Sue and Randy were on the same plane but he was seated several rows behind her.  He watched as she wiped back tears when they pushed back from the gate.  She would be away from her little boy for longer than she had ever been.  He saw her pull a book out of her bag and begin to read.  She would use that to keep he mind off the problems.

Over the next ten months Sandi, Sue and Randy were a part of a team that flew into a place, did the renovation of the code and left.  They got one weekend leave at home every three or four weeks.  They were working twelve hours a day, generally six and sometimes seven days a week.  The Army decreed a half day off for relaxation, many of them used it to sleep. Randy and Sandi generally used this to go to church on Sunday.  All three petitioned for assignment closer home, all requests were denied.  Randy became more and more concerned about the century end and wanted to be home at that time.  He petitioned for a week home at that time and the request was denied.  As October ended he petitioned again and the request was refused again. 

Over the next week he planned and finally he had the solution.  They would be here from now until into the New Year.  Over the next few days Randy started accumulating things.  He pulled up a web page that showed license plates for every state.  Home was in Pennsylvania, he was in South Carolina.  To get home they must cross North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.  Out of state cars are more obvious, he began making license plates for each state.  They were not perfect but they would fool most people at night.  He found a copy of a South Carolina drivers license and made one for himself using a phony name.  He found a car dealer that seemed to deal with people from the base.  He slipped in and drove out with a five year old model, a white Ford Tarus.  He drove out of town to a small hardware store.  There he bought four five gallon gasoline cans, masking tape and six spray cans of dark green paint.  He filled the cans and the car at different stations.  Then he took the car back to the dealer and asked if he could park it there till his son’s birthday.  When he offered an additional $50 the man smiled and said yes.