Haybox Hijinks
There are things in the Canadian Armed Forces that are, in general, are a common experience or basic truth to everyone who serves:
Regardless of your element, branch, or regiment, at some point you made a joke about or pulled a prank at the expense of some other element, branch, or regiment.
If you put young people together and force them to endure hardships it will usually foster team cohesion but almost always lead to hijinks or trouble; and,
Almost everything revolves around food.
The story below captures all three of these tenets and was graciously submitted by Douglas Bannerman of Perth, ON. to share with all of you.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
All the best.
John
Junior Leader Course Lahr W Germany
While on the JLC Course during the late fall back in 77, we're doing tactical security checkpoint training. At the same time the Van Doos were in the same area doing their company training up on the Schutterlindenberg.
Our course was on short rations to add more stress while the Van Doos were on hot food from the old wonderful hay boxes.
On about the third day we were getting desperate for a full meal and as it happened at one of our checkpoints, a Van Doo duece and a half with their food delivery stopped at our checkpoint and while one of us distracted the driver, we went into the back and liberated three hay boxes. We hit the jackpot with one full of creamed chicken chunks, one of mashed potatoes and one of kernel corn. Our course ate well that day.
We never got caught, even though they knew who did it, but we heard that the driver got to sweep the parade square at night due to his lack of situational awareness.
Douglas Bannerman M.M.M; CD
Perth, Ont.