Stranger Than Fiction

My friend, the late Leonard P. was a British naval officer in WWII and later was a deck officer with the Furness Bermuda Lines. After coming ashore he did some survey work but was essentially "on the beach" living in Connecticut near L.I. Sound awaiting his next move. One Sunday he was walking near the water and a small sailboat regatta was in progress - with single sailor at the helm. A squall came up and one unfortunate yatchman landed on the rocky shore. Leonard came to his assistance, took him home for a change of clothing and a dram of whisky. The subject of employment came up and the yatchman pulled from his damp wallet a business card reading WILLIAM B. RAND - PRESIDENT - UNITED STATES LINES (Who was then married to the daughter of the Chairman of the company) And that is how I came to know Leonard as a colleague. The moral here would seem to be "If you can't marry the chairman's daughter then try to save the CEO from drowning."
tjs
(Above excerpted from Eagle Blue No. 24 - April 6, 2006)