Spies Like Us

55,000 in this Protest

Now in the world of politics, Hungary was to stage a rebellion against its Soviet occupiers.  The previous year Austria had gained it freedom, from the Soviet Union, and Hungary, a country long associated with Austria, wanted its freedom as well.  The Soviets thought otherwise.

Much of the blame for the two uprising in Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia can be blamed directly on Radio Free Europe - they openly encouraged citizens of those two countries to rise up in revolt, even promising US aid - which was never to come.  It was just a political ploy to give the Soviets a headache - and those games killed a great many innocent people whom trusted the radio voices.

No Russian Sense of Humor

Now, if Hungary was in revolt, the US Military Intelligence community really wanted a chance to get their hands on some of the Eastern Bloc Scientists and find out where the Soviet Union had gone with its nuclear capabilities.  But, in order to do so, one would have to find someone whom had a first hand knowledge of the subject and spoke the languages.  Getting an idea where this one is going?

Back in Iceland, father had been blinded in an explosion.  No real idea what he could have been doing that time!  He was blinded for a while but when as his sight returned he had to wear glasses to correct for the permanent damage.  He really hated those glasses but seeing is a nice activity.  He was issued a pair of normal everyday PINK military framed glasses.  I never could understand why the US military would only issue pink frames - like it was most men's favorite color?  Gees!  They were horrid.

Father in Budapest.

A few years ago I was researching a completely separate subject and I stumbled upon the first photograph in this post - 55,000 Hungarians in peaceful demonstration.  But, something puzzled me concerning the photo and I could not put my finger on it.  So I blew up the photo.  There, flanked by two of his lifelong friends and almost as long co-workers, was father in his US Military issued glasses!  I actually kept the camel hair full length coat from his estate, he never left home without it - unless he was wearing its grey twin.

So, although officially in Iceland for several more months, he was also on the world stage playing spy.  And if you think of it, what are the odds you are going to be where you are not supposed to be - and end up getting photographed in the wrong place, at the wrong time, by a photo-journalist?  Makes you wonder. 

It also was the first hint that maybe there was a great deal I did not know about father.....