After graduating ET school at Governors Island I had made my choices on the “dream sheet” of where I would like to be assigned. Looking back it seems quaint that a branch of the military would actually give you a choice. They basically owned me, they could have sent me anywhere they thought I was needed. But there happened to be an open slot at Loran station Spruce Cape . I had always wanted to see Alaska as my Father served there back in WW2.<\/p>\n
Kodiak was my first choice, and I got it.<\/p>\n
I had never flown before in my life.\u00a0 Now I was going to fly 5 time Zones.\u00a0 Leaving home and going to far away places all\u00a0on the governments dime.<\/p>\n
Nothing really prepares you for that first flight. That first take off.\u00a0 You have a slight knot in your belly.\u00a0 Flying is the safest way to travel \u00a0they say.\u00a0 Statistically correct, \u00a0the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor, but it’s a lottery where winning is very,\u00a0very bad. I flew out of Lebanon N.H. to Boston, from Boston to Chicago to Seattle-Tacoma airport arriving in the late\u00a0evening. Bunked at the USO located\u00a0at the airport for a 6:00am flight to Kodiak.<\/p>\n
The plane was a Boeing 707. The seating capacity was approx. 150. There couldn’t have been more then thirty people on the plane. The plane had a full crew compliment which meant that the stewardesses (they were still called that at the time, mini-skirt uniforms too.) had more time to give us more individual attention. One of them came by and asked if I would like some champagne. I said no at first until she told me that it was “free”, compliments of the airline. Well OK! Nothing like a cup a champagne at 6:30am\u00a0to calm the nerves for a four hour flight over the pacific ocean.\u00a0 I set my empty cup on the tray expecting her to come and take it but no, “would you like more Sir?” Apparently this was the Champagne flight, and for the entire trip my cup was never empty. The golden age of air travel. Needless to say I was quite “corned” by the time we landed. Oh well, so much for first impressions. The first class ET was a little annoyed with me but I explained that it was because of\u00a0my nervousness of flying that I overindulged. That was my story and I stuck with it.<\/p>\n