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Wry & Ginger: Life of Brian just too righteous to believe Comment By Sid McKeen The Worcester Telegram & Gazette MailTribune.com By Sid McKeen The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 16, 2015 at 9:27 AM Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 9:28 AM By Sid McKeen The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 16, 2015 at 9:27 AM Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 9:28 AM » Social News I must admit I was nervous when CBS people called to invite me to appear on “The Late Show,” so I was really glad when David Letterman opened our recent interview by asking, “What would you say has been the highlight of your career in journalism?” Easy, I told him. It had to be winning the Nobel Prize in Literature back in 2004. David seemed surprised. “I guess I must have missed that in looking through your bio,” he said. “What memories of the event are foremost in your mind?” “To tell you the truth,” I replied, “It wasn’t so much the ceremony itself, though that was very impressive. It was getting there to accept the award in the first place.” “How so?” he wanted to know. I explained that it was the first time I’d flown since being shot down by Japanese fighter planes in the Pacific in World War II, surviving for 18 months in a New Guinea jungle before being imprisoned and nearly starved to death by my captors, who were bent on extracting highly classified secrets I steadfastly refused to reveal. “En route home, the hospital ship that brought us capsized and sank in the South China Sea, and we spent hours flailing about in its choppy waters before rescue by a passing Liberian freighter.” Pressed for details, I begged off, explaining that all this happened deep in the past, and recalling such scenes now only added to the pain. “I understand,” said my host, frowning appropriately. “But there must be other moments in your distinguished career that are more upbeat.” “Indeed,” I said. “Being chosen Time’s Person of the Year in 2005 was a total surprise, as was the invitation to the East Room of the White House to receive the Presidential Freedom Award from Bush II in 2006.” “Those are notable achievements indeed,” David commented, “But I suspect there may be some lesser-known heroics in your past that are not as generally known by your admirers.” “Well, yes, now that you mention it,” I said. “There was the young boy I found in an alley one cold winter day, tattered, hungry and homeless. I took him into my home, got him a private tutor and eventually enrolled him at Harvard, where he went on to edit the Law Review and graduate summa cum laude. I’ve never told anyone about this before, I do it now because I believe it demonstrates what one person can do, even under the most trying of circumstances.” Oh and by the way, leaving the studio, I hailed a cab. After a few blocks, I observed smoke coming from a nightclub filled with people just off Times Square. I ordered the cabbie to pull to the curb and raced inside as flames enveloped the packed interior. Finding a single fire extinguisher, I doused the walls and dance floor and personally dragged several dozen patrons to safety on the sidewalk outside. I thought briefly of phoning Letterman and letting him know what just happened as a postscript for his show, but I didn’t have my cell phone with me or any change. I’ll tell you one thing: Being a journalist can be really dangerous stuff. Just ask my old and trusted comrade-at-arms Brian. Sid McKeen can be reached at [email protected]. By Sid McKeen The Worcester Telegram & Gazette MailTribune.com By Sid McKeen The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 16, 2015 at 9:27 AM Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 9:28 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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