Rememering Werner (and my friend John)

Mrs. Buce is watching some guy on C-span flog his new book about Werner von Braun. Makes me remember a story told by my old friend John (God rest) about his early days in the news biz, covering one of the very first (attempted) space shots down at Huntsville. The reporters were gathered around the launch pad when a battered station wagon rolled up. A guy emerged with a morose look on his face, holding his coat collars together and sucking on his pipe.

The countdown completed, the rocket touched off—in a tremendous flash and fizzle. The guy climbed back into his car and started to pull away. The reporters rushed over:

“Dr Von Braun! Dr. Von Braun! What happened?”

“Vot happened! Der God tamn thing blew up on der pad, dot’s vot happened.”

And whooshed off (more effectively than the rocket) over the horizon.