Smoke Alarm

October 19, 1944. Evening. On U.S. destroyer with invasion fleet en route to Leyte Gulf, Philippines. Destroyer taking fuel along starboard side of USS Nashville . This puts port bridge wing of destroyer even with 02 deck of Nashville and maybe twenty-five feet away.

Older man (through nineteen-year-old enlisted eyes) in khaki steps out on Nashville 02 deck and lights his pipe. I almost jump out of socks. Did this old geezer realize if someone caught him smoking topside he could end up in Marine brig for life?

As I sucked in air to shout warning, someone behind me said, “God-damn! That’s General MacArthur! Lookouts! Clear the port wing of the bridge!!” Navy talk for get your keister out of here.

Guess nobody caught him. Next day he walked ashore at Leyte.

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