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JohnBaker3 · 2 October 2015, 11:18 PM

My father served in WWII as a Naval Officer; his area of expertise was ship based radar systems.

Sometime in late October 1943, he was sent to Washington to meet with some of the top brass. Becasue it was wartime with thousands of extra people in D.C., he was quartered in a private home and given a furnished bedroom on their second floor.

One night he came home late, and went straight to the staircase to get some well earned sleep. Not wanting to disturb the homeowners, he didn't turn on the lights and just "felt" his way up the stairs.

He turned right to his bedroom door and put his hand on the door knob. About that time the hackles on the back of his neck began twitching. He turned his head back around towards the top of the stairs and he saw it:

It was the glow of a radium powered writstwatch dial just 5 feet away!!

He knew his life was about to change....his Top Secret Security Clearance made him a target for spies....and he knew he was going to die at the age of just 25 years....

Quickly, he reached inside of his room and turned on the light switch...and what he saw was beyond total belief.....

There on the wall opposite his room door, was a full length mirror that he had never noticed before that night....the watch he saw was a reflection of his own watch!!

True story....is Halloween cool or what!

Laszlo · 3 October 2015, 04:33 AM

I like this story, very cool and suspenseful as well.

SearChart · 3 October 2015, 05:11 AM

Cool story!

watchwatcher · 3 October 2015, 07:30 AM

Nice.

jolimont · 3 October 2015, 07:34 PM

i like your writing

but the thread is useless without pics of your dads watch

Invictus Maneo · 3 October 2015, 11:33 PM

Great story, John!

What kind of watch was he wearing and do you still have it? We're a bunch of WIS's here and that stuff is important to us!

JohnBaker3 · 4 October 2015, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invictus Maneo

Great story, John!

What kind of watch was he wearing and do you still have it? We're a bunch of WIS's here and that stuff is important to us!

Unfortunately, I only inherited the story....whatever it was, it wasn't anything special.

He raised a family of 5 kids, and any watch money was spent on jeans and shoes for us.

Here is a thread that I posted after he passed: he was a pretty special man and I wish he was still here to talk about watch collecting and more...

http://forums.homepokertourney.com/i...c,12811.0.html

Be safe.

Scot_3 · 5 October 2015, 12:25 PM

Great story thanks for sharing it

JohnBaker3 · 8 October 2015, 10:21 PM

Boooo !!

mjclark32 · 8 October 2015, 10:29 PM

Nice story, I bet he had tons of stories with that level clearance

JohnBaker3 · 10 October 2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Nice story, I bet he had tons of stories with that level clearance

Yeah, he had lots of stories, but he couldn't tell them to me; I only had a secret clearance...

JohnBaker3 · 15 October 2015, 01:07 AM

Booo !!

Tony-GB · 16 October 2015, 03:24 PM

I got a shock on Halloween night with an ex girlfriend when she told me she was pregnant. Turned out to be a phantom pregnancy.

JohnBaker3 · 29 October 2016, 09:47 AM

Bump

Another year has passed!

BNA/LION · 29 October 2016, 10:27 AM

Cool story!

Knappo 1307 · 29 October 2016, 10:39 AM

Relyt · 29 October 2016, 11:38 AM

Cool story. While reading I was thinking, "IF GE GOT ASSASSINATED, HOW DID HE HAVE YOU AS A CHILD!!!????" Lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

OmegaJJH · 29 October 2016, 07:02 PM

Great story John, thanks for sharing!

Headshrinker · 29 October 2016, 11:45 PM

Great literary prowess! I'm glad he did not have a firearm at the time.

aekdb · 30 October 2016, 04:43 AM

Great story! Thanks for sharing

JohnBaker3 · 30 October 2016, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headshrinker

Great literary prowess! I'm glad he did not have a firearm at the time.

Me too! He would have woken up his landlord AND had to buy a new mirror!

Hairdude1 · 30 October 2016, 07:31 AM

Great story John

HeartRolex · 30 October 2016, 09:37 AM

Love a nice spooky story!

RW16610 · 30 October 2016, 10:15 AM

Lol I liked it! Just the thought of Radium scares the crap out of me.

JohnBaker3 · 1 November 2016, 03:07 AM

Happy Halloween!

JohnBaker3 · 15 October 2017, 01:57 AM

Another year has passed, and it's time to spook you out again!

GB-man · 15 October 2017, 06:16 AM

Great story and well told

JohnBaker3 · 21 October 2018, 12:21 AM

Hey Guys:

Almost time to shell out the candy again!

Be safe,

John B : )

austinp · 21 October 2018, 02:25 AM

Love it. Great story.

cajunron · 21 October 2018, 10:07 AM

I bet your dad had a lot of interesting stories to tell.

2 October 2015, 11:18 PM	#1
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	A Halloween Horology Story My father served in WWII as a Naval Officer; his area of expertise was ship based radar systems. Sometime in late October 1943, he was sent to Washington to meet with some of the top brass. Becasue it was wartime with thousands of extra people in D.C., he was quartered in a private home and given a furnished bedroom on their second floor. One night he came home late, and went straight to the staircase to get some well earned sleep. Not wanting to disturb the homeowners, he didn't turn on the lights and just "felt" his way up the stairs. He turned right to his bedroom door and put his hand on the door knob. About that time the hackles on the back of his neck began twitching. He turned his head back around towards the top of the stairs and he saw it: It was the glow of a radium powered writstwatch dial just 5 feet away!! He knew his life was about to change....his Top Secret Security Clearance made him a target for spies....and he knew he was going to die at the age of just 25 years.... Quickly, he reached inside of his room and turned on the light switch...and what he saw was beyond total belief..... There on the wall opposite his room door, was a full length mirror that he had never noticed before that night....the watch he saw was a reflection of his own watch!! True story....is Halloween cool or what! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

