Chapter 412

Monday we were up early - it was going to be a busy day. Another group was leaving for Africa; the Bombardier was leaving at 7 for Dulles to get them there for a 9AM flight and I wanted to be there to give them a motivational speech.

The C5 group was going through a loading exercise to see what they could get into the cargo bay and prepare the plane for its first flight tomorrow.

It was a good thing the Air Force had sent a tow bar to move the plane around with. We did not have anything even close to being heavy duty enough to use. Big Bertha - as big a tug as it was - struggled to move the C5 from the front of the terminal to the tarmac in front of the super hanger.

I was so thankful that we had agreed with Lorrie’s request at the first of the year to expand the fuel farm. The C5 and two C130s could hold up to 70000 gallons in just one fill up; that was 10 tractor trailer loads of fuel.

Then there was Major Culpepper coming. I left a note for Cindy with a list of the things I wanted done with him today.

First put him to the front of the line and send him to the Docs for a company physical and get any shots he needed. I wanted to make damn sure he was healthy enough to be sent to Africa and do all that flying. I had no idea how long he had been flying a desk. I did not want him to have a heart attack in some African rat hole.

Second was to run him on the treadmill and find out just how good of shape he was in.

The third thing was to send him to Jamie’s weapons class to certify him with a hand gun and M16. He may have been skilled, but for insurance needed to be certified by our instructor. Then to subdue his enthusiasm, a trip through the shoot don’t shoot course.

And fourth - when all that was done - HR was to issue him a JBG ID card and State Department contractor ID card. He was going to have a busy day and sometime in the afternoon, there would be a firm decision made on if there was to be a flight tomorrow and what time. If that happened, he needed to pack for a four day trip minimum.

Major Culpepper arrived before I left for Morton Field for the pep talk with Cindy. I explained what process he was going through today.

I was late getting to KCC. The pep talk and the question and answers after took longer than I expected. From now on I was taking Mondays off when we had departing security teams.

I called Bob Jackson and explained the humanitarian part of a chopper delivery to Kampala. I also discussed the possibility of taking Robin Parsons and Phil Jameson on the trip. I explained that if it could happen I needed them to get shots ASAP. Then I asked about their other classes they would miss.

“Their parents have already signed a host of release forms to participate in off premise functions and trips. I will check with legal to see if they will suffice. How many seats are you going to spring for?” he asked.

“Depends on how many JGB personal go; there are 80 seats available on our C5, I have been told,” I replied.

“OK; I will get the release forms checked out. For a field trip like that to Africa the professors aren’t going to say much but they will be envious as hell,” he replied. “I’m even envious.”

“You can go as their chaperon but you have to decide quickly; you will need shots and they need time to work,” I replied.

I checked what classes the two were in and went to find them. Professor Holcomb was staring at the door as I stepped to it and looked in. “Somebody is in deep manure when the Director of security comes looking for them personally,” he said rather loudly.

“Who are the guilty parties BJ?”

“Robin Parson and Phil Jameson - it will only take a couple minutes, they don’t need to bring their books,” I replied.

Out in the hall, “In 5 weeks there is going to be a resupply mission to the refugee camp at Nimule. Do you want to go as student representatives from KCC?” I asked.

It took all of 5 seconds to sink in before Robin was jumping up and down, “Yes. Yes, what do we have to do?”

“Shots and vaccinations tonight so they have time to work, and then passports,” I replied as I handed them a card with the gym address on it. “As soon as classes are over go there. One of you has a car, right?”

“Yes I do, we will be there and I have a current passport,” Phil replied.

“I have a passport. I will get mom to send it to me,” Robin added.

As I was walking away I heard the professor ask them, “Do you care to share that burst of excitement with us?”

I worked on the KCC security department budget for next year, even though I would not be here - it still needed to be done. I worked on it until noon, then I left for the gym.

Paul McBride called while I was driving. I explained the trip that Rachael could go on as a student representative from the Advanced Education School for gifted students.