The Lobo Tank Busters:
Stan Jordan
On our sortie today, we flew over in the Caen area and then a little south. You see, there are still hundreds of miles of France going south towards Spain. All of the country is controlled by Germany. The allies have to drive all of the Krauts out of here and then move north towards Belgium.
So, we four pilots flew on south to a town called, Alencon. That is a junction of railroads and highways, a rail distribution center area. That is all new area for us. We caught a freight train loaded with tanks and war supplies out in the open and in the daylight. We hit that train from all sides. We took the locomotive out first and the train stopped and the fight was on. It had one flat car loaded with some multiple barrel cannons and we had to get rid of it quickly, and we did. There was a few more single machine guns. We also took care of those guns with our small arms fire. After we got back to our air base and sort of added up our hits for the day, we were very proud of this mission. We got one locomotive and he is beyond repair.
Patton’s breakout is going well. This hot, summer weather makes the ground real hard and Patton’s tanks can go most anywhere. Sometimes if they encounter a road block, they have to go out around it in the fields to pass it. There are not many trees of forests for the Germans to hide behind, so Patton’s troops move right along. On our sortie this morning, we had extra fuel tanks and we went back down to the southern part of France again. We caught a freight train loaded with trucks, half-tracks and supplies for the troops. It was partly a couple of chemical cars, which we figured were loaded with gasoline and we were sure right. Boy, what a fire we started! All the cars of gasoline caught fire.
They entire train was out in the country-side, and with all of the fires we started, the locomotive was destroyed and blocked the tracks. It will be a couple of days before that railroad can be in operation again.
See ya!
The Sword of Damocles:
All of my life, I’ve loved to read. I can’t read anymore because my eyes are not that good, now. The other day, for some reason, the title “The Sword of Damocles” crossed my mind (or desk). I remembered a little about it. It was sort of a curse, or bad luck or something.
This 8 cylinder memory of mine over the 90 years has dwindled down to less than a 4 banger. One of my co-workers, Angel (the boss’s wife), who has about 6 or 8 jobs, is also the final proofreader. I asked her what she knew about the Sword of Damocles, and she immediately replied, “Absolutely nothing!”
Well, we talked about Medieval England and King Arthur and his big sword called, Ex-Caliber. We figured the sword would be about the same; quite long, double-sided, big grip long enough for both hands and plenty heavy. Well, Angel punched it up on the computer, and this is the story of King Dionysius and Damocles.
“According to the story, pandering to his king, Dionysius, Damocles exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority surrounded by magnificence, Dionysius was truly extremely fortunate. Dionysius then offered to switch places with Damocles, so that Damocles could taste that very fortunate firsthand. Dam quickly and eagerly accepted the king’s proposal. Damocles sat down in the king’s throne surrounded by every luxury, but Dionysius arranged that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held at the pommel only by a single hair of a horse’s tail. Damocles finally begged the king that he be allowed to depart because he no longer wanted to be so fortunate, realizing that with great fortune and power comes also great responsibility.”
We sort of figured that this story holds very true this time of year, as all over the world, young adults are graduating high school and entering college to further their education, or, going out into the work-a-day world. The king is telling Damocles that maybe, things are not as rosy as they appear. Don’t try to keep up with the Jone’s and it isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.
See ya!
Advertising Logos & Slogans from the Past Continued:
1. A meal fit for ____.
2. Kentucky Fried ____.
3. Finger Lickin’ ____.
4. Who made the Monopoly sets?
5. A Slogan: It Covers the Earth.
6. Ashes to Ashes, ____ to ____.
7. He learned to paddle his own ____.
8. What is a barber’s favorite word?
9. Take two of these pills and ____.
10. Hump day is _________.
11. Spit and ____.
12. Location, location, ____ .
13. You’re in good hands with ____ ____.
14. Brush your teeth every day and see your dentist ______ __ ______.
15. In baseball: By golly, wait ‘til ____ _____.
16. It’s in the ______.
17. As scarce as a ___ ____.
18. Nothing runs like a _____.
19. It’s not over til ___ ___ ____ ____.
20. Walk softly and carry a big _______ .
21. Around her neck, she wore a ______ _______.
22. Ringling Brothers: _____ ____ _____.
23. Ring the bell for _______.
***Answers***
1. King 2. Chicken 3. Good 4. Park Bros. 5. Sherman Williams Paint 6. Dust to Dust 7. Canoe 8. Next 9. Call me in the morning 10. Wednesday 11. Polish 12. Location 13. All State Insurance 14. Twice a year 15. Next year 16. Mail 17. Hen’s teeth 18. Deere 19. The fat lady sings 20. Stick 21. Yellow Ribbon 22. Barnum & Bailey 23. For Shell/For Service
See ya!
