Stories..........

I'm sure there is no end to humorous anecdotes about the military out there.

One that's stuck with me, knowing the military mindset, was submitted to a personal interest column in the Omaha World Herald some 20 years ago.

The fellow said he'd been a Corporal in the (then) Army Air Corps in the early 1950's involved in installing a radar station in the Mojave Desert.

One day when he was on a supply run to a nearby Army base, the thought it would be great if they could have some cold beer out there in the desert. The Army was willing to requisition him some beer and ice, but they wanted an officer's signature on the requisition. The Corporal didn't hesitate; he simply signed his Captain's name to the requisition.

Time passed, and they got accustomed to having their cold beer occasionally. Then one day when it was time for the supply run, the Corporal was indisposed and a Private was sent. The Private returned empty handed and told the Captain the Army wanted an officer's signature on the requisition.

The Captain turned on the Corporal and asked, "Corporal, have you been signing my name to the beer requisition?"

The Corporal replied, "Yes, Sir".

The Captain turned back to the Private and said, "See? That's why he's a Corporal and you're still a Private".

One of my old Clemson profs said during WWII, if they wanted cold beer in the desert, they would put it in a bucket of gasoline and bubble air from a compressor through it and it would be cold fast.
Richard in NW SC

Dad was a young teenager at start of WW11. When troop trains came through town, they would stop for water and coal refills in the engines tender. Troops weren't allowed to get off train. Dad, being a farm kid always was riding a horse if in town. Him and a friend would take money from the troops and ride to the tavern and bring them back beer. In those days, people weren't concerned about someone being under age. One time they didn't make it back by the time the train was pulling away. So they just kept the beer. Had to hide it under a bridge so their parents wouldn't find it. They drank it hot and said it wasn't all that good.

On a patrol with the crew of a Martin P5M Sea Plane. Flying in the Philippines it was so hot the pilot would let the crew open the rear door (hatch) to cool off the plane. A rope was put across the opening to keep anyone from falling out. The base galley would give the crew a big box of food to cook for breakfast. I was given the chore to cook breakfast of steak and eggs for the crew, when I was finished washing the dishes. I had a pan of dirty water. I thought it would be a good idea just to toss it out the rear hatch. the water hit the wind stream, and the everything flew back into plane all over someone who happened to be standing behind the hatch. He wasn't too happy. That's my story, and I am sticking to it. Stan