| In the wild Darien jungle country between Panama | | | | rare and little known sea snakes are found. They |
| and Colombia, where once the Spaniards had | | | | are so deadly that the natives are afraid of them, |
| fought the Indians for gold, the USO workers | | | | and have a saying: "Picar - muerto" - "Bite-you |
| received one of their unusual requests. The | | | | die." But, the question was, how to catch one? |
| headman at an isolated trading post was a native, | | | | The skipper of the boat obtained a very long pole |
| not an Indian. He came to see Mr. MacDonald | | | | to which he secured a number of fish hooks on |
| (Director of the USO Pacific Seaboard Outpost | | | | the end like a grapple. A snake was swimming on |
| Service) early one morning, to ask a big favor. | | | | the surface just ahead. The skipper slowed down |
| "He had seen me with my camera," Mr. | | | | the boat, and as the sea snake continued to sail |
| MacDonald related, "and was fascinated with it. His | | | | along in its leisurely fashion, the crew hooked it, |
| grandchild had died during the night, and he | | | | and drew it aboard the raft. The serpent was |
| begged us to take a picture of the dead baby | | | | about three feet long. The top of its back was |
| before they buried it that morning. Nothing would | | | | jet black, and the lemon-yellow sides blended into |
| please him more, as the picture would be the | | | | a pretty reddish- yellow on the belly. |
| medium by which they would always 'remember' | | | | What puzzled the USO worker was the fact that |
| the child! We gladly consented. We could not take | | | | this snake did not have conspicuous fangs. Its tail |
| a picture of the body in their tiny palm leaf shack, | | | | was flat like a rudder and beautifully marked with |
| so we had them bring it out in front of their | | | | distinctive yellow and black blotches. The skipper |
| abode. Taking the picture created quite a scene, | | | | became so interested that he promised to |
| as all the villagers were on hand to see the job | | | | capture more of these for the USO. To men shut |
| done. We have had many requests in our work, | | | | off from civilization, and without civilian |
| but this was a new one." | | | | companionship, hobbies are a "must," to prevent |
| A rough trip on a tuna boat, on which he was the | | | | loss of morale and even breakdown. The outpost |
| only passenger, to remote islands off the coast | | | | hobby work of the USO was of vital importance |
| of Panama and Central America, unexpectedly | | | | to the war effort, to relieve the stresses of men |
| gave Mr. MacDonald a chance to complete his | | | | guarding strategic outposts or performing secret |
| collection of reptiles for his jungle talks. The tiny | | | | war service. |
| boat passed through a group of islands where the | | | | |