David Bundy:  

I left Antioch directly after the "All-Night" Party and started traveling around the United States. Months later, a phone call from my brother brought me home telling me something vague - ''VietNam'' he said; my Draft Board wanted me. Urgently! I drove over to Martinez and talked to them and they prepared my bus trip to Oakland to begin processing for the military. But, first, there was a little matter of passing the "pre-induction physical". I had passed and was considered ''choice'' meat for all branches. I received my Presidential Call-Up and was ordered to report to Fort Ord, California on 23 December, 1965. However, I did not comply with that Presidential Order as my draft board turned around and kept giving me a 2-year deferment (twice) throughout my college years; I was a full-time student attending Diablo Valley College and then transferred to San Francisco State University, graduating in June,1970. I was the sports editor of the paper while attending Diablo Valley College and within a year I was married and transferring to San Francisco State University trying to secure a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism. I worked on the paper there and also started working part-time as a quasi-editor for the San Francisco Chronicle. I was editing all the major columnists for that paper. I graduated in Journalism but never did use my degree for any newspaper employment. However, the Copley News Service, from San Diego, requested my services to work there. I did not. My sights were set on becoming a Naval Aviation Officer for the United States Naval Air and ''fly off'' aircraft carriers. I was really focused to do this and I signed-up at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. They even gave me a free jet ride around the Bay Area; I was "stoked!" My life is set ''to serve my country and drop my napalm"...No more meandering... I attended Naval Aviation Flight School (OCS) at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, in 1972. The VietNam War was winding down and finally, ended in February, 1973. Pilots and Naval Flight Officers were being decommissioned in quick order. My life's work is now ''by the wayside''. The Pentagon had advised me to work as an Air Traffic Controller; the ''detailer" there told me I had the aptitude for this kind of work. I, instead, went to work for the postal service and a year later, I became president of the local letter carriers' union. My union started flying me around the United States to meet with the United States Senators and Representatives, and attending Constitutionally-ordered conferences to "hammer-out" contracts vis-a-vis Management. I received a "Labor-Law" degree from UC Berkeley, to enable me to become an Arbiter and settle Labor-Management disputes ... I remained a letter carrier and opted out of the union presidential matters to take care of my Dad. My two (2) older brothers were too busy and wanted him in a rest home. I resisted and took care of him, for five (5) years, until the day he died. He was a victim of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease and weighed but 47 pounds at death. I had a registered nurse and a doctor visiting my Dad and I, at least once a week. I watched him die slowly; all those days, weeks, months, and years. My Dad, deserved a better fate. I promised him I wouId not quit. I miss him... I stayed with the postal service and became a clerk because of bad feet and at the age of 57, I retired with over 33 years of military and federal service. I am living quite well on a great pension in an upscale home that will be paid for by 2011. My wife and I, bought it in Las Vegas in 2000 and moved in, 2003. One great thing about living in Las Vegas is I get to see a lot of F-22 Raptors flying about. Oh, to be young again... I have two (2) daughters with my first wife of 10 years; remarried, and that marriage lasted four (4) years. Now, Babylonia and I, have been married since February, 1988. We waited to marry after I took care of my Dad. We have the same birthdays! Go figure... I am officially retired, but I do perform as a Sports Analyst (I handicap the winners of baseball, football, hockey and basketball) with the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, less than three (3) miles from my home. It keeps my mind active. I always thought Flying was my passion; it's been replaced by analyzing the sporting events. Long on hours and long on fun; paying well! My percentage of win-loss ratio climbs every year; 2008 produced a 77.4% Despite, chronic pain and a hypothyroid gland, LIFE IS GOOD and I Thank GOD, everyday, for His Blessings and His Grace, and for Babylonia, my wife!... I left a lot of friends and acquaintances behind. My only regrets thus far, is the terrible disappointment I caused Coach Thayer Johnson. I saw the disappointment on his face when I told him, I would NOT be handling the chores for him as