This past Memorial day for some reason I recalled the closest that my first squadron ever got to the battlefield. Yes, we were fortunate not to be engaged in a war. However, our squadron came very close one day in October of 1973.

I recall in the Fall of 1973 I was in the United States Air Force when our commander told us to pack our mobility bags and get ready for deployment. “This is NOT an exercise” was the word of the day. I along with about one hundred Airmen loaded up on a C-130 cargo plane. We received orders after the plane was fully loaded with passengers, crew and cargo. Our destiny was Israel. I reminded my supervisor that I was expecting my wife to accompany me the following week. He told me not to worry because he made arrangements for his wife to meet her at the airport and stay with her until I return.

The C-130 cargo plane started her engines and we roared down the runway. We waited for further instructions. After a period of time that seemed like several hours, we finally got the word that it was “all clear” and we should return to base. We went on a journey to nowhere that day but the purpose was to support the country of Israel. I can only wonder if the United States would stand by this little country today.