Fall 1971
Hitchhiking Sailor Types
One night Chuck and I were sitting around the apartment, we were tired of driving and cruising around, usually seperately, I know I did a lot of that, don't really know about Chuck, he went places and did things I believed.
Anyway, I suggested lets hitch down to Military Circle, that's the mall with the backway canyons. We put on our Levi coats and left. Stood on the side of the boulivard for a while. Got our first ride down to another intersection.
Stood on that corner for while. Stood some more. Stood some more. The light kept changing through its colors, red, amber, green; red, amber, green; .... The cars and trucks and van kept stopping and going. One car stopped for the light. The lady inside looked our way, reached over and pushed the door lock down. I screeched, turned around and banged my head against the stop sign, 'It's hopeless Chuck, hopeless hopeless hopeless.'
We did catch another ride to another intersection. Stood and stood and stood. Finally gave up, walked across the boulivard and waited there.
Some young dude in a truck picked us up, we sat in the cab. We talked the usually talk, service, VaBeach, what's happening here and there. The dude pick some more guys, local kids headed for the beach drag. Talked some about our bad luck hitching, why it wasnt easy except for military picking up military and local kids picking up local kids. The dude doing the driving said, 'Dont bother me none. If they get mean I just slam on the brakes and watch 'em slide over the windshield and off the hood.'
Maybe it wasnt our short military hair, could have been to much of a hoodlum type look.
Dec 1970
Wine Cellar
When I first checked in at Oceana, VF101 the perminant training group, this one clerk was standing behind a counter doing the paper processing. He looked at me and ask if I wanted any thing from the wine cellar. I just kind of said sure. He proceeds to mime going down stairs behind the counter, then back up.
Fall Winter 1971 - 1972
Boone's Farm Apple and Ripple Red
I hadnt done any drinking till sometime during 1971. I smoked cigarrettes, Chuck drank Boone's Farm. We were standing around in the kitchen of the apartment at 422 Amsterdam one night. Just talking and such. He was drinking, I was smoking. Talked about bad habits. 'I'll quite smoking if you'll quit drinking' I flipantly remarked. 'Ok, you're on' came the reply.
That lasted a few weeks, maybe a month or so. He started smoking and I started drinking in the meanwhile.
We called it off. Now both of us drank and smoked.
College 1967-68
Karate
There was this karate club down at Clemson, they had meetings once or twice a week, I went to a few for a while. I even got one of the uniforms, those white heavy denim types. So along with driving back and forth to classes during the day, I was making a couple of trips at night too. These meetings were held in the old YMCA basement. Drove down and parked out back, went inside to the locker and shower room, changed clothes, did the exercises, went back to the locker room, stripped and showered, got dressed again and drove back home. That was the usual routine.
Not sure how old that building was, it's definitely older now. But have you every stood around naked in a shower in a really old building where so many other college types had stood before? Kind of spiritual type feeling it is.
Oh yeah. The karate master who ran the club, something or other Moon if I remember right. Later in the 1980's, 1983 maybe, he was on a plane headed for Japan, the one that got shot down by the Russian jet fighter.
Med Cruise 1975
Model Planes
Carriers have stores onboard, get all kinds of things there, plastic model planes is one thing. Yeah, you get to glue them together and maybe hang them around the shop. But then what?
The ole salts who had made the cruise before knew. Young guys with no women around have to have some kind of distraction. Specially during the Atlantic crossing, ten days of doing nothing much. Same is true of anchorage off some Greek island.
After the model is pieced together you add a few functional improvements. Paper clips, shaped, heated with a lighter and melted into the plastic. One for a tail hook under the tail section, if you're good at plastic welding and paper clip bending you can get a spring action for hook retraction. Two others are attached on top sticking straight up and bend over making an inverted U.
Now you go scrounging around for plywood on the boat, yeah you can find all kinds of stuff on the big boats. You cut it up into the shape of a flight deck, drill some holes and rig up some landing cables, that's cord threaded up through one hole across the deck and down through the other hole, weights on the ends function as braking action.
Down on the hanger deck there's usually some open space. The model flight deck gets setup, then a really long fishing line gets tied off just in front of the deck. The other end gets tied off half way up a ladder bout 50 feet away and 20-30 feet higher.
Now you can fly the plastic model planes and try landing them on the deck. You get to do the fun stuff the real pilots cant, like do a looping roll just before landing. Of couse some real pilot would play too, and crash, we enlisted types would laugh, 'Yeah sure the government lets you fly the real ones.'
