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

[David Morris]

I think your first interpretation was correct.  "Ordnance smoke-puffs
flicker on nearly every sleeve" seems to imply a badge or patch, an
insignia.  And both Americans and Russians could have their own version, or
maybe this is a special multinational order.


On Friday, May 17, 2013, Mike Jing wrote:

> 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<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', '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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