ORKIE'S JOURNAL
15 April '71
HAVING RONDEZVOUSED OFF MALTA WITH THE M.L.U! I WE PROCEEDED ON TOWARD
ISRAEL. VERY SOON THE SKYLINE OF HAIFA CAME INTO VIEW AND THE CHIEF
STOREKEEPER BROKE OUT A CASE OF BLACK EYEPATCHES & DISTRIBUTED THEM
T0 THE CREW.
AFTER A LIGHT LUNCH OF CHICKEN SOUP WE BOLDLY APPROAChed THE SHORE,
(AT PERISCOPE DEPTH,) AND PRESENTLY WE WERE BOARDED BY THE HAIFA
HARBOR PILOT WHO DRIVE OUT IN HIS TANK.
WITH THE PILOT WAS HIS HELMSMAN, A MAN I RECOGNIZED AS HAVING ONCE
VERY UNSUCCESSFULLY ACTED ON THB YIDDISH STAGE IN NEW YORK. I NUDGED
THE PILOT AND ASKED. "ISN'T THAT THE HAM ACTOR WHO ONCE ...?" -
BEFORE I COULD FINISH THEY BOTH TURNED TO ME IN SHOCKED SILENCE AND
AFTER SEVERAL LONG. COLD MOMENTS THE PILOT ICILY SAID 'HERE THERE AIN'T
NO HAMS!" THE PILOT MOTIONED TO THE HELMSMAN AND SAID "LET'S GO,
SAMMY" & THEY LEAPED BACK INTO THEIR TANK & MADE FOR SHORE LEAVING US
T0 PICK OUR OWN WAY THROUGH THE HAIFA MINEFIELD.