Murray bennett story part 6

byJoezout

1.2K followers

4 years ago

INTERESTING INFORMATION AND DR

\IVING GENERALS

Another interesting thing about the early days was that Murray as a driver knew where all the Nike missile bases were that surrounded Washington in those days. One day while he was driving a full bird colonel as that top-rank was called, the Col. took him to a Nike missile site, that very site was in action a few days prior.

There was what they call a bogey coming in from the East Coast toward Washington DC, they radioed that plane and notified it that it had 30 seconds to change course or else be eliminated, you better believe that plane quickly changed course. Everyone must understand this was occurring during the time of the building of the Berlin wall and the height of the Cold War.

Upon arriving at the missile site, the Col. asked him if he would like to go downstairs and see how it was operated. At ground level all you can see was a chain-link fence that surrounded the site, well Murray said sure. So, the Col. proceeded to take Murray downstairs where there were approximately five men stationed, and Murray found the whole operation remarkably interesting.

Once the Colonel’s inspection was completed and they returned to ground level, the Col. asked Murray if he had top-secret clearance and Murray replied no, he only had secret clearance. The Colonel said darn, do not tell anybody or both of us could be up for court-martial, of course Murray knew well better and sealed his lips and only said yes sir.

One day Murray picked up a four-star general at Andrews Air Force Base, the general wanted Murray to take him 40 miles North to another Fort. Along with the general were his two aides, a major and a Sgt. After they loaded the general’s luggage into the car, and everyone was in the general leaned over the seat and gave Murray a hand drawn map with the directions he wanted Murray to take. Murray knew if he followed the general directions it would take them an additional hour to get there, so he took his own route.

Approximately halfway up there the general inquired where were they on that map and Murray responded they were nowhere on that map and that he was taking a shortcut, the general just sat back and did not say another word. Upon arriving at the Fort the general checked the time and saw that Murray got them there 30 minutes ahead of schedule, he inquired after noticing Murray’s name tag of Murray by name, how did he learn that route and Murray responded just some young lad taught him the route. The general turned to the major and told him to give Murray a $20 tip, Murray was only earning $90 a month so this was a great tip, the biggest he ever received. That was the first and only time he ever drove a four-star general and it turned out extremely well.

This is a fine example that when you really pay attention and learn things well be it a route or in our case a WA lesson plan it can really pay off. I would remember these little things well, they teach us small lessons in life that I call life's lessons.

One of Murray’s driving jobs was called code runs, on these runs he would pick up generals at Fort Myers North post. He would start his run at a specified time, for instance 7:04 AM and drive at a specific rate of speed, the speed was slow enough so that he would be able to watch for generals coming out of their homes and stop his vehicle to pick them up. One time he remembers most vividly was when he had picked up 5 generals, while transporting these generals to the Pentagon they were discussing the severity of the problems of the day.

The Cold War was at its height in those days, specifically the building of the Berlin wall, there had been extremely serious problems with our transports getting through and the generals were discussing their strategy on how to deal with the situation. Our transports were being halted at the wall and unable to deliver necessary relief goods to West Germany and even the potential of bombing the East Germans was on the table. The general’s in those days were true warlords and were eager to bomb everybody, all they really knew was war and as far as they were concerned blowing things up was a joy.

There was one goofy occurrence with a buddy of Murray’s that happened when his buddies wife moved up to Washington DC. Murray’s buddy was real playboy and had a regular girlfriend on the side and needed Murray to help him get rid of her. He requested that Murray meet her downstairs in front of the barracks when she pulled up with her car to pick him up and notify her that he was dead.

When she pulled up to the barracks with her car and tooted the horn Murray went out and got into the car and told her a long story about how his buddy got killed in a car wreck about a week ago. The young lady broke down and was crying and sobbing and repeating Murray’s buddy’s name repeatedly while Murray tried to comfort her. Murray felt extremely bad about this, but he was helping his buddy out and after a while he left her there and went back in the barracks.

Everyone I will close my post requesting for prayers for Florentino and his daughter, may we hope to hear from him soon.

As always feel free to give any constructive criticism, or just small comments any are appreciated, thank you.

Joe