We’re freezing in our slit trenches waiting
for the menacing Migs to fly back to North Korea.
Another sleepless night for the Comm. Squadron.
Later I will provide a comforting elixir, a fifth of something soothing,
secretly added to our 50-gallon medicated water bag
when TopKick McGlumphy is prowling elsewhere.
Gene Newman was a USAF cryptologist during the Korean War and is a retired engineer and journalist, including stringing for the N.Y. Times and being a crossword puzzle creator for the New York Times and USA Today.
Note from the author: I was a cryptographer at a Kunsan, Korea USAF base during the Korean War. My buddy Bob and I did improve the Lister bag’s contents with a 5th or two of Kentucky’s finest one dark night. Morale improved noticeably the next day, but we denied involvement!
Thank you for you service—and that great story.
This is one of my all time site favorites.