AMD NAS Oceana 1972
He did his duty
Chuck and I were living way off up in OceanView on the Bay. Man that was a long drive ever day an hour or so through city traffic. Got me in trouble once.
About ever third day you had duty, that meant sitting at some desk to watch the phone to make sure it didnt go anywhere or do something it wasnt suppose to. I had to do that at 4:00 in the morning one time, after I had been out that evening till midnight of course. I decided to drive on in to the base early and sleep some in the van. I did, parked outside the building I worked in and slept. I kept an alarm clock in the van for such times.
Three thirty rolls around and I go inside to take over from the dude watching the phone. He asks where have I been? Told him outside sleeping. He had been trying to call me at the beach house. Some other dude had not shown up for his watch and this one had already been there for his eight hours. He wanted me to come in early. He had already written me up.
Later that morning while working, the AMD Chief came walking through the shop where I worked. About the time he passed by the bench I was working on he says, "He did his duty, he did his duty."
Such is the military, some dude screws up and misses his watch and I get wrote up too. Geesh I hated the Navy.
AMD NAS Oceana 1973
CoEd Shop
The women were getting into some of the rates (jobs) where men only had them before. My rate was one of them, Aviation Fire Control, that's not fire type fire, that's airborne radar and missle control electronics type fire.
It was normal for some of the guys to arrive at work in civilian clothes and change in the shop; strip down to underwear and put the blue denims on. Me too.
Well it happened one night. Our shop's first woman electronics tec had already got into the shop and was standing around talking with the other guys. This dude comes in with uniform in hand, walks over to another bench and proceeds to take his clothes off.
Dont remember what she called out, something like, 'Hey Tom that all you going show?' Tom turned and looked up, 'Oh shit.'
Med Cruis 1975
Man, I really hated the Navy
Drugs where rampant during those years, left over from the 60's and doing well into the '70s. Of course the military had their own ways of dealing with that problem.
I suppose one would think that drugs were hard to come by, being on a boat in the middle of a sea or ocean. Supposedly they're not, not that I ever saw anyone with them, or that I ever looked for them.
It's always the enlisted who get screwed though. Get back from shore leave and have to go through a package and body search. There rational was if everyone has to be search no one can bitch. Always did wonder why the officers didnt have to be, random searches was ok for them, and they're the ones with the big bucks to spend on drugs too.
Got back from shore once, with my camera of course. You're suppose to give them the camera and they would take it to the photo shop dark room, open it and check, then return it later. I didnt. I knew there was film inside. I just opened it up and showed the man. He just kind of mumbled something, 'you didnt have to do that'.
Later, either that day or another, I wrote a letter to my congressman. Made some comments about us being over here defending American's freedom and rights while our rights were being trampled on and such. Several days or weeks passed.
I was down on the hanger deck working on one of the planes. The commander of the squadron walked by and started to talk. Told him what I was doing, thought the ships power cable was bad, just shop talk. He walked on. Those types never talked to me before, except the shop officer.
Later back up in the shop here comes the shop officer. 'Heard you wrote a letter.' 'Yeah I did.' 'Why didnt you come through the chain of command?' 'Cause I figured I already knew what that answer would be I suppose.' That was the end of that. Should have know that commander had other reasons for stopping to talk with me.
Did get a letter from Senator Thurmond weeks later. Addressed to an AO2 Hughes. Navy and goverment screwed up again, didnt even get my rate right. Did wonder if some real AO2 Hughes got something put in his record that wasn't suppose to be there. The letter didnt say anything about what I wrote about, there was suppose to be an attachement, but there wasn't. Screwed up Navy.
NAS Oceana 1973
3 Phase 400 Cycle 100 Volts
The electronic equipment I worked on used 3 phase 400 cycle 100 volt electricity, cause that's what the aircraft's generators put out. On the bases they got these huge generators out back of the building to make that kind of electricity. It's wired in through overhead duct work and conduits.
One night some of us are sitting around shooting the breeze. One guy comes in sets up a ladder across a bench from us, climbs it and proceeds to take a cover off one of the conduits.
We just keep on talking. FLASH of light and KABOOOM!!!!
I immediately turn and see the dude standing at the bottom the ladder with a screw driver in one hand and looking up at the ductwork. I think he was faster than light getting down that ladder.
He wasnt hurt, scared shitless though. His buddies talked him into going to the infirmary to get checked out.
Med Cruise 1975
Butt Chewing
One of the rules about rank and position is to never ever chew a subordinate out in front of his peers, especially an officer in front of enlisted.
