RAMROD THE COMBAT SNAKE (Short Story)

AT OUR F-100 FIGHTER SQUADRON STATIONED AT BIEN HOA AIR BASE, SOUTH VIETNAM, ALL ANY OF US PILOTS KNEW ABOUT SNAKES WAS THAT THEY WERE SLIMY CREATURES THAT COULD POISON YOU, EAT YOU, TWIST YOUR BONES, OR CRUSH YOU AT THEIR LEISURE. IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE VILE CREATURES ALWAYS HAD YOUR WORST INTERESTS IN THEIR COLD, DARK HEARTS. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE A FRIENDLY FAC (AIRBORNE FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER) PRESENTED US WITH A MASCOT. AND SO IT WAS THAT WE CAME TO KNOW AND LOVE OUR SQUADRON'S RESIDENT REPTILE, WHO WE NAMED RAMROD.
(AUTHOR MARK BERENT HAS SEVERAL BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON KINDLE.)