By George Graf
PALMYRA, Va. | As an enlisted Army draftee, I, too, have a few crazy Army stories. Enlisted soldiers are rotated on a duty roster for whatever chore needs to be done.
One week I was on the duty roster working at a classified underground bunker back in the early 70’s in Germany. I was an E-4 (corporal) and tasked to courier a top secret computer reel-to-reel tape to Washington D.C. and make a transfer in the old National Airport to two soldiers from our headquarters who I had known. I was issued the tape in a locked container and also issued a military .45 caliber pistol in a shoulder holster plus a copy of my courier orders.
I was told the airport managers were notified of my travel purpose, and me and my weapon would be escorted around the metal detectors. All went fine on my departure and subsequent arrival at National Airport. The transfer of the tape went without problems after the soldiers and I showed ID cards, signed papers and made the delivery. The two soldiers then went on their way and I made my way up to my departure gate in Roanoke, Va.
Here’s where things got crazy. When I got to the gate with a metal detector, I told the security guard my name and he told me to step through the metal detector. I told him I was supposed to be escorted around the gate but he kept insisting for me to walk through the detector. He had no instructions for the contrary.
When I told him I could not since I was on a military mission and was carrying a firearm, he immediately called over more security guards who pinned my arms behind me and the original guard pulled my weapon out in front of everyone waiting at the gate. (Those who were at the gate all gasped with eyes bulging while staring at me.)
I was then escorted to the airport manager’s offices with the guards and me in tow and the manager said he was not informed of my predicament. The manager summoned his secretary who said a sealed military envelope arrived a few days ago for him, and the manager didn’t open it from the safe since he was off duty a couple days. After retrieving and reading the sealed document, he apologized to me and told the guards to escort me back to the gate and around the metal detector. When that finally happened, all the passenger’s gazes were locked in on me again and the whispers were rampant.
I finally got on the flight and sat in the far back seat while everyone was watching me. Upon destination arrival and making my way back to the bunker by Army vehicle an officer greeted me and asked how it went.
I said “Fine” without details since trouble may have ensued if I told the story. When I got back to my Army billeting, I finally told my Sergeant about the trip problems and he just laughed. I think now that top secret couriers have to be accompanied by another soldier in case of problems.
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