December 1965 – Kaiserslautern Germany
Rudy’s first Christmas in a foreign land! Christmas was a welcome relief from field exercises with German army units.
No wonder these guys lost the war, thought Rudy, all they did was drink beer and party every night while we froze our asses off on the snowy ground. And how the hell do they expect you to shave 
when you have to crack the ice in the bowl first?
The Twelve-hour drive back to K-town barracks was an absolute joy ride! But, NOT!! Early in the morning, Rudy was loaded into an open jeep in 30degree weather. Shiver city before the sleet started and persisted throughout the day.
Finally, we arrived at the barracks doing a credible imitation of a frozen popsicle.
In Rudy’s spare time, he got involved with a troupe of GI entertainers at the service club who put together a presentation of Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.” Having made the acquaintance of Russell and Dave, the players, they confided that they were short a performer to portray the character of Jacob Marley.
“Really?” queried Rudy. “What’s involved?”
And so began Rudy’s involvement with show business smack in the middle of his three–year enlistment with the US Army.
Rudy was enamored with show business after three–short performances at the USO club, moaning and rattling chains.
In the following weeks, he auditioned for several parts but was found lacking by the producers. In late December, Russ and Dave advised him that an open casting was coming up for the musical “Bye, Bye,Birdie.
“Sure!” Rudy exclaimed, “That would be great fun.”
The production was being mounted at the nearby military post of Vogelweigh, Germany, which sported a theatre in their USO facility.
Much to Rudy’s surprise, the three intrepid thespians were all tapped for roles in the production, which was tentatively scheduled for a two–weekend run in May 1965. Most of the cast members were civilian children of Officers stationed in the immediate area.
The “orchestra” mainly consisted of former High School band members, none of whom had ever performed together before, and they sounded perfectly awful during the first few rehearsals.
The play. For those of you unfamiliar. (UNFAMILIAR??? What have you been living under a rock for the last 50 years?), Bye-Bye Birdie is a 2–hour play in two acts. So, Rudy. Thought he might get some acting chops in.
Unbeknownst to Rudy, fate had a romantic comedy for him and his faithful castmates to play out.
During the first-weekend rehearsal, rudy became acquainted with his castmates and discovered that he was expected to act like a teenager and dance.
Dance? I have two left feet. I doubt that I can do The Wobble anymore, let alone The Pony and The Crossfire thought Rudy.
“Oh, those dances are a piece of cake.” Said one of the girls, “My name is Nancy, by the Way.” Rudy was drawn to the lovely young woman addressing them, as were his 
faithful companions. Moments later, they were sure they were seeing double. “This is my twin sister, Martha.” Nancy introduced.
“OH no,” groaned Russ and Dave, “How will we tell them apart?”
“No Sweat,” said Rudy, “This one is Martha, and that,” he said as he pointed to her sister, “Is Nancy!”
Nancy and Martha both giggled. “How did you know,” said Martha. “You got us perfectly right the First time!”
“Easy, I grew up with identical twin sisters.”
Nancy looked at him with renewed interest. “This should be fun; Martha is dating a member of the band; I, on the other hand, am not attached.”
And so began a four–sided relationship. Nancy invited the three of them to her home for refreshments after rehearsal.
Upon the arrival at the designated address, the three low–ranking soldiers were put off to find this was the home of Colonel Lau!
Undaunted. Russell, the suave, debonair member of their troupe, rang the bell. He was stunned when one of the twins answered the door and was at a loss for words since he did not know who he was addressing.
“Hi Martha,” said Rudy.
Martha Grinned said, “Nancy is right; this will be great fun!’
Over the next two weeks, they interacted with and got to know their fellow cast members. They were out of the league of those cast as Conrad Birdie, Rosie, and the McAfee family. While they were all welcoming, they stayed in their professional circles, and Rudy hung out and rehearsed with those playing the teenagers and the reporters. The competition over Nancy was palpable during rehearsal. Rudy enjoyed making the acquaintance of the female cast. He enjoyed giving them pet names based on their personalities. There was a blond-haired person he dubbed “Little Miss Stuck-up,” a raven–haired beauty he called “Cleo” after Cleopatra. Even the guys were not immune from his labeling. Just ask “Evil Rex,” who delivered a bone–chilling laugh during the “Kill a Man Ballet” performance.
