Finally, in 1991, almost five years after writing the check to Roger, I got a call from a local gun dealer telling me he had my Tommy Gun and when did I want to come pick it up?  "Would 20 minutes from now be OK?"  I was amused when, after the Form 4, Fingerprint Cards and CLEO endorsement, I still had to fill out a Form 4473 before the dealer in Vegas could let me have my Tommy Gun.

Two hours later, I was driving back on the air base with my Thompson and a case of ammo locked in the trunk of my car. It might have been amusing had the Sky Cops at the base gate decided to do one of their random car searches that day!  "Uhhhhhhhh General, we have this Lt. Col. in custody that we found coming on base with a machinegun and ammo!"

In point of fact, there was nothing against USAF Regulations about me bringing the TSMG or any other firearm onto the base as long as it was secured in the trunk and unloaded. While I was still on active duty, I carried a .45 in the car constantly and my car was never searched. Had it been, the worst thing that actually might have happened would have been that I would have had to take it to the base armory and turn it in for the day or perhaps have my commanding officer go over with me to get it back.  Given that I was a Lieutenant Colonel who was NEVER a 'player' to make full Colonel, I wasn't too concerned. What were they going to do to me?  Take away my Birthday?