Most of my time in the forces was spend here in the South of The Netherlands at the airbase in Volkel.
The new acquired thunderjets were stationed here, but as they took to air, my feet were planted firmly on the ground.
Most of my time I was on duty in the officers mess, looking after their well being.
It had its benefits, we slept like them on proper matresses and not on straw, in a villa and not in a nissen hut, and the food they ate, we ate.
Now and then we joined the rest of the soldiers for guard duty, just to keep us in line, I suppose.
Probably we needed that reality check.
The first time I was dropped off on the outskirts of the base, daylight was just losing its grip on the contour of the base and slowly darkness completely engulfed me.
Left alone near four Thunderjets, which I had to guard. Took up position but quite soon became disturbed by noises coming from the direction of the planes. With a thumping heart, I approached, eyes searching and piercing the blackness of the night.
Silhouettes slowly took form, rifle at the ready, more noises, another step closer, called out... and then it all came to an 'illuminated' end.
After having flown all afternoon, the parked Thunderjets were cooling off in the bitter cold night.
And it was cold on that flat empty expanse, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
The expanding metal was shrinking, causing those crackling sounds. Hours later, a figure was struggling near the barbed-wire fence.
My command to 'halt' was answered with a sobering 'shut-up mate, can't go through the gate, I'm too late for that'. Turned a blind eye and let him disappear into the darkness of the Volkel base.