I was talking to a new found Wetok Weather friend just a few days ago. He mentioned that line of blow holes along the outer edge of the reef and how they were very active when the tide was out and the swells were up.

When young men are trapped together on a small rock in mid-ocean many, if not most, will get drunk occasionally.

One night, several returned from the Club with excess energy and a burning need to respond to peer pressure. We hitched a ride on the weapons carrier shuttling to the station and had the driver drop us off on the reef near the largest of the blow holes.

Somebody dared somebody to sit on the opening at the top. It was shaped like a miniature volcano. He waited tbr a lull in the cycle, sat down and got a good grip on the coral. At first, air hissed out. He held on. Then some mist and spray. No problem. But that water jet sent him flying.

I don't remember this brave soul's name. He may have been the first in history to try this. We all took our turn then, when we saw he only had a few bruises and scratches.

We caught some kind of a ride back to the tents, showered off the blood and saltwater and slept well.

|| Articles || Mail Box || Notices & News || Bios || Viewpoints || || Home Page || Email: Harold Wainscott || || Atomic Veterans History Project ||

---

© 1999. All rights reserved.