HALLOWEEN THIRTY-FOUR YEARS PAST

Halloween 1975. Remember it like yesterday. I was still active duty US Air Force, and stationed at March Air Force Base, California. One of my “additional duties” was to help assimilate Vietnamese refugees “adopted” by my squadron into the American culture.

These good people, who had escaped the Communist takeover of South Vietnam, didn’t understand the American banking system, and kept what little life savings they had accumulated and escaped with, hidden in their homes.

As one of the squadron sponsors of the Vietnamese refugees, I did my best to explain the safety of American banks (that was before the 2009 recession!), and how the bankers were trustworthy. Finally, they agreed to take their money to a bank and open a safe savings account. I drove them there. They were nervous about the entire situation.

I escorted the refugees into the bank, whereupon they were greeted by Mickey Mouse, and the teller was Bozo the Clown. It was Halloween, All the bank employees were in costume.

Try to imagine, if you can, the expressions on the faces of the refugees, as they entrusted their savings to Bozo the Clown. I tried to explain, but it wasn’t easy. That occasion in 1975 was likely my most memorable Halloween.