Editor's Note: We're running this story a week ahead of Veteran's Day due to scheduling conflicts. However this gives us a good opportunity to mention that one of the best ways for Americans to honor our vets is to exercise your right to vote in Tuesday's election.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, November 5, 1955, and time for the Coffee and Cake Checker Club to meet. The club was informally run by Sal Westerman, who together with the "boys" (almost all of them over 50 years old) who made up the club, gathered at the Beacon Cafe in Bismarck, North Dakota.

At a few minutes past one, Sal was joined in the big booth in the back of the Cafe by regular attendees Wayne, Dan, Larry, Louie the Flash, Tom, and Mike. It was a good turnout.

Coffee mugs were filled by Deana, the Cafe's proprietess and a championship baker, who casually announced that there were fresh rhubarb bars in the offing. Small talk ensued and the topic turned to the Veteran's Day Parade which would take place the coming Friday, November 11. The parade would be led by Mayor Evan Lipps, and, as many veterans lived in Bismarck, it would be a big important event. Much of the city would turn out to honor the local vets.

The club members reminisced about their own military service. Sal had served in the Pacific as part of the Air Corps and had been on Tinian Island when the atomic bombers had taken off on their historic missions.

Wayne had also served in the Pacific with the Navy and had seen action in the Philippines and elsewhere.

Dan and Mike had been in Europe with the Army and both had been involved in the Normandy landings.

Larry had been in the Marines at Guadalcanal and other battles, while Tom and Mike had also been in Europe.

Louie the Flash served on the homefront in what was a highly secret bombsight facility.

In honor of their service, Deana offered them all free treats this afternoon, and the boys were very grateful, not just for the fine baked goods but even more so for the recognition and appreciation.

Of course talk inevitably turned to the subject at hand, checkers, and as was the custom, Sal had a problem for the boys to solve.

"No one has to buy today, Sal," said Dan, "thanks to Deana." The custom was that the boys would buy for Sal and his wife if they couldn't solve Sal's problem while Sal would buy if the boys did find the right line of play.

"Here you go, boys," said Sal, as he set up the following position on a couple of the checkerboards which lay ready on the booth's table.

"Take, oh, 45 minutes and see if you can do it."

The boys dove in at once and now all discussion was focused on finding the correct moves.

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Solve along with the boys. We can't offer you free treats but we hope we're offering some good checker entertainment. When you're ready, click on Read More to see the solution.

Solution

At about two-fifteen Sal called time, and Louie the Flash said, "No luck this time, Sal. Show us."

Sal played out the following moves.

1.	...	32-27
2.	23x32	14-10
3.	12-16	...

If 5-9, 10-7, 12-16, 7-3, 8-12, 15-10 and the man on 9 cannot be salvaged.

3.	...	21-17
4.	13x22	11-7
5.	2x11	18-14
6.	11x18	31-27
7.	32x23	14-9
8.	5x14	10x3
9.	18-23	28-24
10.	23-27	24-20
11.	27-31	20-16

White Wins.

"Nice one," said Mike, "a First Position win. Pretty fancy." The boys all murmured agreement.

Skittles games and lots of checker talk followed at once and went on until nearly the Cafe's five o'clock closing time. "See you at the parade," the boys told each other as they waved goodbye to Deana and started for home.

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Today's problem is by that immortal checkerist, Tom Wiswell, who was himself a veteran. He titled it Holy Terror. Alternate play at move 3 is by Mr. Wiswell.

The Checker Maven salutes all our veterans, young and old, past and present; the debt we owe you is beyond measure and can we can only begin to repay you through our respect, honor, and appreciation.