A Slippery Trip

September 20, 1948, Lackland AFB, 0550 hours, temperature 26 degrees F. We had scrubbed the barracks down, including the back entry steps, and had marched in formation to the Mess Hall for breakfast.

We were forming up for the march back to the barracks, when I had a bright idea to beat the frigid temperature. I slipped out of formation in the dark and ran down the path behind the barracks, so I could slip inside where it was warm. I made one final leap up onto the top rear step (did I mention that it was 26 degrees?) and flew about 20 feet through the air, landing with a crash behind the next barracks.

These days, I limit my ice to martini's.

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