Driver's License Story

 One of the odd things about this Texas shooter.....he had no driver's license.  At age 18, you'd expect that.

For the first 15 years I was in the Air Force.....I had one single co-worker who had no license....a guy named Mike from Baltimore.

Mike was unique.  After a month of working with the guy....I came to realize Mike wasn't that bright, and probably more of a 13-year old kid than 19 years old.

About six months after arriving at the base (McChord, far NW of the US)....Mike wanted to take leave (going back to visit Baltimore for four weeks).   About four days before leaving....Mike said he didn't have much cash (he wasn't going to fly back....he was going via Trailways).  So we passed the hat in the shop and handed Mike around $150....enough for a R/T bus-ticket in those days.

Mike left and on day thirty...he failed to show up.  Day thirty-one.....our boss called Mike at the number he left, and his momma said he wasn't coming back.  

The next day, our First Sgt called Mike and spelled out the routine....but Mike was pretty blunt....no return.

They sent the cops there, and had someone from the unit fly into Baltimore....pick him up and bring him back.  He spent 30 days in the base jail, lost a stripe, and then told to just hang out for the remaining 2.5 years.  

After Mike....I was in my final three years before coming across five individuals (all coming into service around 1996-1997).....with no license.  

Excuse?  They didn't need it.

After retirement, from 2000 to 2009.....I worked around another five or six individuals with the same issue.  

It's one of those odd things you came to notice from the 1990s on....people were finishing high school without a license, and didn't care.