AULD LANG SYNE

Do you really remember Blackie? I mean, his approach to life on the rock. Hey Harry, I hope you don't mind my trying to prompt some tales at your expense. Who was with our favorite gambler when he hit the tree? How did that come about? Don Whitman says that Captain Kuhn could never sit with a drink and talk, without talking about Blackie. The squeaking wheel etc. Loved that Mohawk haircut. I just know of some of the happenings. Many of you know some things to tell about Blackie. What about the R&R? There must be some gambling stories to tell. A stand-in for our damaged weapons carrier. Remember that?

The NE trade-winds were blowing our little boat toward that wide passage and open ocean. Just had a small outboard and it had quit. Had to raise the distress flag for help. Who else was in that group?

Some of us were hunting killer clams ( other things too I guess), with a duck. Tried to pull a big one up with the winch. Who was there? I think some of you were.

George hated those bushes on either side of the weather station door. Burt knows that story. Hey Burt, Tell us about that. Horrible death for the plants.

Do dry shark eyeballs make kinky jewelery? Somebody dried some. Who was it? Did it work? About shark fishing at the garbage pier.---- Who did that?

Pibal batteries worked wonderfully well with salt water. Even under salt water. Who was involved with lighting up the lagoon (from below) at midnight.

A George story concerning a flying alarm clock.

Sam and Caustic stories. Then too; one dog had a very nasty name. Could not call him to get him out of the church services one sunday, without calling him by name.

What story were you told about that wrecked Japanese ship on the reef at Japtan.

Who was the Detachment clerk before Bobby? I can see him in my mind's eye. Where was he from? There may be some old orders giving his name. Who did Captain Kuhn relieve?

Burt, when he wrote home to his folks; He could have said, Hey Mom and Pop we had an awful storm yesterday. It was really windy and wet. He presented his story though, as an adventure. It was an adventure of a 20yr old young man. Most of you weather men have read his story in our hard copy of the Wetokian. It is here on this site.

There was a bus rolled over by propwash. Were you in it? Did you just stand there? I did. What do you do when a bus rolls over in slow motion.

Do you remember the Lakanuki taxi stands on Kwaj?

We are fading fast. Swap some tales with each other by sending them to me. We share a time, history and place. Each of you has a particular point of view------VIEWPOINTS Give me yours.

By Harold Wainscott

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The waves crashing into the reef made a constant rumble. At high tide, when some broke across the reef, different surf sounds added their rush to the rumble. All of that roar became background noise to us. It didn't usually register in our minds. I used it at night as a lullaby.

On September 15 the rumble stopped. Typhoon Olive cut off the trade winds and left our ocean and lagoon calm and smooth to mirror the sky.

What do you remember about that day? Didn't somebody tether a balloon with an antenna wire and pick up Honolulu on the regular broadcast band?

I found dolphin and flying fish easy to spot on the smooth water. At low tide, with almost dry feet, I stood on a low ledge of the reef face normally awash. We had a slow three inch swell.

Olive hit Wake the next day with an unexpected burst of speed and intensity. The wind increased to 105 knots. gusting to 123.

That day (Sept. 16) a Wake bound plane, flying dependents out of Tokyo, had to divert to our little rock.

Were you fully clothed when the truck load of women and children came by the tent area? Did they spend the night? What do you remember about those Pacific Island days?

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