What is the punishment for going AWOL in Australia for 33 days?
They fined me two months pay and demoted me from E3 to E2, but on the way back over as soon as I got into Vietnam air space they had to give me back the rank because I had to be at least an E3 to be in a combat zone. At the end of our tour, I was at the airport ready to go home and I was told that I had to go back to the field for another 33 days because of the time I went AWOL in Australia. How crushing was that to be at the airport, ready to go home and be told that you had to go back out in the field for another month? Everyone in Vietnam knew if you make it through the first 30 days and the last 30 days you know you are pretty good. I was crushed. I spent those 33 days slithering around on the ground. I would unbutton my shirt to be closer to the ground. I was scared to death. That is when you really make mistakes is in those last few days. Is there anything about Vietnam that you think made you a better person? Yes, I appreciate life. I appreciate what I have. Appreciate who I am.
