In 1977 the military had a great idea of swapping jobs. We had splicers, outside plant, and inside plant. My first assignment as an outside plant guy was to accompany a cable splicer up a pole and sit in a span car. I would assist while while the splice was replaced/repaired to " walk a mile in his mocassins". We finished the cutting in the splice and the splicer inadvertantly knocked over the torch on the paper mass. Paper caught fire and in the panic he threw a bucket of water on it effectively ruining everything we had fixed plus more. Cable car was swinging, we were beating the splice to death and I was crapping my pants as I didn't believe the car would stay up on the span. Last time on a aerial splice crew.

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