Sunday 4 February 2024

A Leave Story

 I worked in the late 1970s in the Air Force with Sergeant Conrad....a Puerto Rican guy.  Back around 1974....he'd joined and gotten almost a whole year without leave.  He asked for 30 days so he could go home (Puerto Rico). Air Force said 'fine'.

On the 31st day....he returns just as some major hurricane hits the island.  The Air Force activates some plan, and identifies his unit that morning....to board planes and help in the disaster.   

He boards the plane and spends around six weeks in Puerto Rico on AF duty.  He returns to find his boss transferred to another job.  The leave paperwork?  Missing.  

Quietly, without any explanation....the 30 days of leave simply was forgotten.  He waited three months, then turned around and asked for 30 new days of leave.  They approved this.  He goes off for 30 days.

When he comes back from this....some fire in the squadron headquarters building occurs.  All of that paperwork disappears.  

He figured not to tempt fate, and didn't ask for a 3rd leave request. 

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