GR translation: Ordnance smoke-puffs flicker on nearly every sleeve.

[Mike Jing]

One problem is that there are also Russians.  So are these actual puffs of
smoke?  Then why "ordnance" smoke-puffs? It still looks like some kind of
badge or insignia on the sleeves to me.  Could someone please set me
straight if I'm making a fool of myself?


On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 5:03 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>wrote:

> P309.31-39  Final assembly went on in Stollen 41. The cross-tunnel is 50
> feet deep, to accommodate the finished Rocket. Sounds of carousing, of
> voices distinctly unbalanced, come welling up, reverberating off of the
> concrete. Personnel are weaving back up the main tunnel with a glassy and
> rubicund look to their faces. Slothrop squints down into this long pit, and
> makes out a crowd of Americans and Russians gathered around a huge oak beer
> barrel. A gnome-size German civilian with a red von Hindenburg mustache is
> dispensing steins of what looks to be mostly head. Ordnance smoke-puffs
> flicker on nearly every sleeve.
>
> I assume the "smoke-puffs" refer to some kind of insignia of the US Army
> Ordnance Corps.  Although I can't find one with puff of smoke on it.  It's
> more of a flame than smoke.  Is this army slang?  Poetic licence? Or am I
> assuming wrong again?
>
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