Capt Steve
US Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,678
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Today is my daughters 46th birthday and thought I would share a couple of memories.
I was 19, stationed at Karamoursel Turkey serving as a Cryptanalyst with the Army Security agency {we were spying on the Ruskies... but they knew}. My bride was flown up to Ankara week prior to her due date since our base lacked the necessary medical facilities.
Along with half a dozen other wives from all over Turkey they were put up in a multi bedroom apartment to await the births. Less than nothing to do, no TV, radio, video but lots of board games. I hitch hiked, caught buses large and small and managed to get up to Ankara hoping to be present for the birth. Unfortunately I was just a tad AWOL, my buddies signed me in an out...
To make things interesting Turkey was in mid coup, the military having taken over the government and instituted marshal law, tanks in the streets, Turkish soldiers standing guard at the base of the stairs of my brides apartment.
I hung out for three days and yet still no baby. Being broke and unable to afford a hotel the other ladies took great sport in hiding me. I slept on the couch and when the maids came every morning they hid me under the 55 gallon kerosene drum, covered with an old canvas tarp out on the balcony until the coast was clear.
Finally on day 3 at 0100 her water broke and we put in a call to the regional Turkish military commander requesting a car to take us to the makeshift hospital due to the dusk to dawn, strictly enforced curfew. Nothing was permitted to move on the streets but we were finally authorized a car for the short ride.
Upon arrival we were greeted by one nurse, one corpsman and no doctors. Her hard labor only lasted 4 hours and at 0500 it became obvious we were about to become parents. I asked the nurse if I could be there and she laughed,
"Scrub up honey, you're going to help" was her response.
Due to the curfew the American military doctor was not able to get there so they called in a local Turkish doctor who arrived at 5:08 to find my daughter emerging into the world with the cord wrapped several times around her neck. He spoke very little English but sang Simon and Garfunkle's "Here's to you Mrs Robinson with the worst accent you ever heard. Crouched down like Johnny Bench awaiting a split fastball he completed the delivery without a hitch.
Once I knew mom and daughter were fine getting my *** out of there and back where I was supposed to be quickly became job one. It took 36 hours to finally return to the base and my buds had covered my butt and no charges were ever filed.
Hard to believe that was 46 years ago but as I wished her happy birthday a few minutes ago the memories all came flooding back and thought I would share. Man am I getting old!
I was 19, stationed at Karamoursel Turkey serving as a Cryptanalyst with the Army Security agency {we were spying on the Ruskies... but they knew}. My bride was flown up to Ankara week prior to her due date since our base lacked the necessary medical facilities.
Along with half a dozen other wives from all over Turkey they were put up in a multi bedroom apartment to await the births. Less than nothing to do, no TV, radio, video but lots of board games. I hitch hiked, caught buses large and small and managed to get up to Ankara hoping to be present for the birth. Unfortunately I was just a tad AWOL, my buddies signed me in an out...
To make things interesting Turkey was in mid coup, the military having taken over the government and instituted marshal law, tanks in the streets, Turkish soldiers standing guard at the base of the stairs of my brides apartment.
I hung out for three days and yet still no baby. Being broke and unable to afford a hotel the other ladies took great sport in hiding me. I slept on the couch and when the maids came every morning they hid me under the 55 gallon kerosene drum, covered with an old canvas tarp out on the balcony until the coast was clear.
Finally on day 3 at 0100 her water broke and we put in a call to the regional Turkish military commander requesting a car to take us to the makeshift hospital due to the dusk to dawn, strictly enforced curfew. Nothing was permitted to move on the streets but we were finally authorized a car for the short ride.
Upon arrival we were greeted by one nurse, one corpsman and no doctors. Her hard labor only lasted 4 hours and at 0500 it became obvious we were about to become parents. I asked the nurse if I could be there and she laughed,
"Scrub up honey, you're going to help" was her response.
Due to the curfew the American military doctor was not able to get there so they called in a local Turkish doctor who arrived at 5:08 to find my daughter emerging into the world with the cord wrapped several times around her neck. He spoke very little English but sang Simon and Garfunkle's "Here's to you Mrs Robinson with the worst accent you ever heard. Crouched down like Johnny Bench awaiting a split fastball he completed the delivery without a hitch.
Once I knew mom and daughter were fine getting my *** out of there and back where I was supposed to be quickly became job one. It took 36 hours to finally return to the base and my buds had covered my butt and no charges were ever filed.
Hard to believe that was 46 years ago but as I wished her happy birthday a few minutes ago the memories all came flooding back and thought I would share. Man am I getting old!
