Inquisitive Quest

It was time to lay siege to Lawton, and exploit its offerings provided for the thousands of military it hosted.  Gary, and three of the CEMMC-2 class components depositing themselves at the 1/2 block long bus terminal,  at 2nd and C Avenue.   The 9 square block expanse from 1st to 4th, and C to E, flourished with military traffic, but the Broadway of cache,  was centered on either side of the Lawton Café on 3rd Street.  A twelve o’clock closing  curfew presided over a multitude of  flourishing compacted taverns,  finding the 3 2 beer pavilion landscape, interspersed with pawn shops and sporadic tattoo endowments.  Tobin,  White,  Martin  and Willson laying claim to Bills’  Alley Club,  but unbeknownst to three of the group,  there was one among them that had sampled,  but never had any desired to consume a bottle of beer,  or a beverage containing alcohol, but that was about to change.

Oklahoma having just passed a  law legalizing the sale of packaged liquor in April, the state having never ratified the 21st amendment ending prohibition, but allowing the sale of what the state considered a non-alcohol beverage,  3 point 2 beer.  Gary appraisal of Bill’s Alley Club was as its name implied,  in an alley off 3rd Street, with Bill,  a smiling gray-haired proprietor, providing free pretzels,  and on occasion,  donating a round of  beer.  With Tobin and Martin shouldering from New York City,  and White from Pennsylvania, Willson was surprised their beer of choice wasn’t an eastern brew as expected,  but one that hailed from bordering Texas,  a brew new to the four,  Lone Star.   With the monetary stocking of the juke box, the constant refrains of  Marty Robbins’s  El Paso, and Johnny and The Hurricanes Red River Rock echoing, the four aspiring to amalgamate into the surroundings.  Once back on base, it was soon discovered, that with an ever increasing amount of classroom study,  the brevity of Lawton was acknowledged, but to limited anomalies.

Failure in CEMMC-2 was unacceptable,  the consequence was a transfer to AIT,  Advanced Infantry Training unit,  or UFACC,  better known as the field artillery,  for what was known as your second eight.   With the essential electrical skills accomplished,  an assignment of drafting a schematic for an operational piece of electrical equipment of choice,  with assigned values for each component of the apparatus was required.   The class’s volition was limited to relatively simple devices, encompassing minor circuitry,  all save one, the Soldier from California.

Gary recalling an acquisition from his past, his first dynamic audio amplifier,  from a Wurlitzer jukebox, a super-heterodyne,  with 6L6 pentode push-pull power tubes.   Having proclaimed this challenge to the Warrant Officer instructor, the irrefutable test wasn’t his ability,  but affirmation of resolve,  and soon discovering a capacious number of hours needed to complete the task.  With his new discerning knowledge, he was successful at his endeavor, somewhat expecting a commendatory comment from the instructor, but such as it was, the only person his accomplishment impressed,  was himself.

The lady laid prone, communication conduits containing numerous leads were prescribed, addressing her sleek and slender anatomy,  enabling conversations to inquire and be audited.  The purpose was to insure regulatory employment, not to concede  impairment,  or to hinder her assigned duty.  Assuring her application,  and confirming the knowledge of position, accepting her logistical assignment,  relative to an assured ambition.  Recognition of disposition are issued,  and a confirmation communicated for transfer, her deployment  is received and ready to assimilate.

The two soldiers occupying the missile test van adjoining the cabled 45 foot nuclear capable missile,  confirmed that it was ready for erection and certified Go for launch.  Martin and Willson receiving  an admission of approbation from the Warrant Officer monitoring the two, the officer having observed the discovery,  and correction of his previous installed defective components.   Al Martin and Gary stepping out of the test van housed in the hangar sized building with the other Test Stations and accompanying missiles, the two being the  first to finish this trouble shooting exercise.  When balanced together,  the two were exemplary at trouble-shooting and diagnosing the instructor placed missile component difficulties,  and remedying the problem.

Martin noticing that there were no instructor present on the test van line,  the Warrant Officer Instructor for their exercise having apparently stepped inside the adjacent Van occupied by Tobin and White.   Martin up to his antic again, without hesitation, walking over to Tobin’s and Whites missile, glancing to make sure he wasn’t observed, reached down disconnecting a cable introducing non instructor applied trouble-shooting problem.  Curiosity was sustained when the two Warrant Officers exited the van and began researching the missiles additional problem.  The instructor retaining a perplexed expression and was overheard to acknowledge, this was not a trouble-shooting problem that he administered.   Conferring with the other Warrant Officer,  two instructors commenced to diagnose the cause and location of the trouble.   The problem was resolved,  Al and Gary  thinking they might be suspect for the unexpected difficulty, but fortunately not this time, Gary concluding reason precludes opportunity if not deduced.

Al Martin acquiring a  new source of transportation, a well-worn 49 Ford.  the New Yorker extending an invitation for anyone interested,  to join him in exploring the Wichita Mountain  Wildlife Refuge and Mount Scott,  just north and west of the military base.   The mountain reputed to be the second highest in Oklahoma, reaching an elevation of 2 thousand, 4 hundred and 64 feet.  Mount Pinchot,  located several mile’s west,  being 12 feet higher.  Dumbrosky, White and Willson,  deciding to join him in exploring this scenic Oklahoma domain.  The foursome,  motoring up the three-mile circular road to the summit of Mount Scott,  observing an  impressive  view of Lake Lawtonka,  and the never-ending flat land horizon of southwest Oklahoma.  Continuing on their venture, the highway signs on the Cash-Meers road,  marking the entrance to the wildlife refuge, and signs posted,  off road vehicle travel prohibited.

The soldiers discovering a small herd of buffalo grazing off the highway, Al desiring a closer look,  driving across the open field.  The buffalo not giving a second thought about the visitors until they were within 20 yards,  the herd deciding to move away from the intruders.  The Ford continued, the herd moving on,  except one big buffalo, he apparently decided to stand his ground, turning towards the oncoming vehicle, pawing the ground like a bull in a ring.  Al stopping the car, the buffalo lowering its head and began a charge toward  them, a wide-eyed Martin putting the car in reverse,  and backing away as fast as he could.  the buffalo halting,  giving them a look of superiority,  before joining the grazing herd.

The evening approaching, Gary discovering,  this so-called flat prairie landscape of Oklahoma,  also retained another little talked about venue, a majestic vista,  sunrise & sunsets,   a subtle reminder,   that what we see,  is what we look For.

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