Well, we don't know whether he had persmission to take leave in the first place.
That's true. I was thinking the same as her, that he failed to returned after having a leave day or days, but he may just have taken off with no leave given...
Reasons for not returning? At that age, my thoughts would be:
a. A woman
b. Partying with friends
c. Drugs, I am not trying to offend here but this was the 70s and it was California . By 1976 imo the free lifestyle with drugs, and sex and "peace' was changing some but the remnants were still there. I go by the fact I had four older sibs who all graduated in the 70s and the times by the youngest one had changed some, for the oldest three, this was big time what was going on, along with the Vietnam war. The war ended in 1975. The three eldest in my family graduated in 1971, 72 and 73. The youngest of the older ones, the fourth one of those graduated in 1976. So I recall a long about the times pretty well. I'm an 80s girl myself.
d. Something very wrong or hard to take was going on at base he was trying to get away from, or he was just have problems there. However, it is said he always went back until on this occasion.
As I said by 1976 things were starting to change some but in all the years prior, it was like a THING to go to California and be hitchhiking and partying to get there. I'm sure there were plenty of remnants of such left there, communes, druggies, etc.
Many young people also went missing in these years... In fact any time I see a missing case and it is from the late 60s, early 70s I think of this. Hitchhiking was not even thought of as dangerous which is shocking today, and my own folks would pick up young teen or early 20s hitchhikers with us kids in the car. Also, my brothers ran away and hitchhiked. They were found, picked up and brought back by my parents but again I'm just trying to give a window into the times.
Don't ask me why California either was the draw? Drugs, surf, sun?
Most things, sorry to say, or trends, start there though over decades and most of the things are BAD things.
I'm sure others here can remark more on this era and California itself.
I had one sibling who fell into the drug thing and even though by '76 it was changing a lot, many who did, stayed that way or battled such for years to come. He battled such. it was a do almost anything thing, and the hippie phase too.
In no way am I saying this has anything to do with the missing man here, but talking about California AND at his age if he fell into any of this kind of life say at 16 or so, it could play in.
And the military would seem pretty rigid up against times like this of peace, free love, do as you want, etc.
But he was more the age of my youngest oldest sister and she and her bf did not fall into such and as I said it was wanting. He did grow his hair long and these two were very straight laced for the most part... Still are today and married for decades on end since high school.
I and my youngest sister are 80s kids (graduation wise). I have always actually been thankful I was not in high school in those times. Plus I detested the styles and absolutely hated bell bottoms lol. I was, however, in junior high by a part of the 70s but thank God back then MOST Jr. high kids weren't trying to be older than their years.
Anyhow before I wander on more, I am kind of setting the times a bit for those younger. The same kind of thing was still going on but it was changing but of course anyone who had gotten into such, many remained in such for years to come.
And all of this may have absolutely nothing to do with anything here.
But I can add there'd be no worry at that point of being drafted, etc. The war was over. That war anyhow.
God I am just realizing yet again but shocking before awake this morning, that I AM OLD. That's such a long time ago...
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