Bull shit.
I walked from the shop near the blunt end of the boat up to the ready room near the pointed end one day. To get a debriefing from the radar officers who just landed, I think. I walked in and there's the squadron commander chewing the airframes officer's butt up one side and down the other. I hadn't never heard such cussing and fussing and swearing, even from regular sailors.
That poor dude was standing in front of the commander rigid as a board, except for the shaking. It was sicking. Other officers were sittiing around and a few chiefs and enlisted were coming in and out. Everyone saw and heard.
The commander was pissed off cause he wasnt getting all the flight hours he wanted out of the squadron planes.
I got what I came for and stepped over the shin knocker out onto the catwalk. 'Damn fucking Navy.' Our shop officer came up the walk about that time. I just walked on by, he'll find out soon enough why the remark.
Later that day the airframes officer came by the shop, he was wanting to look over our training records, cause we were keeping the radar systems up more than the other shops were with their areas. I was in charge of training, I pulled them out of a cabinet drawer and handed them to him. He just flipped the pages and stared at them, smoking and still shaking.
Med Cruise 1975
Screwdriver Through the Wall
The hanger deck is really about three decks high. At the back and half way up is the mezzine, that's where some of the shops were including mine and another squadrons. There is a narrow passway between the two shops. It wasnt uncommon to stand in the hall, talk and lean up against the walls, thin walls at that somekindof fiber or someting.
Marc was standing and leaning against the other shops wall once. Next thing he knew a screwdriver came through the wall right beside his head. The shops chief had gotten tired of things falling of the wall in the shop because they were being shaken by guys leaning on them.
That got Marc all pissed off, dont blame him really, he had the chief wrote up. Caused lots of hard feelings between the guys in the two shops. Lots of hard looks and stares and snide remarks were exchanged over the next few days.
I was walking by their door one day, inside was this dude playing a guitar, I sort of knew him, he was one of Chuck's friend. I stood in the doorway and listened for a while. One of the other guys came in and sat down, gave me a look as I made room for him to pass through.
Started to talk with the mutual friend. 'Chuck got out didnt he?' 'Yeah a few days ago.' 'Man, he's lucky got lots of travel pay back home I bet.' 'Yeah.' He just kept strumming and playing his guitar. I asked him to play a song, dont remember what it was.
The other dude just kinda looked at him then me then back at him. Bet he was wondering what was going on, we were from different shops who were supppose to be fighting one another. We werent suppose to be friendly.
I left it at that, just an encounter with a mutual friend of my best friend. Did seem to feel that things werent quite as tense as before as the days went on. But that's probably just in my head.
We were all just plain enlisted types, counting days till we got out.
SummerTime VaBeach 1973
Beach Ocean Waves Surfing Surfer Kids
Cruising the streets of the World's Largest Resort City, me, a young, lonely hungry man, always on the lookout for that something us guys always seem to be looking for. Oh just go ahead and say it you dumb ass whimp. Yeah, horny and cruising.
I'm driving up one street toward the main drag next to the ocean. Some young local teen pulls into one of the parking areas between two buildings, surf board on top of the wagon. I'm heading toward him but still about half way back down the block.
He gets out, wearing cutoffs, goes to the back of the wagon and opens the door. He moves stuff around finds what he's looking for. Stops. Pulls off his cutoffs, stands nude on the side of the street, puts on his swim trunks, then starts looking around in the back of the wagon again.
Five maybe ten seconds was all there was to it. Tanned teens living near a beach, it's so natural for them. If any teen girls saw, so what, made him feel good anyway.
I continued my cruising and searching. Wondering what if, what if I had the looks and free spirit to do such. Maybe not being doing as much cruising and searching, maybe. Nah, I had the free spirit, just didn't have enough wildness in me.
AFTA Millington TN 1970
Barracks Showers
One would think that with a hundred or more guys using the same showers and all that there's always someone else in the shower. Not so, it seldom happened. I was on an afternoon schedule, most everyone else was at classes, so I was there in the morning. Walked into the shower room and got wet. In walks another naked dude about 5'10" nice proportioned build, tanned except for where the swim trunk was. 'You do lots of swimming dont you?' I commented. 'Yeah.' 'I could tell by the tan line. You not in class today?' 'No going try out for the SEALS.' 'Oh' Didnt talk anymore. He finished his shower first and left. I just watched trying not to be obvious.
Mud
It always seemed to rain a lot in Millington. Lake size mud holes would develop sometimes cause the land's pretty much flat. Watched the guys in their cutoffs play football in one once, mud on skin is one way to stay cool.
