Once again, the pink tinged Eastern skies of Arizona have not yet appeared and I am risen from my bed to relate a story told to a friend of mine a few days ago. It had to do with a certain phenomonon that accompanied the days of WW2. Let me back up and tell of my earlier days and my new position as a Boyswear Buyer in the department store in which I had previously worked part time. I was 23 at the time and upon my elevation to the aforementioned position, I became known as the youngest buyer ever appointed in that store. I mention this mainly to point out that my ears were not yet wet and my education was just beginning it this chosen job.However to prove a point, I must speak of the spectre of a thing that haunted every military based Mens room across the entire United States. There is not a man who served in the military that will not smile when you mention the name or the image of this visitor to the urinals of the country's toilets. On a wall in each restroom is scrawled, by an unknown quasi-artist, a picture that has come to my mind, just recently, as I recalled my experience. This picture has, over the years, come to represent an image engraven in the minds of the entire male reprsentatives of the Army, Navy, Marine and every other military installation you might think of. It may also be a fixture in the imagination of the female military personnel as well. The picture is represented by a bald, large nosed individual peering over a wood fence with his four fingers of each hand grasping the fence top. He is quite homely with his large eyes and the previously mentioned nose and scalp. Further, there is the same inscription on each and every wall in the toilets visited by millions of service persons across this wide expanse. It says "Kilroy was here" Sound familiar? Your Father, Grandfather, Uncle or boyfriend may have spoken of him. He was extremely well known in those days.
So here am I, in the middle of Herald Square, at Broadway, in New York city trying to locate a Boys outerwear manufacturing company. I have the address but it isn't likely that this company is situated between Macys and Gimbels and yet that is what my address reads, Hmmn--a quandary for a young buyer not yet knowledgeable in the mysteries of my new job. Still, undaunted and not yet willing to give up, I approached a formidable looking N.Y policeman. You know the stereotype; big, with a ruddy complexion, all knowing and yet, friendly looking. So somewhat intimidated, I walked up to him and said "Can you help me?" He replied, with a wary look, "What can I do for you?" I said "I'm looking for a clothing company that was supposed to be here " I said, showing him my address. He looked at it and said "Why that's right in the middle of this intersection?". "Thats the problem" I stated! "What company are you looking for" he asked? And this is where it bgins to stick in my throat as I replied "Kilroy" because he said to me "Are you putting me on?" I knew at once that he recalled the previous told story and my heart took a dive as I said in a somewhat quavering voice, "No sir". You see I was very polite because TV had shown me what a N.Y. policeman could be like and I had already been advised on the rudeness of New Yorkers. However, he suddenly had a big smile and then said "That large building, in the next block, houses a lot of manufacturers, why don't you try there?" Well, I did and yes, I found Kilroy. It was a small thing, in retrospect, but the image of what the restroom walls had included was on my mind and I was faint at heart in approaching a cop and displaying my ignorance. But you know what? Those New York cops are pretty nice and I had found a friend in the Big Apple. There will be many of you, who, if you read this have never heard of Kilroy but if you ask any person who once served in the military, you will get a knowing smile. And further, I am willing to bet that Kilroy is still looking over the top of the fence in restrooms not only in the United States but now, all over the world. God bless the military and God bless that ugly creature, Kilroy, for bringing some levity to a war torn world.
