All week planes have been arriving at Eielson AFB loaded with homecoming Army troops. They get off the planes and load onto buses. Drive 20 miles to Ft Wainwright. At Ft WW the buses drive into hangers and the troops unload. There they are met by the Post Commander, and a contingent of people to in-process them to the post. (My wife is there for legal questions). Then they are released to go to their awaiting families. It's a good feeling to see all those troops meeting their families for the first time in a year. Many new fathers seeing their babies for the first time ever. Many Moms seeing their babies, no longer babies but having grown a years worth in their absence. Parents coming in from all over the states to welcome their sons and daughters back from a place where so many did not come back whole or alive.
All week I have been seeing more and more troops coming into places like Frontier Outfitters, Sportsman's Warehouse, and the Department Of Fish And Game. The troops are spending money received for combat duty, and a lot of it. They are buying cars, trucks, guns, bows, ammo, arrows, camping gear, tree stands, Bear Baiting supplies, and getting permits and registering Bear Baiting locations. Restaurants are full to capacity during lunch and dinner. Traffic has increased 200% in the downtown area. Car Dealerships are doing a booming business, as are the ATV dealers. The price just went up on all used ATVs, cars and trucks. In some cases supply can not meet the demand. The Fairbanks Outdoor Show starts today. The inflatable dealers are expecting a run on rafts used for fly-in trips. Air Taxis are booked solid already, not only for this spring, but for next fall as well. Our economy that was hurting, just got a big shot in the arm.
And they are not all back yet. Still more coming in daily. The Troops are happy, the Residents of Fairbanks are happy, but most of all the "Families" are back together. The wife comes home crying happy tears every day now.
The woods are going to be full this spring. I was preparing to take my Bait up the Haul Rd this coming week, but I looked at the map at F&G and saw I am being inundated by other baiters all around me. Think I will look for a new location. I'm going to keep my location registered, but also going to bait at a new site, outside where I have to register the location.