Tar
The barracks had a flat roof which meant it had tar and felt and gravel on it. They redid the roof that summer. Woke up with smell of tar, showered with smell of tar, came back from supper to the smell of tar, went to bed with the smell of tar.
Locker Writings
A bunk area was 6 bunks grouped together in a long wing of the barracks, bunks and lockers. People hang stuff on the inside of their lockers, personal stuff to make a bit of a civilian home, I suppose. I had the July '66 words, the ones about a person's existence and memories in each other's minds, hanging on the inside of my locker. It was open one evening while I was laying around on the bunk. One of the bunk area mates stopped to read it. He walked over to his and got pen and paper, asked if he could copy it; I said, 'Sure.'
Tower Cafe
The base in Millington is divided by a highway, the school and training is on one side, the air field on the other. There was a cafe on that side too. Went up there to eat occassionaly. Usually got the hamburger steak dinner. The cook would get a handful of beef, mix in some ketchup, steak sauce, onions and probably some other stuff. Mash it all together with her hands then pat it out. It smell good while sizzling on the grill. It was great eating too.
AFTA Near Millington TN 1970
Barracks Sleeping
Those dudes seldom showed up in the showers but they did come in late at night after their drinking in town or at the enlisted club. Made lots of noise too. Got moved around in the barracks and ended up near a rowdy bunch. Got so bad I found an empty bunk off down at one end and slept there at night. They would come in late through the door at that end of the barracks and bang on the lockers as they went by, 'Wake up baby Huey.'
Class Sleeping
You sleep in class during college and the Teach just lets you sleep. Not so in military class.
I never did any going off base and into town; only reason I had for being tired and sleepy was watching late TV in the lounge. Anyway, you sit in class and hear the moan and drone of the instructor doing his talk. Puts anyone to sleep I think. I'm sitting there staying awake even though my head bobs more and more. I'm about to doze off when I see through half closed eyes the instructor walking my way, still talking. He takes a step and starts to swing his leg. CRASH goes boondockers into the wooden desk. Wakes me up good and sudden like.
It was the dude behind me what got his desk kicked, he must not have beening trying hard enough to stay awake.
Last Chance
Inbetween first and second training terms they offer those who signed up for six years for the extra advance electronics training if they wanted to change their minds and just do four years.
Like a dumb ass slow learning idiot I just sat there.
Boot Camp Orlando FL Fall Winter 1969
Boot Camp Showers
Everyone got naked and showered together during boot camp; had to, everyone does everything together during boot camp. This one guy was standing next to me and started talking, just talk at first. Then he commented, 'I think that dude over there is playing with his, it's bigger now.' I just mummbled something, 'yeah', finished my shower and left. Dont recall seeing him anymore to long after that.
Smoking Lamp is Lite
That meant get the metal buckets half full of water and into the smoking room lounge quick, smoke break.
We would sit around in there and smoke and talk and joke, else they did, I just sat, smoked and listen mostly. Guys sitting around in their white boxers, skin everywhere. Once, or probably more, some dude would come walking in just out of the shower, naked, sit down and join the rest of us.
First Waiting
The first weekend there all we did was wait cause nothing was going happen till Monday morning. I walked around in the receiving barracks mostly, looked out the windows at the sailors walking around, listening to the sounds. Thought a lot too. It was going be 12 weeks till I left that place and you hear things about how hard boot camp is. Decided I best start getting mentally prepared for it. Didnt do anything special, just start getting into the right frame of mind, like keep alert and see what works and what dont work for others, that sort of thing.
Clothes Guard
During boot camp you wash your clothes by hand the first few weeks. Then you hang them out to dry. Down in Orlando the clothes lines were up on the roof of the barracks. Someone had to stay up there to make sure they didnt go anywhere. Walking outside on the roof was one of the more pleasant times. Got to see real people across the fence driving up and down the roads. Got to see the sky and clouds too without haveing to march around from place to place.
Leaaaaving Onnnn A Jet Plane
That was a popular song back then, for us bootcampers it meant getting out of this place. But that had another meaning too, for those in that world of hurt called Nam.
Clemson Spring 1970
Made a flight from Millington to home once that year, the first of many flights back home during the next few years. Drove off down to Clemson to see who I might run into. Found Lynn and talked with him some; we went over to Ken's room. They had noticed that I hadnt been back and heard I went military. Ken had turned hippie. Saw Pat that time too I think, he was on his way to his girlfriend's room, to do biology studing he said, 'Yeah sure Pat.' Only talked with them for a short while then I left. I would be six years or more before I started meeting up with them again.
