Then there's the story of Homer Jones.

This was about 1953 when I had returned from Korea and was stationed at Ream Field. Homer, who we referred to as just "Jonesy", was a WW2 veteran that was recalled to active duty, and he didn't like it at all. Jonesy was a 1st Class Radioman, with talents that were not needed in a helicopter squadron. He was a very easy, likeable little guy, and generally got along well with the rest of our crew in the electronics shop. He had quickly became qualified for a cruise to Korea, and I had run across him several times in Japan. The word spread through the enlisted ranks that he could do his job while at sea, but ashore on liberty, he was real trouble. He was an alcoholic that couldn't get back to his ship on time, missed the ships sailing, was Court Martialed, and reduced in rate several times. By the time he got back to Ream Field he was down three rates to the rate of Airman, no longer a petty officer. His mis-fortune continued, and more drunken escapades got him reduced to the lowest rate of Airman Recruit, like a new enlistee. Finally, he was restricted to the base, barred from the enlisted man's club, but his lady friends still managed to sneek booze onto the base for him. One morning I entered the Electrorics shop and found Jonesy sitting on a stool with his hands cupped around his head and his face on the work-bench. He reeked of booze, and was mumbling to himself. I felt sorry for the guy, and asked what was wrong, and if I could do anything to help him. Without raising his head, he started crying and said, " His wife had run off with a black man". He took a breath and added - " Next time I'm going marry a white woman ". We could always count on him to make jokes - even with a hangover that would have killed most of us. I think the Navy finally gave him a " Bad Conduct " discharge, and sent him home.

Doug Froling