Nancy, Cleo, and Miss Stuck-up made it their business to help Rudy overcome his two left feet until he was performing the cross-fire to the choreographers’ satisfaction.
The after rehearsal meeting continued with them all watching “Where the Action Is,” singing and dancing in the living room. Nancy was acutely aware of the building friction between the three friends. Finally, she decided to put an end to the rivalry.
“Guys,” said Nancy, “I am acutely aware of your rivalry, and I am flattered. Russ, you are a flatterer; Dave, you seem out of your element. And Rudy. ‘She paused significantly. ‘Rudy, I am all yours.” She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. Rudy was flustered and somewhat embarrassed. From that day forward, they were an acknowledged couple on set. When Nancy played “You were on my mind” every
time Rudy arrived for rehearsal, how could they not be?
As the date for the performance drew closer, some of the roles that had not been filled were assigned to some who had been cast as teens. Rudy and his friends were double–cast as reporters in one scene and as Shriners in another in which Rosie is performing a snake dance on a table. Somehow, during one of the rehearsals, she made come hither motions to the “enchanted” Shriners, and Rudy took it upon himself to follow her hand motions and leap over the table as though entranced. Although it was meant as a one-time joke, it caught the fancy of the actor playing Rosie, and she talked the director into incorporating it in her dance. Shortly after, Nancy began casting come hither motions toward Rudy whenever she got the chance.
Rudy had some concerns that he would not be able to fulfill both his duty schedule and his rehearsal obligations as the playdate grew closer. Fortunately, he had become friendly with his company duty officer, who took an interest in his acting interests and took it on his own to clear any scheduling conflicts. I suspected but was never able to confirm that he was a family friend of Nancy thru her father.
Two weeks before our premiere date, Rudy’s 19th birthday arrived on a Friday dress rehearsal.
Unbeknownst to Rudy, Nancy and the female members of the cast had been working on a birthday present for him over the last week or so, and they chose to present it to him during the break between acts 1 and 2.
Nancy presented Rudy with a box tied in a green ribbon which she usually wore in her hair. Upon opening the box, Rudy found a red pillow shaped like a pair of lips, signed by most cast
members.
Nancy and Martha giggled as they habitually did. “Good deal,” said Martha, “you did not know what we were doing. Nancy did a great job of keeping your attention.”
The day finally arrived. Opening day and a packed house. Surprisingly, Lt. Ken, the duty officer, was sitting in the first row. The teenagers performed their Pony/Watusi/Monkey/Cross-Fire routine flawlessly, and Rudy took his leap over Rosie’s table in his Shriners hat.
The cast performed two curtain calls to the applause of the audience. They did it again the next night and twice the following weekend—the whole house for all performances. When Rudy thought about the differences in the orchestra between first–week rehearsals and opening day, he was s amazed.
Rudy and Nancy saw each other as often as possible during the following summer. Although they were very fond of one another, they both knew that her father would never allow them to grow any closer.
Then came the day in September when Nancey gave Rudy the dreaded news. Her father had received word that he was being rotated back to the states within a month.
Rudy went down to the train station with Nancy on their departure and bid the family a fond farewell. Even the Colonel shook his hand. Rudy was a newly promoted Specialist 4th Class. He watched sadly as the train left the station.
Over the next few months, Rudy and Nancy wrote back and forth. Rudy’s thespian career waned with a final self-penned musical that made the circuit of the local USOs. It was well–received, but the acting bug had left with the stateside departure of his acting buddies.
Upon Rudy’s departure from the service in May of 1967, He tried vainly to remain in contact with his friends. Dave, he never heard from again; Russ wanted to call him once and missed the connection. He was able to speak to Nancy several times on the phone. Martha married her band–playing boyfriend from “Birdie,” Nancy married a first Lt stationed. At White Sands, Alabama After which they never communicated again.
