Abbass as a Captain
(By, Ex. POW pilot General Akbar Sayed Burani)
It was a few days that Abbass and I had been graduated from Lacklnad Air Base in Sanantonio, Texas, and had come to Race Air Base in Northern Texas, to fly T-41 jet trainers. One day at dawn, just before sunrise, we went to the base stadium to jog. In daily exercises, we had to put on heavy vests and run round the stadium for
Several times, this was part of our mandatory exercise, under supervision of an American sergeant. After this, cadets could play their favorite games Abbass was a good volleyball player and had made arrangements to form a volleyball team of Iranian cadets. I should mention that at time volleyball was not a popular sport in America, and Americans were not familiar with this game and did not observer it's rules. Abbass told one of them, "If you whish to play the game, you should observe its rules. One of the American cadets got angry and proudly and rudely replied, "You camel riders want to teach us how to play volleyball?" He insulted Abbass and our friends wanted to retaliate. But Abbass stopped them and keeping his cool down, told them. "Would you like to have a competition, all of you one side and I alone on the other side," The American cadet had no choice, but to angrily accept his proposal. They believed with larger number of players, they could perform better. So there were 10 of them on one side and Abbass, alone, on the other side. Abbass stood firmly on one side. The game started. The result was very important to us. So Iranian cadets cheered Abbass and the Americans supported their own players. The ball continued to land on the Americans, side. They felt hopeless, not knowing what to do. During the game, the cadet's cheering was so loud that attracted Colonel Baxter, he base commander's attention, and he too joined the watchers. He carefully watched Abbass's performance and techniques.
Finally the game was finished and the Americans unbelievably lost. At that moment, the base commander who was apparently impressed by Abbass's skillful play, told Abbass to see him in his office at a convenient time.
A few days later, he was selected as the volleyball team captain by the base commander. We had several matches with various team of Lavak city, and we were always the winner. Abbass, as a good and capable captain, was liked by Colonel Baxter a lot, and he always called him my son.
It was a few days that Abbass and I had been graduated from Lacklnad Air Base in Sanantonio, Texas, and had come to Race Air Base in Northern Texas, to fly T-41 jet trainers. One day at dawn, just before sunrise, we went to the base stadium to jog. In daily exercises, we had to put on heavy vests and run round the stadium for
Several times, this was part of our mandatory exercise, under supervision of an American sergeant. After this, cadets could play their favorite games Abbass was a good volleyball player and had made arrangements to form a volleyball team of Iranian cadets. I should mention that at time volleyball was not a popular sport in America, and Americans were not familiar with this game and did not observer it's rules. Abbass told one of them, "If you whish to play the game, you should observe its rules. One of the American cadets got angry and proudly and rudely replied, "You camel riders want to teach us how to play volleyball?" He insulted Abbass and our friends wanted to retaliate. But Abbass stopped them and keeping his cool down, told them. "Would you like to have a competition, all of you one side and I alone on the other side," The American cadet had no choice, but to angrily accept his proposal. They believed with larger number of players, they could perform better. So there were 10 of them on one side and Abbass, alone, on the other side. Abbass stood firmly on one side. The game started. The result was very important to us. So Iranian cadets cheered Abbass and the Americans supported their own players. The ball continued to land on the Americans, side. They felt hopeless, not knowing what to do. During the game, the cadet's cheering was so loud that attracted Colonel Baxter, he base commander's attention, and he too joined the watchers. He carefully watched Abbass's performance and techniques.
Finally the game was finished and the Americans unbelievably lost. At that moment, the base commander who was apparently impressed by Abbass's skillful play, told Abbass to see him in his office at a convenient time.
A few days later, he was selected as the volleyball team captain by the base commander. We had several matches with various team of Lavak city, and we were always the winner. Abbass, as a good and capable captain, was liked by Colonel Baxter a lot, and he always called him my son.
