European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Bridge of the americas extends across to the Panama canal and links North America and South  Soili America and Back by Gary Miller Naples Bureau in an attempt to escape Germany s gloomy Gray Winter two army dentists Touk off on a three continent journey in search of warmer weather. During their iwo week Odyssey they spent roughly 50 hours flying 20,000 Miles. But tickets for their journey Cost cats. John Mcdonald and Scott Laudon Only $70 each because they used military Airlift come flights. Quot originally we were heading for Korea because i d been stationed there and know my Way around Quot said Mcdonald who is assigned to the army dental clinic at Wharton Barracks in Heilbron n. Quot we changed our minds about Korea because we wanted to go some place warm Quot said Laudon who is stationed at the army dental clinic in Darmstadt. So the flight Mcdonald and Laudon took in late january from Rhein main a Germany to Charleston fab s.c., was just their first step to Panama and South America where Many people Don t even know Mac operates. Mcdonald and Laudon have been friends since they roomed together at dental school at the Oregon health sciences University in Portland. After they graduated in 1988, Mcdonald persuaded Laudon to join the army for among other reasons the travel opportunities. Since joining the two have skied the Alps run with the bulls in Pamplona Spain and hiked through Scotland. But it was t until they decided to visit Turkey for thanksgiving that they discovered Mac space available travel. Quot we decided then that while we were in the military we had to use Mac As much As we could Quot Mcdonald said. During their latin american trip Mcdonald and Laudon spent a weekend on an panamanian Island in the Atlantic Scalia diving cooking the fish they caught and sleeping in hammocks while friends Back in Germany endured the cold and rain. They also shopped in local markets Lor Molas colourful hand stitched cloth panels made by indians and enjoyed Panama City s restaurants discos and cons int is. In take a whirlwind Lour of South America they  a three Day Mac embassy support flight that delivers supplies and personnel to . Diplomatic and military missions the Light stopped briefly in Brasilia Brazil stayed overnight in Buenos Aires Argentina Anil Santiago Chile and stopped for several hours in Lima Peru on the Way Back to Panama. Quot i was really surprised by South America Quot Mcdonald said. Quot i had travelled in Mexico a lot and believed we d find More of the same in South America. But it was More developed and  thanks to the Mac embassy flight even though it was Brief Quot we pretty much have South american geography nailed Down after being fairly clueless before Quot said Mcdonald who added that he d like to return sometime for an extended South american vacation. Even though it takes off from Panama once every two weeks and offers Only 11 seats for duty and space a passengers Mcdonald and Laudon had no difficulties getting seats on the South american flight. The Patron Saint of Mac travellers must have been smiling on them because they got on nearly every flight they wanted a although they encountered people who had less satisfying experiences flying military air. Mcdonald and Laudon waited in Charleston for Only two Days for a flight to Panama. Some retirees headed for the same destination however had waited at Charleston for As Many As 10 Days because some flights carried hazardous cargo and could t take passengers while others were diverted and still other Mac missions were cancelled because of aircraft maintenance problems. Some retirees were also delayed because they Are in a lower space available category than service members and their families. To minimize delay people intending to travel space a should Call ahead to verify flight schedules Mcdonald said explaining that  Advance Calls were very important in the Success of their trip. One Way to organize a Mac trip is to Start by calling the Mac terminal nearest a traveler s destination a  As Panama in the Case of the wandering dentists a and tracing flights Back to the traveler s Point of origin. During their Calls to air terminals Mcdonald and Laudon also found out about another series of flights that caught their interest. There Are Mac flights from in Ciurlik a near Adana Turkey to Israel. That discovery has inspired plans for another vacation a scuba diving in the red sea. Diving there is supposed to be among the Best in the world but that part of the world has another attraction for the two army dentists. It s also much warmer than it is in Germany. John Mcdonald and Scott Laudon relax near the rooftop Pool at their hotel in Panama City. The Tower at Panama Viejo is one of the few surviving structures in old Panama 10 stripes Magazine March 26, 1992