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

[Mike Jing]

Thanks, David.  That's what I'm going with.


On Sat, May 18, 2013 at 9:40 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>> > 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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