New Driver's License
by
Jack Interstein
Operations 69-70
In the latter
part of 1969, a 19 year old JINT was
driving Lt Holt in a jeep, somewhere just off base
Nha Trang. Sp Bumbalough had just taught me how
to drive a manual transmission, at the express order of
Maj Little. Lt Holt did not know this. Somewhere on that
short excursion, I accidentally downshifted for the
first time in my life and almost sent Lt Holt thru the
front windshield. I wasn't even aware of what I had
done wrong and thought something was wrong with the
vehicle. He remained calm....said very little and we
returned to base uneventfully. What he was actually
thinking at the moment...thanks to time and hopefully
total loss of memory of that seemingly insignificant
incident...we will never know. I personally, think of
it often, as I downshift.
Response from Pappy Holt then Capt. Holt, Wolf Pack 36:
"Thanks for the memories Jack, I had forgotten that
incident as I have many
many others. It is good, however, that you remember. That should make you
somewhere between 53 and 54 years old now. Hope to see you in Vegas."
Pappy