Author: Vic Socotra

On the QT

I hope your night was silent and peaceful. I dreamt I was soaring in the blackness last night, free as a bird. There were no court dates. On my narrow dark wings I rose with quiet thrust to survey the territory below me. I could sense movement in the trees far below, felt more than […]

PRIZE CREW

  Ownership of the night is the birthright of all Americans, or at least it was in the later days of the last high-octane century. Upon obtaining their driver’s license, the young owned the night.   It would not have occurred to the young Lieutenant Junior Grade to have considered that his first and greatest […]

Advisors

Advisors Mauritanian Officers and Advisors, 2007 I woke up early, unrested and agitated. The middle of the week contains the hardest night, energy reserves squandered on the rocks of Monday and Tuesday, and still so much to accomplish to avoid disaster. Robert Mugubwe must be feeling the same way, since he is so much older, […]

April Fools

This could pass for one of the greatest shows on earth, this circus turn of the quarter year. This day devoted to pranks and foolishness fits well with the mood. Hard to imagine that we a done with so much of this young year, and we have dug such a deep hole. The good news […]

We Own the Night

   President Bush owned last night, at least the beginning of it. He was at brand-spanking new Nationals Stadium to throw out the ceremonial First Pitch. The game started at twilight in the chill, and there was a minor delay of about an hour for many of the fans to get into the stadium based […]

We Own the Night

   President Bush owned last night, at least the beginning of it. He was at brand-spanking new Nationals Stadium to throw out the ceremonial First Pitch. The game started at twilight in the chill, and there was a minor delay of about an hour for many of the fans to get into the stadium based […]

Risers

Are you tired of hanging around with hookers on the Honcho-ku in 1950? I understand that you might, though there is much more to Kiko and her friends than meets the eye. I’m a Fleet sailor and always will be. Thanks for coming along. We can go back out there again tonight; that is the […]

Risers

Are you tired of hanging around with hookers on the Honcho-ku in 1950? I understand that you might, though there is much more to Kiko and her friends than meets the eye. I’m a Fleet sailor and always will be. Thanks for coming along. We can go back out there again tonight; that is the […]

Admirals of the Fleet

I have met a Nobel Laureate before. He accepted an appointment in his office to talk about potential work on a research contract with my firm. He was a nice guy; Chinese American and very modest, considering what he had achieved. I did not have a lot in common with him, except a shared passion […]

Club Mikasa

 Yokosuka had come to terms with its new Americans in 1950,     Base Commander CAPT Benny Decker and his Public Works Center had performed hundreds of good works for the people outside the gates of the former Imperial Navy facility. In fact, PWC under Benny’s firm hand had become a provider of common concern to […]