Replies

I was deployed to the American Embassy in Liberia during one of their many revolutions. In the Defense Attache's office was a three drawer filing cabinet that was damaged. The bottom drawer was shot full of holes. I was told that about three years earlier, the drawer was left open overnight. When someone went to close the drawer the next day, they discovered a mamba had made its home in the drawer. They used a stick to close the drawer and had the sergeant of the guard put about 20 bullets into the drawer. They then "very carefully" opened the drawer and the sergeant of the guard put about three more bullets into the wounded snake.

I had only slightly heard of a mamba before, so I did not really understand until the Assistant Defense Attache (From Louisiana) said, "think of the largest, fastest, meanest cotton mouth you have ever imagined and then realize that it can kill you with one drop."

I laughingly asked, "Then why didn't you use a hand grenade?" He replied, "We didn't have hand grenades until you guys showed up."