Ken Beaton: Coffee, tea, remember me?

Last week I was asked by a friend, “Ken, where do you find your commentary ideas for the Appeal?” First, I’ll scan a calendar to see what historical dates will be happening in the next few months. Or I’ll weave two or more ideas or events into a story that people in our community can identify and enjoy reading with a smile in their heart.

It’s no secret that Steve Ranson and I are two of the co-authors of “Legacies of the Silver State: Nevada Goes to War.” The book has 71 World War II veterans’ stories, three of them are women’s stories. We have turned more than $26,000 of our book’s proceeds to Honor Flight Nevada. HFN flies vets to Washington, D.C., to spend a Saturday touring the various memorials like the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ranson and I have been gathering Vietnam veterans’ “in country” experiences for a second book to benefit another veterans’ organization to be named next year. My friend, Ellen, shared a story that her friend, Marlys Harper, wrote about her experience as a Pan Am flight attendant. Her story was published in the Green Valley News in the Tucson area.

In 1971 Marlys was one of five stewardesses on a Pan Am 727 flight with 106 GIs returning from their Bangkok, Thailand R&R to Saigon, Vietnam. The flight crew’s job was to make their flight as pleasant as possible before returning. “Many of the passengers were younger than I was; many had not volunteered to serve. All were gentlemen.”

“Their faces revealed little, just quiet resignation I could only imagine the emotions they had recently locked away. Some had met their wives or girlfriends in Bangkok for a brief respite from their constant longing and fears while serving in Vietnam.”

After taking off and reaching altitude, the “no smoking” sign was shut off. The stewardesses began to take the drink orders which were mostly bourbon and coke, “I’ll have a coke Hi!” Next the captain announced that the meal would be served. “After the meal there will be a “topless coffee service.” Everyone had questioning expressions on their faces.

Two of the five stewardesses were a pair of Norwegian twins, Ana and Osa. “They were both beautiful, curvy, identical blondes, but their attraction transcended the visible. Both demonstrated quick wit, contagious laugh, constant helpfulness and compassion.”

After the meal had been served and cleared, it was time for the coffee service. “Ana or Osa – I couldn’t tell them apart – started a slow, pseudo-seductive slink up the aisle from the back of the galley while taking off her apron. She would flick it gently on a man’s neck, move another step, and flirtatiously brush another man’s cheek.”

What do you think happened with 106 male passengers? Your answer is correct. “The men responded with clapping, whistling and laughter. All eyes were on her she continued to the cockpit, gifting numerous light touches as she went.”

After Ana entered the cockpit, Osa began from the galley repeating Ana’s moves.

“The applause increased as she began leisurely unbuttoning her blouse with one hand while bestowing gentle caresses with the other. Finally taking it off completely, she wore only a camisole underneath. She swirled and dragged the blouse lightly over the men. Their total attention was on her, and the anticipation was palpable, as the clapping and whistling reached a crescendo.”

“It was difficult to be sure where each of the identical beauties might be at any time. Then the cockpit door opened slowly. A tall figure emerged carrying a pot of coffee. It was the flight engineer and yes, he was shirtless!”

OK guys, wipe your brow with a cloth and catch your breath because your imagination was working overtime. Remember, this is a family publication.

According to U.S. government figures between 2.7 million to 2.8 million males served in Vietnam. All those vets received their R&R. My question is, “How many of you guys reading this commentary received topless coffee service on a Pan Am or World Airways flight returning from wherever you spent your R&R?”

Ladies, if your guy is rigidly holding this newspaper with a big smile on his face and his eyes are wide open staring a thousand yards into space, ask him if he was on a return flight from his R&R with Ana and Osa? If you were a Vietnam vet who received a memorable R&R return flight, please email the Appeal’s editor, Adam Trumble, atrumble@nevadaappeal.com with your name and the best phone number to contact you.

Ken and Steve would like your story in their next book with a wide variety of Nevadans’ Vietnam vet stories. If you were a young woman 50 plus years ago who is willing to share a few of the letters she wrote to “her guy” when he was “in country,” email Trumble.