The most familiar meaning is the toy with lightweight vanes or blades attached to a stick, which revolve when held up to the wind or blown on.
DEATH IN THE SKY
RAYMOND A. HARE – Ambassador to Turkey 1962 – 1965
The Marine detachment lived in a house on Ataturk Boulevard. Within walking distance from the American Embassy.
Surprised to see armed Turkish soldiers patrolling the streets as an occasional tank rumbles past.
Atatürk Boulevard (Turkish: Atatürk Bulvarı) is the most important avenue in Ankara, Turkey.
The boulevard runs about 5,600 metres (18,400 ft) in the south to north direction. At the southernmost point it intersects with Çankaya Boulevard and at the northernmost point it merges to Çankırı Street. Its width is about 30 metres (98 ft).WIKI
The 1962 attempted coup in Turkey (also known as the February 22 Incident) was led by the Commander of the Turkish Military Academy, Staff Colonel tr:Talat Aydemir and his associates, who were opposed to the democratically elected government in Turkey.[1][2][3] Despite taking control of much of Ankara, the coup leaders quickly realised they could not prevail and surrendered without any loss of life occurring. Talat Aydemir went on to lead a further coup attempt in 1963.[4][3]WIKI Mid air collision : The 1963 Ankara mid-air collision occurred on Friday, 1 February 1963 over Ankara, Turkey when Middle East Airlines Flight 265, a Vickers 754D Viscount completing a flight from Cyprus, came in for landing and collided in the air with a Turkish Air Force Douglas C-47A; after which both planes fell directly onto the city below them. In total, 104 people died in the accident, including 87 on the ground. WIKI
I was amongst a group of off duty MSG’s sitting on the balcony of our home sipping (chugging) beer and patting girlfriends on the ass when we heard the sounds of low flying aircraft. As our eyes searched the brightly sun lighted sky for the plane(s) , in the blink of an eye we saw two aircraft collide in midair, come apart to various degrees and pieces begin their seemingly slow decent to the ground in the heart of the city.
Slowly, spinning like pinwheels spun by a soft breeze, permitting one to easily count the revolutions of the colorful blades, blue, yellow, red, mesmerized by the horrific beauty of the death and destruction, as smoke from the explosion rose leisurely upwards forming images that mirror ink blots on a Rorschach test. More people on the ground were killed than were onboard the two planes. We were stunned to see such a horrific disaster unfold before us on a beautiful Friday. At the time it was one of the biggest air disasters in modern aviation history.
As earlier stated our residence was located next to Ataturk Boulevard, the busiest street in Ankara. I often wondered why our house wasn’t raided by the police and all of us thrown in jail. There were more prostitutes coming and leaving our house, day and night, than the traffic at famous international brothel houses, districts, in this part of the world.
The sex trade in Turkey takes many forms, including escort prostitution, street prostitution, and prostitution conducted in brothels. More specifically, brothels (Genelevs), are state-run, with bodyguards appointed by the police. Wiki.
One evening with time on our hands we decided to head out to the countryside where the brothels were located. Wish I hadn’t gone. Presently prostitution is legal in Turkey, I don’t know if it was so in Ankara 1962- 63. If it was legal a license was required with two weeks mandatory STD check ups to work legally. There were three types of prostitutes: brothel, home, and street. Self explanatory, with street workers fearing/incurring greater risks of physical abuse from their clients.
Prisons are built with stones of law; brothels with bricks of religion. William Blake – English poet and painter
Arriving by taxi we were deposited at our destination. A compound guarded by uniformed police wherein were numerous small adobe’s housing multiple sex workers. The front windows were laced with steel bars, police guarded the door. My buddy and I had not come here to be serviced, but rather for an educational experience and a little adventure. I was sick to my stomach looking at the types of men these poor women bedded. They had no choice. Forced to copulate with anyone who could pay the price to earn enough monies to pay their fines and return to their previous circumstances.
I thought it ironic that these women earned money for their release via the same way for which they were prosecuted. Prostitution. The last person I saw as we left the compound was a sheep herder (smell, dress, staff) handing his coins to the guard for a few minutes of carnal pleasure.
At the heart of this exchange is not a masterfully woven theoretical argument, but a practical castigation which Christ comes back to time and time again: “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).14 oct 2017
Sitting on our front porch drinking beer, throwing empty cans at Turkish passersby and killing cats (respected if not revered by Turks) with a pellet gun – one of our favorite pastimes. They liked climbing trees next to our house. Often a fatal mistake. Turkey is not unique among predominately Muslim countries for honoring its cats, which are considered ritually clean animals in Islam. In the Hadith, the collected sayings and actions of Muhammad, there are numerous examples of the Prophet’s fondness for cats. Wiki.
A few MSG’s did not share nor honor Muhammad’s fondness for cats.
Impromptu meetings in the kitchen began a tradition of late evening mealtime after the arrival of our newest guard. The second most pleasant activity (the first was bonking lovely Turkish ladies) each of us participated in, when off duty, involved baked bread. One of the Marines was by MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) a cook. When he was off duty the evening became hot loaf bread eating event with a whole stick of butter applied to taste. With a six pack of beer. Nothing, nothing can compare to eating a piping hot loaf of bread straight out of the oven, slathered with butter chased with cold beer. After consumption of whole loafs and a six pack or two the the evening usually came to an abrupt end as each of us waddled, teetered, stumbled off to bed.
Nine months of guard duty, fucking the local talent who continually popped in off the streets in hopes of a marriage proposal to acquire a green card, Turkish language lessons, moving to a new, bigger (estate) house and boredom was once again the nemeses I could not defeat.
The Gunny (Gunnery Sergeant E-7) called everyone into his office and asked for a volunteer to transfer Saudi Arabia.
Surprisingly, no volunteers.