This is a tough one, not because the events are too crazy, but because the words contain two separate but linked stories. The picture below came from the volunteer staff at the USS Midway Museum, part of the ceremony honoring LTJG Winky’s return to the finest damn carrier in the Fleet. This image is part of the story that showed up yesterday, and is a treat:

Stalwart Midway Volunteer Pat Alderman served as Winky’s escort on the transcontinental return voyage across the nation. I was knocked out by the sign he sent, posted prominently in a place I have crossed on foot a few thousand times and wrote to thank her, mentioning it would be a fine addition to the book. She wrote back in some puzzlement, not being an insider in the sometimes parabolic nature of the content generation machine at Socotra House International. In view of her special role in this process, I wrote back to fill her in.

“Pat, Winky’s story is being added to our young adult readers list and will be issued presently, probably after the next visit to the museum on our next trip to San Diego. An example of the line is “The Red Dog,” an account of the adventures of a remarkable Cocker Spaniel with the largest number of “Green Ink” missions our staff is aware of. The Red Dog flew with Crew 9 of VPB-116 in World War Two, and as is traditional in Naval Aviation, combat missions are recorded in the log book in the unique hue of green.”

I realized Red Dog had not been subject to publication except in pieces, when Skipper Vince was still alive to tell it. I could paste the text in here, but that would mean adding pictures individually and with country satellite connectivity issues, the very real possibility of burdening the readership with an irritating jumble of electrons.

Therefore, we are just going to attach the document as a Word file .doc. It is not the way we like to do business, but it is life in the country. We attest that it is not the vehicle for misinformation, contains no reference so any socio-medical or political issues. It is just the story of a cocker spaniel that LT Vince Rohe, USNR, took to war with the Empire of Japan, and the way that small dog spent his first three years of life, scampering up and down the walkway of the fuselage of a Liberator patrol bomber at war with Japan. Thirty-six Green Ink trips. Not bad for a dog.

This is how Red Dog looked in 1944 in the official Crew 9 photo:

(Red Dog poses for posterity, 1944)

The Writer’s Section apologizes for utilizing the attachment process, but production values come first in any publishing enterprise. It seems like the sort of compromise that Skipper Vince, Crew 9 and their Cocker Spaniel would embrace “for the duration.” The Liberator bomber they flew was named “Red Dog’s Playmate,” and was perfect for hauling humans, bombs and dogs in the all-hands effort against the Empire of Japan.

More on all of this tomorrow, when the Belmont Farms Distilling enterprise is closed to observe the Blue Laws that rule Sundays out in the country.

Copyright 2021 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
red dog.docx
3.4 MB