Basketball Manager, again. He loved what I did the two (2) previous seasons. He wanted me back. I am sorry, Coach! The other regret was quitting the Varsity squad in Football, also in my final year. In retrospect and despite my injuries, I think I could've ''gutted'' it out. . . . THE UNITED STATES NAVAL AIR - - US NAVY . . . Officer Candidate School was much, much tougher due to the US Marine Corps' several Drill Instructors, we had everyday; throughout the day. They had us running seven (7) miles every Wednesday at 0500 hours! ''Inspirational Run" they called it. The film ''THE OFFICER AND GENTLEMAN'' was about 70% accurate. I delivered, and even earned Physical Training Points. I even volunteered when NASA, asked for any available Aviators. They quickly, involved me in their G-Force Project. I already pulled a (negative) 7.5G's in a Naval Aircraft sans G-Suit, and I pulled 13 (sagittal) G's in the horizontal chamber. Man! I sure loved the flying and I loved the US Naval Air! I even got to ''love'' the running! What I didn't ''love'' was that one (1) day of a 7-day, Sea Survival stint. Every graduating class must pass the 7-day Land Survival and the 7 day Sea exercises. That day we had to tread water for 6 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. We all wore our ''Mae West'' jackets with a big, black bar of soap-like substance used to prevent shark attacks! We were told that when the ''chopper" (helicopter) came to hoist us up, to make sure the ''dough-nut" (the capturing mechanism attached to the chopper's tether) touches water so we don't become electrocuted. I envisioned a shark attacking while I am watching the ''dough-nut" coming just short of the water! That was the only time I was really frightened ...''Swimming with the Sharks!'' Watch the movie: OPEN WATER... Finally, one week of sea survival and one week of land survival, each candidate must proceed with ''Terrorists Captivity Survival'' at Eglin Air Force Base. We are walking through the woods and one ''Terrorist'' jumps out at me and throws me to the ground. He and another ''Terrorist'' dragged me to a tree and chain me to that tree. Then, one guy orders me to ''bark like a dog''. He sees me laughing and ''introduces the butt of his rifle to my chest !'' ''OK !! Pal, you've got my attention; where to ?'' I ask him. We are gathered by a rope loosely to our neck and ordered to walk further into the heavily- thicketed brush. Up ahead, I could make out a roof to some structure. We are ushered into this huge room and they have us standing five (5) abreast. I am in the fourth row, and there is a disturbance in the second row to my right ... ''C'mon you guys, we are ALL on the same team, but cool your heels'' ... this guy says to our abductors. Two (2) guys came over and out of the corner of my eye, they take his arm and then the abductee starts yelling ! ''Hey ! LT COL (on loan from the Air Force) You still think we are on the same team, NOW !'' We found out later, they had intentionally, broken his arm, to prove their point of this ''little'' exercise ! ... Then the ''good guys'' came to free us as we all look forward to our Graduation and our new ''EnsignMobile'' ! We had our share of ''Snowflakes''. They were the ''best of the best'' (tops in military bearing, physical training and hittin' the books). I was the oldest guy in my regiment and use to civilian mentality. I always had a problem with authorities, but quickly, outgrew this juvenile behavior. ''I walked off'' my negative demerits and received positive merits for my physical endeavors; I nearly set a record in the ''mile swim'' wearing my flight suit; I missed that record by 11 seconds. My Drill Instructors, are yelling at me ''Bundy, why are you burning such a pace ? In the middle of the Pacific Ocean; you can't possibly save yourself !... ...Bundy !!'' I told them "I am going for the record! I am not talking until I am done !" Thankfully, they left me alone. I really felt good, physically, that day. I easily got over the 12 foot wall (the first part of the Obstacle Course) and finished with a very good time. The Cross-Country Course, was a ''breeze''. I had failed in ''in-test'' due to injuries and my shoes were too slippery to handle ''The Wall''. I got off of my Math, Trig, Vectors and Physics, HOLD ! I failed all of these during my in-test. Each subject covers almost two (2) years of study at the college level. I studied my a*s off !! My only source of fun, was beating the battalion in the pool hall. This was the only activity, my Antioch days, prepared me for and the running!! Oh ! By the way, Our Battalion, beat the other two (2) battalions in volleyball and baseball. More personal awards and more Physical Training Merits. My greatest Love was the flying and I loved the ''Speed'' and ''sound'' of the aircrafts; Totally, Incredibly, Awesome !!... For 2-3 years post-Navy, I had pleasant dreams of...Expand for more