Here I must share something with that perhaps was the reason I was not apprehensive or possibly fearful about my trip to a war zone. Remember, Ruth? In our MARS phone calls complimented by written letters, I was able to share my flight school experiences and the timing for my graduation. Ruth was also a pilot and had just received her private pilot license a few months after we first met. Understanding some of the language for flying, Ruth had the distinction of not only being an attractive female in a war zone full of males but she also knew "pilot" talk. This skill allowed her to meet a group of pilots who in turn introduced her to a very special person and Army Aviator. This person was Major Deaton who was the commanding officer of the 219th Aviation Company (Recon) assigned to Camp Holloway Army Airfield in Pleiku. The 219th "Headhunters" had as its primary aircraft the L-19 Birddog. Situated near Camp Holloway was Pleiku Air Force Base which also was the base for the 71st Evac Hospital (Army) where Ruth was stationed. After meeting Major Deaton and some of the other 219th pilots, which by the way had the call sign "Headhunter", Ruth was able to establish a dialogue that included telling them about her fiancé’and his impending trip to Vietnam. When they found out I was completing my flight school training in the L-19 Birddog, it became a natural next step for them to offer Ruth assistance in helping to have me assigned to their unit.
Remember, at this time in the fall of 1970, the Vietnam War was very, very unpopular in the U.S. Anti-war demonstrations were being held everywhere and military personnel in the states were being verbally assaulted or in some cases physically attacked by out of control ruffians. I had had my own run-in at one point some antiwar agitators, when I was with Ruth prior to her leaving for Vietnam. We were in St Petersburg, Florida where Ruth was raised and had just attended church services with her family. On the way to Ruth's parent’s home, we stopped at a supermarket for milk. I was in my formal dress blue uniform and in excellent physical condition after completing over one year of physical training, Officer Candidate School and Signal Officer Basic. Upon entering the store, I was verbally being yelled at by a group of 5-6 individuals standing outside the store entrance. I heard "baby killer", "murderer" and other things not worth repeating as I passed by them into the store. After purchasing a gallon of milk, I left the store the same way I had gone in and this group was waiting for me. Only this time, they did not just yell or call me names, they spit on me. I headed toward to car where Ruth and her parents waited. I handed Ruth the gallon of milk and made up my mind that I was going have a heart to heart talk with this group. When informing Ruth of my intentions, she pleaded for me to get into the car and forget about them. Part of OCS training included Ranger training and my instincts were that I could match up very favorably with 5-6 others. However, Ruth was more persuasive and we left without incident.
Now, back to the fall of 1970 in Vietnam, the war was winding down as the U.S. tried to figure out how to leave Vietnam on its own. Because of this, many units were standing down and replacement personnel heading to Vietnam has also dramatically slowed. This lack of replacement personnel impacted many units looking to maintain personnel strength and one of these units was the 219th Headhunters. Naturally, it would be beneficial for them to want a new pilot that would go to them rather than be assigned to another unit somewhere in the country. Thus began in saga of 2nd Lieutenant Brewster assigning himself to a unit. Through Major
Deaton's help, he provided Ruth with the names, ranks and positions of key personnel that could help me make my way to the 219th. Ruth sent this list to me in a letter and it became my "roadmap" upon hitting the ground at Ton Son Nhut Air Force Base in the south of Vietnam. I can remember distinctly going up to one officer after another with list in hand asking for a specific "so and so". After, having that person pointed out to me, I would approach them and ask for the next person on the list. Based on this approach, I was able to gain transport from one place to another and eventually, I made it all the way to Qui Nhon, a port city located on the central Vietnam coast. Remarkably, I was only questioned one time by an officer who questioned my authority for going to a specific unit. He even stated that the Army was "supposed to be assigning me to a unit, not me assigning myself". I remember his words well and also remember my almost immediate response. “Sir, it must be very important for me to be assigned to the 219th Aviation or otherwise why would I have your name?” He looked at me, stamped my orders and let me move on to my next point. Ruth was in Qui Nhon waiting for me courtesy of another Army Aviation unit flying the big single engine deHavilland Otters with the call sign of “Old, Slow and Reliable”. Ruth and I flew back to Pleiku together and thus ended my unusual odyssey of assigning myself to my own preselected combat unit. A special thanks has to go out to Arlie Deaton, Arlie is a dear friend, as well as a fellow Headhunter. If it was not for his efforts and help, Ruth and may never have met up with each other. 
(We have been together for 37 years). Arlie lives in Georgia and is always in our thoughts. Thank you Arlie!Next, I will tell my story of how I became "Headhunter 37" and thus the beginning of a life experience only a few people have had.
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