I don't have any pictures of my last few months in Vietnam because some damn junkie (I assume) stole all of my exposed film (about 10 roles in prepaid mailers) at the San Francisco airport.

        When I left Vietnam in August 1972 I was up the night before waiting for the plane. That was followed by a 24 hour flight to Japan, Anchorage, and Travis. I was so tired when I got to San Francisco that I fell asleep in the airport lounge waiting for my flight home.

        When I woke up my carry-on bag, which has been in my arms, was gone with my airplane tickets, camera, film, and all my official army records in a sealed envelope. Of course the USO was very helpful. They got me a new ticket for a later flight, found my records in a garbage can, and sent me off to home - minus the camera and film. Too bad the damned thief didn't drop the prepaid film mailers into a mail box.

        I was really peeved at my welcome home to the USA, until some little old lady approached me and asked if I had just come back from Viet Nam. I said yes, and she gave me a hug and a fresh loaf of San Francisco sourdough bread for a welcome home gift.

SP/4 John M. Hyde, A Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, December 1971 to August 1972.