On one memorable occasion half a dozen reporters were flown to Oran in North Africa for the occasion of King George VI's visit to the troops in North Africa. We were all assembled, about sixteen of us, at a British officers' club in Oran where we were to meet the king.

One of the reporters who had flown down was the incomparable Homer Bigart. It is important to this story to remind you that both King George and Homer stammered badly. Both of them had great difficulty getting out their words.

In the lineup of reporters, Istood to Homer's right and, as the king started down the receiving line, Iheard his greeting to Bob Considine of International News Service.

"How . . . how . . . how . . . da . . . da . . . do you . . . you do?" the king stammered. "Who . . . who . . . whom . . . da . . . da . . . do you . . . rep . . . rep . . . repre . . . represent?"

"The International News Service, sir," Bob said.

The king moved on to the next reporter and repeated his question.

After having spoken to seven or eight people, he came to the ninth man and said simply "How . . . how do . . . do you do?" and moved on without asking a question.

The next two people were asked their affiliations and then it was my turn.

"The U.S. Army newspaper," I said in answer to his hesitating question, "The Stars and Stripes." Next man was Homer.

"How . . . how . . . are . . . are ya . . . ya . . . you?" the king said to Homer and moved on.

Later, Homer, who always put everyone listening to him at ease with his sense of humor, said, "It's a ga . . . it's a ga . . . goddamn . . . good thing, ta too. There cacould . . . ha . . . have . . . ba been . . . an inter . . . international . . . in . . . incident."

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