DEAR ABBY: You recently printed a letter about a downed pilot in World War II who was captured by the Germans when he was observed cutting his food with his knife and transferring his fork to his right hand to eat, thus identifying himself as an American. This was not an uncommon event in World War II. The Germans were trained to look for such cultural habits.
Our allies, the British, were often identified and captured by the way they crossed the road as pedestrians. Because vehicles travel on the left side of the road in Britain, pedestrians look to their right when stepping off the curb, a dangerous habit in France or Germany where traffic approaches from the left -- and even more critical if an approaching vehicle contained members of the German militia. -- HISTORY TRIVIA BUFF, ENCINITAS, CALIF.
DEAR TRIVIA BUFF: Your letter gives me renewed respect for those who risked their lives trying to gain intelligence behind enemy lines.