Dakota Beacon

Capturing oral history from military personnel before they pass on is a noble initiative for veterans’ organizations. Gallant efforts though these are, a complementary perspective would advance these histories by also capturing the stories of the women who served with and supported their warrior husbands behind the scenes. Last month my wife and I again had the honor and privilege of attending the annual convention of the Society of Military Widows in Albuquerque, NM. The SMW plays a commendable role in highlighting the great tradition of service to the nation. Fundamentally, however, the SMW members seek the friendship and conversation of shared experiences of their lives through years of service with others who know what military community life is all about. The SMW organization comprises widows from all services and from all ranks. The only rank they now know is that of “widow.” Life of the military wife spans good times and bad. Tales of the cumulative memories of these military widows could easily fill volumes providing a window on a bygone era. What follows is a story of one of the good times, one of warmth and camaraderie, shared by a lady at our convention banquet table. In 1964, during the height of the Cold War, Pat and her naval officer husband were serving a tour of duty at a tiny military installation in the region of Angus, Scotland. Their base was located on the east side of Scotland near the village of Edzell between Aberdeen and Dundee north of Edinburgh. The first Christmas Pat and her husband were in Scotland the famed Black Watch Regiment invited the American officers and their wives to their Christmas Ball, a formal affair held between Christmas and New Years. Invitations specified the gala would be held between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. with dinner after midnight and soup upon departure. The date of the ball finally arrived and the evening progressed gaily with traditional waltzes and foxtrots. Officers and their ladies were dressed in their elegant best. American military wore dress uniforms and the Black Watch their formal regimental kilts of the appropriate tartan. Each of the men wore their military decorations adding a splash of color to their uniforms. The women, of course, were beautifully attired in their exquisite evening gowns. After dinner, the Scots commenced their traditional Scottish country dancing similar to square dancing but without a caller. Each dance was different and had a requisite number of partners and precise steps. Among the pieces the band played were the “Dashing White Sergeant,” the “Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh” and the “Duke of Perth” country dances, each one identified in sequence on dance cards fastened to the ladies’ wrists. Gracious hosts that they were, the Scots invited the Americans to participate offering to coach them through the steps. Whether shy or otherwise inhibited, the Americans politely declined and retired to the safety of a balcony where they could watch the progress of the festivities. Ingenuity, a hallmark of American culture, rose to the occasion. On the bus ride back to their quarters, the American wives took the lead and committed themselves and their husbands to learn Scottish country dancing. Within a week they retained a dance instructor complete with all the necessary music. The instructor was sworn to secrecy. No one in the Scottish community knew of the dance lessons and the instruction continued weekly without fail. On the 4th of July the Americans hosted a patriotic celebration to which the officers and ladies of the Black Watch were invited. Even so, the dance lesson rehearsals by the Americans remained a closely guarded secret. In early December, as expected, the Americans received their invitations to the 1965 Black Watch Christmas Ball. This time the Americans were not at all reticent. The evening progressed with the usual formalities and conviviality. Dinner after midnight was followed by Scottish country dancing. Again, the Scots invited the Americans to participate. Coyly, the Americans declined, but asked for a small space in a corner on the dance floor. The music began and the Scots commenced their country dancing. At first the Scots were not aware of any American activity. Soon, however, they took note, stopped their own dancing and watched in amazement. The Americans danced each dance without missing a beat – literally. It must be understood that the Scots haled from different villages and, consequently, incorporated slight variations in their dance steps resulting in some unsynchronized movements. The Americans, on the other hand, had learned their lessons uniformly and learned them well. Soon, the Scots relinquished the dance floor and it was their turn to retreat to the balcony to observe. The Americans were performing impeccably. Little did the wives know at the time that, as ambassadors of good will, they were cementing relations with good allies. There’s nothing like adopting bits of a host’s culture to fortify friendships. Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).