Last big trip before I retire from the Air Force
Catch some military hops around the Pacific
Visit Japan, visit Korea
Two weeks of carefree wandering
But the C-17 broke in Guam
Spent the night on the terminal floor
Waiting for the bird to get fixed
The wife is getting bored
OK, let’s flip the script
Forget the C-17 to Tokyo
There’s a C-9 heading to Kadena
Let’s give Okinawa a try
As soon as we get to Kadena
A typhoon alert is called
Apparently the typhoon that missed there previously
Turned around and was coming back for more
Riding out the typhoon on Okinawa
With my wife, fourth day of leave
Staying in some low-rent Kadena quarters
Dining on MREs
That night I was shaving in the bathroom
Eaddie called, come look at the TV
I wandered out, saw the reruns
Plane crashing into a tall building in New York City
No, it wasn’t a movie
Not sure what’s going on
I finished shaving quickly
Went back to see some more
Was this an accident or terror
I tried to figure it out
Then a second plane crashed into the South Tower
Removing all the doubt
Our plan had been to catch a hop
To Tokyo, then to Seoul
But now the world had changed
I’m a military man, time to rock and roll
The next morning I call my boss
He tells me get back quick
I was Deputy Chief of the Plans Branch
And the brass wants to see all of them
For next four days no commercial flights
Were allowed into the States
And military flights were stingy on seats
I couldn’t catch a break
We eventually got to Yokota AB
Then back home to Hickam
But I burnt up 10 days of leave
And had zero fun to show for it
I look back at the time since then
20 years gone by somehow
20 years of bombing and occupying
Not sure we’re any safer now
Waipahu Bob 