Page 69 - Stand Down Vietnam

Before the thirty days were up, I received a registered
letter informing me of a Change of Duty Station. I was
sent to Marine Headquarters in Washington, D.C.,
assigned as an operations clerk at Andrews Air Base.

When I arrived at that unit, they had six hundred fifty
pilots. The pilots needed to fly at least four hours a
month to receive flight pay. I did that for about four

months when the military announced a RIF; Reduction in
Force.

The Marine Corps had a fifty percent cut in pilots. My
unit was reduced to one hundred fifty pilots. They
were given an opportunity to revert to an enlisted
grade or be discharged.

This was the first time I encountered protestors. They
had not been in Los Angeles or Knoxville. But, in
Washington, we were not allowed to wear our uniforms
because of the protestors. They did not affect me a
bit.

Late 1972, I got orders for Okinawa. I was the
Operations Chief for the 1 Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp
st
Foster for about six months.