DOG DAYS
Being old enough to have lived through Korea and even World War II, I remember when the old military phonetic alphabet was “Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog . . . ,” but “el cambio de los tiempos” (times change).
The United States has long since adopted the International Phonetic Assn.’s modern code: “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta. . . .”
This transition must’ve passed your Puzzler constructors by or they would’ve defined “Able” (99 Down, Nov. 9) as “former, passe or one-time code for A.”
Over and out!
THOMAS D. BRATTER
Los Angeles
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