Whiskey, Dynamite and Irish Tempers
Today’s story is set in the South Pacific where Foley served during World War II. Judge Foley – then known as Tommy — and God knows how many soldiers and sailors were stranded on an island near the Philippines, cut off from supply lines and nearing starvation, this as their reward for killing and/or chasing off the Japanese over a period of time.
One morning my Judge awoke to find his best friend, the watch, missing. They went searching for him and found him staked and flayed by the last hidden vestiges of the enemy. I think Thor must have truly loved World War II. I imagine his blood rushing as that Great War began, his delight fed by the stench of blood, the screams of agony, and the rotting corpses rising from the earth in perverse sacrifice to his whim.
After my Judge and the rest of the Americans overcame the Japanese, a new struggle began, hunger, then starvation, and sickness. Many succumbed to malaria, and other tropical diseases, nature’s own dirty bombs. Thor, the Bloodthirsty Bastard.
When it seemed that all hope was lost and despair lurked at the doors of the hearts of the stranded men, at last their prayers were answered, and dozens of crates of emergency rations were dropped from planes down into the bay. Young Tom Foley was one of several men entrusted to collect and crack open the crates. What they found inside was, A, dynamite, and B, Irish whiskey, luckily far more whiskey than dynamite. I will not attempt to mimic his hilarious descriptions.
Ivan and I laugh hard, thinking that was the climax of the story, but he continues. As I said, though the Judge was Army, the Navy was present, as well. There was a young officer who went by the name of Jack, short for John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Jack and Tommy had a lot in common. The two Irishmen got on very well, and maintained the friendship born on that island and their antics for many years, even until Dallas.
The Judge tells us how he and Jack Kennedy drank a bottle of whiskey together and hatched a plan. Early the next morning, Jack, Tommy and others took what nets they had gotten their hands on out into the bay. They jerry-rigged the nets together and then encircled the outer perimeter of the small bay. Then Kennedy and the Judge putted around the bay, dropping dynamite charges into the water.
My Judge’s face lights up while he describes hauling in a ton of fish to starving soldiers. He describes that night, poignantly, the warm sand, the beautiful sunset, the smoky fish and seaweed washed down with Irish whiskey which filled their bellies and their hearts with new hope.
He speaks of his intense gratitude as he awaited sleep that night, and being so, “Gosh darned grateful that the men giving their lives for this great nation didn’t have to go to sleep hungry again.” He tells us, “I remember looking right into that full moon. It was the biggest moon I’ve ever seen in my life, and I can tell you my eyes weren’t too dry saying my prayers that night,” and his eyes aren’t too dry now telling the story.
He is a tough old guy, the Judge. Not everyone likes him, but everyone who knows him respects him. I feel lucky to work for him and have no regard for anything negative wimpy, thin-skinned lawyers say about Tom Foley’s temper. The Judge’s story being over, I will get back to mine.
Pavao calls his next witness after lunch, Duncan Darling, and, yes, that is his real name. He is a teenage boy with short, black, curly hair and a Mick Jagger mouth. Duncan and Cheyenne dated for six months before they broke up, and she began dating Justin. Pavao makes it sound like Cheyenne jumped from man to man. Duncan confirms her temper. He calls it an Irish temper, like Mr. Connors did.
Duncan looks so uncomfortable testifying. He seems to have cared for Cheyenne very much. Yet, he is forthright when asked specifically about her lousy driving, Irish temper, and foul language.
Some of Pavao’s best spells are in the witness control department. Pavao talks to Duncan, like Fred McMurray used to talk to Chip on My Three Sons. The relevant story Pavao extracts is that when Duncan broke up with Cheyenne, she threatened to kill herself.
Ouch. Double Ouch. Pavao mentioned in opening statement that witnesses would testify to suicide threats. I thought he’d blown his wad early on with the Turke kids. Apparently not.