidden, Iowa. Guy’s father lost a leg in a corn picker accident that fall.
I taught school at Van Meter during that year, earning enough to pay off my college loan. I lived with Mom and Dad on the farm near Dexter, so I got in on several family activities, plus I drove up to Glidden to see Guy’s family. His dad demonstrated how he could drive a stick shift car with one leg.
And Guy and I wrote letters back and forth. He also sent tapes to listen to. He was based at Nha Trang, along the South China Sea, as an air traffic controller.
Guy’s mother called April 19 that his dad, Lowell Kidney, age 48, died of a heart attack and that the Red Cross that was to notify Guy. Guy was given emergency leave to come home for the funeral. He arrived in Seattle in uniform early the morning of April 21.
Continental Airlines refused to accept a personal check for a $57 ticket to fly home in time. An Army captain saw it happen and offered to cash a check so Guy could fly home. (I don’t think we even owned a credit card at that point.)
Vietnam veterans were disdained and not welcomed home. Guy was still in uniform. Was that why the airline refused his check? Or just company policy?
Guy had a layover in Denver so spent the night in the terminal, at the old Denver airport. I managed to wash our VW bug at the farm, but I don’t remember how. A bucket and a rag in the gravel driveway?
The next morning I picked him up at the Des Moines airport and we drove to the farm. He cleaned up and changed clothes at the farm before we started out for Glidden an hour away in a strong wind. We had a flat tire on the way, so Guy, wearing his suit, changed it along the road. We made it just on time for the funeral.
That Army Captain
God bless that Army captain who cashed a young airman’s check so he could get home for his father’s funeral. Guy thought that maybe he didn’t even cash the check but, even though he’s saved all our canceled checks all these decades, he can’t prove it. The two checks he carried aren’t among them, so perhaps the captain didn’t even cash the check.
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In February of 1970, cousin Bob Scar, a Marine pilot, was ordered to Vietnam. (He, Gloria, and I are the only grandchildren of Leora Wilson still living.)
I finished out the school year and Guy was discharged from the Air Force in May. He drove back and forth to his widowed mother’s farm. His sister was in college and brother, age nearly 12, at home with their mother.
Guy applied for a job with the FAA, with a recommendation from Howard Firebaugh. A job offer took nearly a year, so he helped out on both family farms that summer and fall. The job offer was for Denver tower, the old one.
Air Traffic Control became Guy’s career in 1971. Even though he was not a soldier in the jungle, he evidently was exposed to Agent Orange and has been living with Parkinson’s for half a dozen years.
It feels like another time. The airline not accepting a check. Limited credit card usage. The challenges of travel then and getting home in time. A neat snip-it in time Joy!!!!
Thank you, Brian. I wonder whether it was because he was in uniform. Vietnam vets weren’t welcomed home at all. Or simply company policy. $57!
Yea, my uncle used to talk about how strange and challenging his “welcome home” was. I know checks weren’t always accepted but still a strange policy for that time.
That’s very interesting. Things sure have changed. $57 at that time was quite a lot of money. Glad he got home in time for his dad’s funeral. Sad about the effects of agent orange. xo
Thank you, Darlene.
So sad how the returning Vietnam War vets were treated.
You’re right, Dennis.
It’s very strange that his check was not accepted. At the time, Continental Airlines, led by its legendary and intensely patriotic CEO Robert Six, had deep ties to the military. Continental routinely accepted personal checks. If that was an agent with some ax to grind, let’s hope karma hit them with a tuna.
Yes! Thanks, John.
It was disgraceful how the Vietnam Vets were treated during that time. Praise the Lord for the Army captain who paid the $57 for your Favorite Guy. I’m sorry he ended up with Parkinson’s. 🙁
Thank you, Nancy. We’re thankful that the Air Force gave him a career (that he enjoyed) and that we’re still be able to be in our own home.
The way Guy was treated was just despicable. Thank God for that Army captain. When my dad saw how badly the returning Vietnam vets were treated, he made a point of going to the American Legion Hall once a week in case one of them needed someone to talk to or a kind word.
Hurrah for your dad, Liz!
Thank you, Joy!
😊
I just had the second Skin cancer surgery today. Out in the civilian world, referred by the VA! Not associated to Agent Orange exposure, but prostate cancer earlier was connected to AO. That fact allowed me VA medical 19 years ago when financial standing otherwise ruled me out. I was spit upon and “liquids” tossed at me through chain link fence going onto San Francisco Airport terminal coming home. Unpatriotic, sick hippies! I am grateful as a proud veteran to have my VA medical privileges. Thanks, fellow tax payers. Best wishes to you and Guy. Cousin Bob
I didn’t know that, Bob. A tough memory. Guy also has prostate cancer, so far keeping an eye on this. VA benefits for it an Parkinson’s but still in the civilian medical system. He’ll be having hernia surgery the 21st, after we wade through several other appointments these next couple of weeks. Best wishes to you and Lisa as well.
Once again, your words are good, so important. When you tell stories about these, small, personal happenings, I feel like I am there experiencing these events. You have such a gift.
Thank you, Dave! You’ve been doing it lately through your county fair photos!
What a frustrating series of events for Guy! I remember the tapes my dad used to send us from Vietnam.
Was your dad in the army? What years?
It’s real good reading this about your husband and you, Joy. Too bad his dad died, but nice that he got an emergency leave to go home for his dad. It was nice the captain cashed his check for him.
Thank you, Tim. The Air Force also discharged him at the end of May. I guess I forgot that.
😍