I was stationed on board a ship that was home ported in Sasebo, Japan. I've been there now going on 13 months while my wife was back home in San Diego, Ca. You noticed I said "back home". I did not consider this ship my home, my home was where my wife was, I was missing her an awful lot by this time.
Well anyway, I had the chance for 30 days leave, with an exception, I had to take it between the ships training period and while it was under way. Great, I planned leave to start when the ship pulled into Okinawa. I was thinking that I could save money by taking a military hop from Kadena, AFB back to the states.
When the ship pulled in, I grabbed my bags and took off for Kadena, when I arrived, I found out that there was a lot of other people waiting for military hops and that there were only two flights going out each day, I already missed the morning flight, I found out there were different priorities on who was going to get a flight that day and that regular leave was the lowest on the list, I didn't make the afternoon flight either.
I was feeling pretty bad about now and was wondering where I was going to stay the night since my ship already left port. I didn't know where to go, what to do or how to tell my wife I will not be flying home that day. I found a phone and called her and we both cried, after I hung up and composed myself, I walked to the BEQ to get a room for the night and try again tomorrow only to be told there were no rooms available, by this time my whole world was coming to an end. I walked around until I found a small park with a bench and that is where I spent the night, laying on a hard bench.
The next day, I was back waiting in line only to be told I didn't make the flights because of higher priorities. This time I got a room in the BEQ and took a hot shower, then I made yet another call to my wife. This was a day and a half of my 30 day leave wasted already.
The following day, I didn't make the morning flight again, by this time I'm desperate and walk outside the base and got a taxi to the civilian airport. I didn't care how much money it cost, I was getting off this island. I was in luck, there was a flight leaving that day. It cost around $1,000.00, but like I said, I didn't care.
The flight took me back to the main land of Japan and I had to take a train to another airport for the connecting flight. Well, let me tell you very few people speak English, but I found the train, the other airport, and the connecting flight to Hawaii.
I arrived in Hawaii and found out the connecting flight to Los Angles, CA will not depart until the next morning. I'm tired, from the long flight and decide to get a room at a hotel near the airport, big bucks again, but I don't care, I going home. To get to the hotel, I rent a car, $$$ again. I call the wife from the hotel room to let her know what's going on, she calls back in a couple of hours and says I can get an earlier flight but it will cost an additional $100.00. for them to push a few buttons. We both agreed to do it, cost doesn't matter anymore.
I check out of the hotel after checking in only a couple of hours earlier, I didn't want to think what they thought about that, turned in the car, same thoughts, change my flight ticket, pay the extra money, and got on the plane to....home.
All together, I lost 3 days of leave and about $1,500.00 trying to get home, but.....it was worth every cent.
Thanks for going along with me...Paul
Well anyway, I had the chance for 30 days leave, with an exception, I had to take it between the ships training period and while it was under way. Great, I planned leave to start when the ship pulled into Okinawa. I was thinking that I could save money by taking a military hop from Kadena, AFB back to the states.
When the ship pulled in, I grabbed my bags and took off for Kadena, when I arrived, I found out that there was a lot of other people waiting for military hops and that there were only two flights going out each day, I already missed the morning flight, I found out there were different priorities on who was going to get a flight that day and that regular leave was the lowest on the list, I didn't make the afternoon flight either.
I was feeling pretty bad about now and was wondering where I was going to stay the night since my ship already left port. I didn't know where to go, what to do or how to tell my wife I will not be flying home that day. I found a phone and called her and we both cried, after I hung up and composed myself, I walked to the BEQ to get a room for the night and try again tomorrow only to be told there were no rooms available, by this time my whole world was coming to an end. I walked around until I found a small park with a bench and that is where I spent the night, laying on a hard bench.
The next day, I was back waiting in line only to be told I didn't make the flights because of higher priorities. This time I got a room in the BEQ and took a hot shower, then I made yet another call to my wife. This was a day and a half of my 30 day leave wasted already.
The following day, I didn't make the morning flight again, by this time I'm desperate and walk outside the base and got a taxi to the civilian airport. I didn't care how much money it cost, I was getting off this island. I was in luck, there was a flight leaving that day. It cost around $1,000.00, but like I said, I didn't care.
The flight took me back to the main land of Japan and I had to take a train to another airport for the connecting flight. Well, let me tell you very few people speak English, but I found the train, the other airport, and the connecting flight to Hawaii.
I arrived in Hawaii and found out the connecting flight to Los Angles, CA will not depart until the next morning. I'm tired, from the long flight and decide to get a room at a hotel near the airport, big bucks again, but I don't care, I going home. To get to the hotel, I rent a car, $$$ again. I call the wife from the hotel room to let her know what's going on, she calls back in a couple of hours and says I can get an earlier flight but it will cost an additional $100.00. for them to push a few buttons. We both agreed to do it, cost doesn't matter anymore.
I check out of the hotel after checking in only a couple of hours earlier, I didn't want to think what they thought about that, turned in the car, same thoughts, change my flight ticket, pay the extra money, and got on the plane to....home.
All together, I lost 3 days of leave and about $1,500.00 trying to get home, but.....it was worth every cent.
Thanks for going along with me...Paul
:]
