at Play                                      LRAFB 1
(and a little at Work)
                                         on "the Air Base"   (Go to 2   3)

Here you can see the dislocated, homesick young Airmen escaping into activity.

In the Gary Player outfit is Menominee, Michigander Ronald J. Lupien. He was the only one of the four who had ever actually golfed on a links. Deep in a backswing, maybe his first ever, is Chuck McDaniel, Columbus, Ohio. Your OBedient Servant, wearing an icky 50s California shirt and an embarrassed grin, looks past Texan Jacky R. Smith, whose face is actually on the front of his head, and not pointed our way.

Lupien eventually dragged Conrad Ward and me to a local public course where we enjoyed the fine weather. Ward got an evil sunburn through his shirt. Lupien was very patient. I shot a memory-assisted 116.

A few weeks later the same trio hit the municipal course near War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Site of The Fighting Razorbacks' sentimental victories. One of the tees was above the stadium rim, and the green was down there at the bottom of a steep hill. Lupien recommended a seven iron. I think it was way too much club. I sliced that sucker up and into the concrete bowl, where it could be heard for what seemed like minutes, making that not-unpleasant whangg-whangg-whangg ringing sound you can sometimes find in tunnels and handball courts. I took another swing, and eventually scored 106.

I golfed once more, two years later, on the Base course at Barksdale. I carded a 96. Quit while I was ahead. For once.

Lupien was a rhythm man, a drummer. He bought bongos and played them with drumsticks. "Loop," he was called, or "Ronny-John," and he had some interesting things to say about Adolph Hitler. His musical idol was Barrett Deems, whom he saw when Louis Armstrong played near his place.

There was something loose he did with his wrists when he walked, and something Charlie Chaplin about his walk.

Another view of Lupien, with Bob Munns looking on.

Parks   Sheppard   Little Rock    Barksdale

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