[GH85Carrera]

My dad was an Air Force Pilot, but had an regular job in intelligence. His clearances were so high they were classified. He was working at the PACAF headquarters (Pacific Air Forces) at Hickam AFB. One of the 4 Star Generals told him as an order, "I want to know where every single aircraft is at any moment" and I want that updates all the time. Of course computers were new and primitive at the time.

One day almost every aircraft in the Pacific was suddenly going to the same area in Vietnam. Dad knew the General would want that update immediately, but even at headquarters, the procedure to update the General was a chain of command and let them tell their direct commander to update up the chain. That was going to take too long. So dad stuck the paperwork in his shirt, and just walked right into the 4 star generals office while two other generals in the command were in there. Dad told whispered in the generals ear he had major movement of assets. The general ordered the room cleared, and dad handed him the information. The general of course asked what is going on, and why was I not informed this was going to happen? There were no answers, so he got on the phone to the Pentagon. The general was told "need to know only" and even though you are in command of all the Pacific fleet, you don't need to know.

Eventually they learned only the president and the Joints Chiefs knew that it was the rescue attempt for the POWs in Vietnam. The POWs had been moved just hours before by chance so it was a total bust.

A few days later that general called dad and asked dad to meet him on the golf course at 8:00 AM for a round of golf. It was funny, that the general could always get the t-times he wanted whenever he called.