Replies

My late father in law-FIL was in the air force in the mid-1950’s and stationed in the Azores. He was a sergeant at the time and hated being away from the states and when off duty would drink at the NCO club and from what he told me if he decided to drink he would get plastered but in general stagger back to his barracks sleep it off and leave people alone. His other hobby according to him was chasing the Brit nurses about.

One night he was in the NCO club and was working on humdinger of a drunk and a brand new strutting peacock of a second Lt. walked in with his wife and started throwing rank around on all the NCO’s, in general being a total ahole. My FIL already drunk as a boiled owl decided he had heard enough and staggered up to the Lt. and let him know of his disgust for his presence and behavior in the NCO club.

The Lt. said something which sent my FIL over the edge and he cut loose with a right hook and in a scene right out of the movies the Lt. ducked and my father in law ended up knocking the Lt’s wife on her butt! The other NCO’s broke it up and the Lt. and his wife exited post haste and my FIL’s buddies told him get out of here now and go sleep it off you are already in deep crap without fighting the AP’s.

The next morning the base commander summoned my father in law to his office. He was fully expecting a court martial and prison time as he stood before full bird colonel. The colonel tore into him for his drunken behavior and swinging at an officer and hitting his wife even if it was an accident. Then the old bird then said the second lieutenants behavior was abhorrent as well and he was out of line. He then told my FIL you have a good record and about six months left on base. I am reducing your rank for the remainder of your time on base to airman first class. When you leave for your next assignment you will pick up your sergeants rank, dismissed. My FIL said thank you sir, snapped a salute and got the hell out of dodge. That night was the last night he took a drink of alcohol.