Page 70 - Winterling's Chasing the Wind

On January 8, we had winds blowing 60 mph from a storm that had come all the way
from Japan. Instead of snow, we received the first rain I’d seen since coming to
Shemya. Three days later, we finally got a chaplain and I wouldn’t have to preach
anymore. The following Sunday, we got an organist, and I started teaching a Bible
class. I was surprised to hear from one of the class members that Matthew 17:21 was
omitted in the RSV Bible. One explanation was the verse was not in the original
manuscripts, but was added by scribes later; therefore it was entered into the King
James Bible. That evening I had reached the book of Numbers as I continued the daily
reading of my new Bible.

One of the men in our quarters had finished his assignment and went back to Elmendorf
for reassignment. I was fortunate to move into the small room he had vacated. It was
only about 8 feet wide and 10 ft deep. It was only furnished with a cot and a desk with
a small chair. Having formerly been part of a psycho ward, the door was about 4 inches
thick with a small 12-inch square window. The window to the outside was above the
cot. Upon examination, I discovered I could string a copper wire through the window
outside for a radio antenna. This was my connection for radio programs away from
Shemya.

One evening, I was picked up a broadcast from WFBK in Sacramento, California. The
program was sponsored by Stan’s Drive Inn. The announcer said to “drive out tonight
for one of our double-burgers and super shakes. All I could do lie on my back and just
dream of the food. I send in a letter with a request to play “Let it Snow”. A week later,
he acknowledged it and played the song. I enjoyed the opportunity to listen to stations
in Salt Lake City, Del Rio Texas, Tulsa Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Honolulu and AFRS
Tokyo. AFRS was the Armed Forces Radio Service.

Between my room and the barracks-type group of cots near the back door, there was a
large room that we called the Day Room, even though some of the guys hung out there
playing poker until the wee hours of the morning. Being a conservative Southern
Baptist, I didn’t gamble, cuss, smoke or drink. As far as going out with girls, I was told
that on Shemya, there was a girl behind every tree. The only trouble was the fact that on
Shemya, there were no trees! Actually, there were a few women there. They were
airline hostesses that stayed in a restricted part of the base where we very seldom saw
them.

62