Radioman

Among the stranger people on this earth are radiomen.

A radioman is a person either going on or coming off watch. Contrary to popular belief, radiomen are not crazy. A radioman has two brains: one perfectly normal, and one which is in a constant state of turmoil, and is used proficiently in his work. This latter brain is filled with dots and dashes and procedure signs. Radiomen are like ground hogs, they seldom, if ever see the sun. Coming up topside only on saturday at the reqest of the commanding officer then,if the sun is shining and the radiomen sees it’s shadow it goes below and everyone knows there will be six more days of sunshine. Sitting at his typewriter, a radioman receives an endless story of the world flowing through his ears, unable to get out because both ears are stopped up by headphones. The stuff flows out through his fingers and is given out as press news, weather, and messages. When conversing with a radioman, don’t try to point your story by asking if he remembers “the message to garcia”, because he will jump and scream, “ what’s the number of it??” “who sent it??” , if it’s lost, it didn’t happen on my watch”.

Radiomen live on black coffee and cigarettes. All through the long mid-watches they sit and dit and dah, so tired and weary of it all and wondering why they ever chose radio as a profession. Girls who fall for radiomen will find they are courted with considerable sparking, and after they are married, will receive much broadcasting , both loud and long. Radiomen are found on all ships and in all stations and are quite harmless if left alone, fed occasionally, and given annual leave.