3 October 2015, 04:33 AM	#2
Laszlo 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Watch: Date & No Date Posts: 10,857	I like this story, very cool and suspenseful as well. __________________ "You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die." Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo in Casablanca

5 October 2015, 12:25 PM	#8
Scot_3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Real Name: Scot Location: USA Watch: 1966 boyscout Posts: 914	Great story thanks for sharing it __________________ Thanks Scot

8 October 2015, 10:21 PM	#9
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Boooo !! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

8 October 2015, 10:29 PM	#10
mjclark32 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Real Name: MJC Location: PHL USA Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP Posts: 29,232	Nice story, I bet he had tons of stories with that level clearance __________________

3 October 2015, 07:30 AM	#4
watchwatcher "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Larry Location: Kentucky Watch: Yes Posts: 34,509	Nice.

3 October 2015, 07:34 PM	#5
jolimont "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Real Name: Will Location: land of oz Watch: sundial Posts: 2,219	i like your writing but the thread is useless without pics of your dads watch

3 October 2015, 11:33 PM	#6
Invictus Maneo "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Real Name: Ken Location: GMT -5 Watch: 16610 Posts: 1,842	Great story, John! What kind of watch was he wearing and do you still have it? We're a bunch of WIS's here and that stuff is important to us!

15 October 2015, 01:07 AM	#12
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Booo !! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

16 October 2015, 03:24 PM	#13
Tony-GB "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Tony Location: Oxfordshire, UK Watch: 116680 & 116622 Posts: 3,953	I got a shock on Halloween night with an ex girlfriend when she told me she was pregnant. Turned out to be a phantom pregnancy. __________________ "...why oh why, didn't I take the blue pill...?" http://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/ www.cheetah.org

29 October 2016, 09:47 AM	#14
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Bump Another year has passed! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

29 October 2016, 10:27 AM	#15
BNA/LION 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: Larry Location: San Diego, CA Watch: ROLEX Posts: 25,232	Cool story! __________________ ✦ 28238 President DD 18K/YG ✦ 16610LN SS Sub ✦ 16613 18K/SS Serti ✦ 16550 Exp II Non-Rail Cream Dial ✦ Daytona C 116500 ✦ 126710 BLRO GMT-Master II ✦ NEXT-->? ⛳ Hole In One! 10/3/19 DMCC 5th hole, par 3, 168 yards w/ 4-Iron.

29 October 2016, 10:39 AM	#16
Knappo 1307 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Jason Location: USA Watch: Sea Dweller Posts: 8,557

29 October 2016, 11:38 AM	#17
Relyt "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Tye Location: Eastern US Watch: Rolex Explorer ii Posts: 1,464	Cool story. While reading I was thinking, "IF GE GOT ASSASSINATED, HOW DID HE HAVE YOU AS A CHILD!!!????" Lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ ~NEVER GIVE UP! 2005 Explorer ii 16570T

29 October 2016, 07:02 PM	#18
OmegaJJH "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2013 Real Name: James Location: UK Watch: Rolex & Omega Posts: 6,663	Great story John, thanks for sharing!

29 October 2016, 11:45 PM	#19
Headshrinker "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NJ Watch: Day-Date Posts: 4,056	Great literary prowess! I'm glad he did not have a firearm at the time.

30 October 2016, 04:43 AM	#20
aekdb "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Real Name: Jason Location: MS Watch: Rolex, Tudor Posts: 1,315	Great story! Thanks for sharing

30 October 2016, 07:31 AM	#22
Hairdude1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Alex Location: Chicago Watch: AP,PP, Rolex Posts: 37,156	Great story John __________________ Instagram: @Hairdude Watches in Collection 5070R, 5522A, 214270 MK1, 228238 16750, 26401, 5711, 116718, 116710LN, 116300, 16710"Coke", 372, 15300, 15703 (All Flipped) Official Member "Perpetual 30" Las Vegas GTG 2016 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2017 Official Member 'WIS-CON' Las Vegas Int'l GTG 2018

30 October 2016, 09:37 AM	#23
HeartRolex "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Real Name: Butterfly Location: USA Watch: ROLEXROLEXROLEX Posts: 637	Love a nice spooky story!

30 October 2016, 10:15 AM	#24
RW16610 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Rommel Location: Toronto Canada Watch: 116710LN Posts: 8,985	Lol I liked it! Just the thought of Radium scares the crap out of me.

1 November 2016, 03:07 AM	#25
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Happy Halloween! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

15 October 2017, 01:57 AM	#26
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Another year has passed, and it's time to spook you out again! __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

15 October 2017, 06:16 AM	#27
GB-man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Watch: addiction issues Posts: 36,882	Great story and well told __________________

21 October 2018, 12:21 AM	#28
JohnBaker3 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Real Name: John Baker III Location: Spring,Texas Watch: 1971 Red Sub Posts: 2,221	Hey Guys: Almost time to shell out the candy again! Be safe, John B : ) __________________ As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing off everyone is a piece of cake.

21 October 2018, 02:25 AM	#29
austinp "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: us Posts: 3,280	Love it. Great story.

21 October 2018, 10:07 AM	#30
cajunron 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Real Name: Ronnie Location: Southeastern USA Watch: Omega Seamaster PO Posts: 3,853	I bet your dad had a lot of interesting stories to tell. __________________

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