C-130 Rolling Down the Strip

There's a cadence that starts with "C-130 Rolling Down the Strip" that is very well known (and please click on the link and listen to it because it is classic military cadence) and we were singing it on December 19th, but our words were

C-130 Rolling Down the Strip....

Taking the Wagoners on a Holiday Trip!

We were so fortunate to get on a C-130 flying a mission to Guam straight from our base in Iwakuni. I NEVER thought I would be on a military plane like that and it was absoutely surreal!!! I kept looking around me, envisioning Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen, on a plane just like this, going into battle.

God Bless Our Service Members!!!!!!!!!

It is not like a normal plane, that's for sure! I think the photos will help me tell the story. There were four families on the flight and we were the only ones from Iwakuni.  A family from Atsugi (mainland Japan) going on a holiday trip, a family from Hawaii, coming back from Singapore/Thailand, and a family from not sure where. And then the official people doing their job.

Audrey was the oldest "kid" and the Gunny asked if she wanted to sit in the "Jump Seat" for take-off!

What a COOL experience! And on another note, just because the picture is showing it...the curtain thing that is in front of Audrey is the curtain that goes around the potty, which is just a seat with a hole in it. Funny!

After we had been going for a while, I asked Gunny if the girls could go and look out the window. Such an amazing experience!

This was our view.

The seats are not regular "seats" but this cargo netting along the wall. If there were lots of troops needing to be moved, there are also seats that can be installed in the middle. Or you could transport equipment like a humvee. Our middle was open except for our suitcases, just tied down to the floor with cords.

It's cold so we brought a bunch of our favorite blankets from Bebe Bella Designs  (please click the link...you won't regret it) out of Minnesota. They are lightweight yet deliciously cozy and warm. That pink bag of ours in front of Audrey just had blankets in it. I think we took five.

Gigi had been diagnosed with an ear infection on the Friday before so her rockstar pediatrician gave me not only the antiobiotic that didn't need to be chilled, but something to help knock her out for the flight. It worked like a charm!

ALL of the girls were ABSOLUTE CHAMPS! We had plenty of electronic devices, but it was a LOUD and LONG trip! A++++  Way to go Girls! You are TOUGH Marine Corps Kids!!!!!!!!!   We were/are (always!) so proud of you!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxo

They issued us ear plugs, which were desperately needed, but Gigi wouldn't let us put them in her ears. When she went to sleep, we put Mick's Bose noise-reducing headphones on her.

We both had a chance to cuddle her as she slept a good four hours.

The flight was a little less than 6 hours, but we had to get to the terminal a few hours before the plane was assigned to leave...and then it left a few hours late. It was a LONG DAY.

This is when we arrive in Guam and are waiting for the Customs guys to allow us to leave the plane (blue uniform on the left). These are our ROCKSTAR pilots. Have I mentioned how cool it was to be on this plane? And how fast it is when it takes off? BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO.COOL!!!!!!!

And we're in "America!!!!!!" This is our Gunny, who was so awesome! And have I mentioned how cool it was to be on this plane? This is how you load and unload. You walk up the back of the plane! SO COOL!

It was an amazing experience! I am so grateful that we had the chance to do this. We weren't as lucky getting back the Space Available way and needed to buy tickets on a commerical flight (which we got lucky and only paid about $300 each!), but we never ever would have been able to take our family to Guam if we would have had to buy round trip tickets (Advance billing was about $6,000 total). So, we had this AMAZING experience, we got to Guam one way for free, so call it $1,700 round trip! :) 

Thank you Marine Corps!!!!!!
Jump Right Out and Shout Marine Corps!
(Did you click on the cadence link? If so, you will GET that reference!)  ☺