Evening star., 1952-09-12

".
Don't tell me-" said the fat
lieutenant in the Honolulu Navy
Yard, don't tell me they fouled
up this berthing chart again
He searched through a heap OF
dispatches in a box on his desk
''Oh, pardon me. Yep, she's gone
Showed off this morning."
Where to?"
"Sorry. CLASSIFIED"
well, what do 1 do now?"
II don't know. You should have
caught her"
My ship just got in an hour
ago"
That's not my fault"
Look" said Willie, "all I want
to know is, how do I get transpor-
tation from this point to catch up
with the Caine?"
"Oh. You want transportation.
Well, I'm personnel. You'll have
to see transportation"
Who and where is transporta-
tion?" asked Willie.
Il don't know"
Willie gave up. If the Navy
was in no hurry to send him after
the Caine, he was in no hurry to
60. He went back to the bachelor
officers quarters where he found
Roland Keefer. Just in time,
boy" Keefer said, thoroughly tired
of piling a crate and two bags in
and out of taxis.
Just in time, boy. Big doings.
Admiral giving a party for the
nurses tonight"
Which admiral?"
who knows? They thick as
deas on dogs back around here.
You find your ship?"
Showed of today. Nobody will
say where"
Fine. fine. Nice delay, prob
ably. Shower up"
The admirars party at his
handsome home inside the base,
started as a quiet affair. But after
drinks had flowed for a while the
atmosphere warmed. Willie, urged
on by Keefer, timidly sat at the
piano and played. The admiral
frightened at the first notes, and
moved to q seat near the piano.
THE boy has talent" he said to a
captain at his elbow. by George
these reserves bring some life into
things"
They certainly do, sir"
Keefer heard this exchange.
~Hey. Willie. give Us the Gnu
Knew"
Songs a Sensation.
The song caused a sensation.
The admiral put down his glass
and applauded, whereupon every
one else did the same: He was in
ehuckling high spirits. Whats
your name. Ensign? BY Gerge,
you're a find"
Keith, sir"
Keith. Good name. Not q Keith
1IOm 100lAQA
mo, sir. Long Island"
GOOD name anyway"
where are you stationed, boy?
] want you to come again. often"
I'm trying to catch up with the
U.SS. Caine. sir.
"Caine? Game? Is she still in
sommiSsion?"
Captain Matson leaned over and
said, Converted DMS, sir"
"oh, one Of those. Where is
shs?"
Just left today, SIR" He
dropped his voice. ""Ashtray.'"
Him." The admiral regarded
Willie keenly. "Matson, can you
take care Of this lad?"
II think 80, Admiral"
''Well, more music, Keith"
When the party broke up at
midnight, the captain slipped
willie his card. Come and see
me at 0900, Keith"
AYE aye. sir"
Next morning Wlllle presented
himself at the captains Office in
the CincPac Building. The captain
rose and shook hands pleasantly.
Sure enjoyed your music. Keith.
Never saw the admiral have a
better time. BY God, he needs it
does him good"
Thank you, sir"
"Well," said the captain, "if you
want I can put you on plane for
Australia. Maybe you'll catch the
Game down there. maybe you
won't"
Whatever you say. sir"
"Or," said the captain, I'VE can
put you on temporary duty here
In the officer pool till she gets
back to Pearl. Might be few
weeks. might be a few months. De-
pends on whether you're in a
hurry for combat duty Or They
can use you out there, sure
enough. The admiral wouldn't in
terfere with your going out, in any
way" Captain Matson grinned.
"Off1cer pool sounds swell to
me. sir"
Fine. The admiral will be
pleased. Bring your orders around
to my yeoman any time today"
Transfers to Officer Pool.
Willie was officially transferred
to the officer pool, and took up
quarters with Keefer in the BOO.
The Southerner, who had already
been assigned to Sd Fleet Com
munications, exulted as Willie un-
packed his bags.
boy, you catching on to the
military life"
II don't know. Maybe they
needed me on the Came"