My Ex or All's Fair in Love and War Quiz

Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis

When Nikita Kruschev of the now defunct USSR decided to put his missiles on Cuba, US President John F. Kennedy was less than thrilled with warheads 90 miles off the American coastal state of Florida. Consequently, due to his counterthreat of American troops landing on Cuba to personally assist in their removal, Mr. Kruschev said "Das Viedanya Komrads" to Fidel Castro.

This initial stalemate had the world holding its collective breath. Two excellent movies based on Robert F. Kennedy's book, "Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis" are the 1974 television drama, "The Missiles of October", and the 2000 release, "13 Days".

Answer: South Vietnamese communist/NVA sympathizers

The Viet Cong were militarily committed supporters of Ho Chi Minh and his pro Communist led government which was located north of the 17th parallel. The problem was our boys never knew when the South Vietnamese would turn to facing and supporting the North.

As we were actively involved in training them as part of the "VIetnamization" project the lines blurred political issues and lives were literally on the line. Involving one's country in another's civil war has proven dicey throughout history at best. To combat perceived global Communist aggression the US followed a policy known as "containment". Veterans utilized a colorful vocabulary that the genteel marine and his fellow vets taught me. I was so inspired that I too joined the military. Most certainly NOT the Marines! I had paid some attention.

Answer: Okinawa

The USMC has a fascinating history with the island of Okinawa as does Japan. One of the bloodiest battles of WW II occurred there. The boys of 1963 were supposed to lose an exercise to a crack detail of Green Berets. They surrounded the drop zone and within five minutes, had the elite Berets yelling "Uncle Sam". Where did our gyrenes derive their intelligence from? They had made friends with the island girls who had made friends with the Brass - hence a solid source of intelligence information. Is it any wonder that I became an interrogator?

Answer: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

The US had survived Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin and the "Red Scare" in the fifties. Yet in the sixties both the spectre of Communism and Richard Nixon would rise again. President Johnson, and his cronies including Defense Secretary McNamara, coined the policy of "containment" to refer to keeping Communism within the borders it already occupied. For 80 some days the Marines were kept floating on a Navy ship while waiting for Congress to decide their fate.

The 1st Marine Division was reinforced and redesignated as the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. My ex hates grape jelly to this day from the swabbies' or squids' unimaginative mess deck menu on board.

Answer: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD as it is commonly acronymed is the mind's response to a sudden, and at times, repeated trauma. It is imbedded in the psyche when an individual has no recourse to resolve the event. By refusal to speak of the incident or by means of repression of the memories involved, the person relives their experience through nightmares and similar sounds, sights and even smells which trigger emotional responses out of proportion to the stimulus.

It wasn't unusual for Vietnam veterans to refuse their decorations or to stow them away and never speak of them or their combat experiences. Since "The Wall" or the Vietnam Memorial was opened in Washington D.C. many service people have left their medals there in remembrance and respect for those who never made it home.

Answer: She was a spy ship outfitted with eavesdropping electronics.

Officially there is no such thing in existence as a spy ship. In reality many Marines and Navy personnel know differently. My ex-marine worked on Swan Island in Portland Oregon for KK&R which became Northwest Marine. This was before I met him. I did hear many interesting stories about his working his way up from a general laborer to, as a Union man, becoming Chief Supervisor.

He had the reponsibility of work assigments, bidding for the company on estimates and ship repairs, signing big money contracts, and the ability to hire, fire or lay-off up to as many as 2,000 employees at a time. No wonder he was so disappointed when I didn't take orders. Eventually I laid him off.

Answer: Antioch college and the Underground Railroad

Antioch University is nationally known for its innovative educational programs. Yellow Springs was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad. For American history buffs this connection is fascinating.

Yellow Springs also has a remarkable liberal history of supporting all aspects of equality. An excursion to Young's Jersey Dairy is not to be missed. My ex-marine and I expanded our waistlines at Youngs. We also argued over who would drive from Dayton to pick up and pay for our indulgences. Hey, I'm just not the nuturing type. Besides it is the gentlemanly thing to indulge the fair lady at least during our generation's mores. So who won? It was a (banana) split decision.

Answer: The Bellamy Brothers and "Old Hippie"

The Bellamy Brothers' first major breakthrough appearance came at an urban cowboy nightclub in Pasadena Texas. Known as Gilley's, this was the Studio 54 of country music in the late 70s and early 80s. Howard and Dave rode the wave of country influenced by rock and pop guitar licks and catchy double entendre type phrases.

Some sources say they are the most successful duo in country history. I think Brooks and Dunn might argue that though. In the song, "Old Hippie," the lyrics which most hooked my ex were "Then they sent him off to Vietnam on his senior trip. And they forced him to become a man while he was still a boy. And behind each wave of tragedy.

He waited for the joy." It's a powerful song with vivid imagery. For the full lyrics use a search engine and type in "Old Hippie" lyrics, or The Bellamy Brothers.

It's well worth the read.

Answer: Keeshond

The Patriot party supported the House of Orange in the Dutch rebellion in the 1700's. It was lead by Cornelius Kees de Gyzekaar. His constant loyal companion was of Arctic origins like the Spitz and Samoyed. This beautiful, black with silver, luxuriantly coated dog had a likely characteristic mischievious and friendly disposition. Keeshonden are noted for their abilities as watchdogs and child care providers.

They love to be in and around water. If we would swim out too far Keisha would scold at us with warning barks, and splash in to call us back to what she judged was a safe depth and distance.

These dogs, however, have a quirky attitude toward what constitutes obedience. They may choose to listen to the beat of a different drummer just when you want them to listen to you. Keisha was definitely a reflection of our personalities. We had picked the perfect complimentary breed.

Answer: Hamlet

Shkespeare's themes of revenge, contemplation of murder, and existentialist meltdowns are often played out in a long term relationship. Hence the need for a plea for mercy from the elements and each other.

"Hamlet" has been translated and produced on stage and in films more often than any other Shakespearean play. Sources indicate that it was written in the very early 1600s during the Elizabethian age in England. No writer has been more universally acclaimed for his literary talents than "The Bard of Avon". He may have quilled every literary plot we imitate poorly today. The universal themes of the consequences of death, suicide, murder and revenge ring in strong spoken imagery and staging. Many famous actors have portrayed this great Dane such as Richard Burton, Sir John Gielgud and even Mel Gibson. Laurence Olivier, however, was the only actor to win an academy award for his portrayal of Prince Hamlet. Even "Monty Python's Flying Circus" mentions "Hamlet" in episode 43 in 1974.
To borrow shamelessly from Will, "All's Well That Ends Well" as the divorce party was the best part of our relationship. We have remained friends of sorts. The last time we spoke was on a Veteran's Day. He said that he had remarried to, and was tormenting, an old friend of ours. Poor girl. Hence, even more reason for "Angels and ministers of grace defend us." Hamlet Act I Scene iv.