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It's best to believe most of what you hear about THE ANIMAL because, if anything, the actual event was probably more bizarre than the retelling. However, despite all his lunacy, there is one story about him that must be brought to light. I have told this story on this forum before, but I think I need to tell it again so that you can gain a better appreciation for that unique human being.
After attending intermediate in '76-'77, I returned to Athens. This was the Athens that was still working in the trailers and portacamps located near the entrance to the base. The new bowling alley had been built just across the parking lot from the squadron, and since it served beer, it was a popular spot for '16th troops to get together and drink them out of beer. On my first day back in the unit, we all retired to the bowling alley for some liquid refreshment and to swap some war stories. Well, THE ANIMAL, never being one to pass on alcoholic refreshment, soon joined us and we were all having a good time swilling beer and telling war stories. Of course, the best war stories were those both told by and about THE ANIMAL. You just can't ignore the guy. He's the center of attention whether he's trying to be or not.
Anyway, it seemed to get late very quickly. After most of the crowd had departed, there were just a few of us left. I can't remember anymore who all was there, but certainly THE ANIMAL and I were continuing our consumption of beer. Looking through bleary eyes, he noticed that I was not wearing any wings on my uniform. In a semi-combative tone, he inquired as to why I wasn't wearing my wings. I duly informed him that I had not been at the unit long enough on my previous tour to be awarded them and since I had just rejoined the unit that very day, I still wasn't qualified to wear them. THE ANIMAL looked me in the eye and asked one simple question: "Are you a flyer?" I immediately replied "You're goddamned right I'm a flyer!" I don't know what it was about my answer, whether it was the firmness, the sincerity, the profanity, or if it just appealed to his sense of right and wrong. "That's all I wanted to know" he replied and proceeded to remove his own set of Senior Aircrew wings. He took out a pair of nail clippers and clipped the star off of his set of wings and called me over to his side of the table. You could still see tiny nubs on the top of the wings where the star used to be. He then pinned that set of wings on my somewhat dishevelled uniform, stood back, looked at them with approval and pronounced "NOW you're a flyer!"
Of course, at that point he "pinned" them on me with a punch that caused a wound which took 2 weeks to heal properly, but who cared. I wore those wings the rest of that tour, and had them throughout the rest of my career. Every now and then I'd wear them, but for the most part they were to be saved. Well, it's been 26 years since that happened, and if you asked, I'm not sure where they are today. I know I didn't throw them away, I just don't know exactly where they are today. So, by all means do not discount the veracity of some of THE ANIMAL's wilder exploits, but also remember that he gave someone who was still more kid than anything else, a reason to walk tall and proud while displaying to the world: "IM A FLYER!"
Soppy