Clemson Winter 1967-68
It was one of them snow days in the south. Still I got up to make the drive to Clemson and classes. Packed an extra set of clothes and shaving gear just in case I got stuck down there. I stayed anyway, found Pat and asked if I could stay with him that night, he did let me, didnt have a roommate then anyway. So I did stay on campus one night. Should have stayed down there more, probably would have made it through college with some help from friends.
We went to eat breakfast the next morning, college food, yummie. Got up to leave and told Pat, "Thanks for letting me sleep with you."
It wasnt till later that I realized that didnt sound like it was supppose to.
Clemson Fall 1967 {1989}
Physics 101
I sat in a one of the big auditorium size classes with the Professor down in the pit doing his talking and writing on the chalk board. I suppose he knew what he was saying, I thought all of them did, I was just a dumb college student you know. He had this habit of saying something, writing something, then standing back and looking at the board, then saying something about that's not right and change everything around. Geesh what's what here.
About 22 years later I gave college another go, took Physics101 again, same big auditorium except there were just a few students during the summer sessions. I sitting there listening the the Professor, he's down there talking and writing, then looking, then changing stuff around. Oh dear, it can't be, it's the same messed up Teach.
The young kids there then knew what was what. Saw one who sat a row down from me get so fustrated that he made like he was strangling the professor when he turned his back to the class. That was sad, they wanted to learn but couldnt cause of the professor. Should have known it was the wrong class the first day, I noticed lots of students ask 'where's so and so, thought he was going teach?' About half off them dropped that class like a hot potato.
Yeah, 22 years later and there I sat in class with kids who werent even born yet when I was there before. We were watching one of the old black and white instructional films once, the same fustrated kid from above saw the date as it started, he said to himself, 'Gosh, we hadnt even went to the moon then.'
Should have reached down there slapped him back of the head, 'Hey, some of us saw the orginal film.'
Dropped out for the 3rd time later on anyway. Damn fucking Navy. Damn fucking Clemson University.
Chemistry 101
Chemistry was good, had a good Teach, joked around some in class. Once he looked out the window and stopped talking, then he said, 'Oh sorry, she's pushing a baby carriage and I can see why.'
Heard some tales about other chemistry professor though. Couple of my friends had one of them a real bitch and bastard types, made everything hard for the students.
About 22 years later I was walking across campus back to my car to drive back to work, happened to meet my nephew standing outside a building waiting for class, it was his first year there. Asked him which class, 'Chemsitry.' 'Oh, who's teaching?' '{so and so name}.' 'Who? You got to be kidding. They still here?' 'Yeah, he (professor) got put on probation last year for failing everyone in his class.'
Got to thinking there really wasnt professors like that, a mythical bad ass professor that the students just made up to represent all bad professors, no one can be that bad and still be teaching.
Did I mention about that I dropped out for the 3rd time later on anyway. Damn fucking Navy. Damn fucking Clemson University.
Fall 1972
Chuck had meet a girl at one of the roller skating rinks he went to. She was from Kentucky, going to college there, but they were in VaBeach for a few days, must have been Spring break that year I guess. He and she had been writing and such, mentioned he was going out there to see her. I tagged along too.
Worked that night and had the leave chit ready for the Chief to sign when he showed up that morning. Ran around getting the paper signed by bunch of higher ups. Drove back up to Oceanview. We threw stuff into his truck and left.
Somewhere on the West Virginia TurnPike, I was driving Chuck's truck at the time and following a line of cars around curves and over hill tops. It was about dusk then. One by one they disappeared over the crest of one hill, just like everything was cruising along really good. I pop over the hill top and there's this line off cars backed up with brake lights on. 'Oh hell!'
I slammed on the brakes too, but there wasnt going be enough room to stop. I give the steering wheel a quick swirve to the right then left and skid down the edge of the road between the line of cars and the guard rail.
Chuck may have been dozing, I dont remember, he was wide awake now for sure. We just sit there for a brief moment, could have been longer, the line of cars moved on down the road, they were backed up waiting for someone to make a left turn.
'Chuck, how far down that embankment is it?' 'Pretty good ways.' 'Oh, thought it would be. Did I hit anything?' Chuck got out and ran around his truck and got back in. 'Dont look like it.' 'Oh good.'
I pulled back out onto the road and drove on, doubt if we said much for a while. 'Chuck, just to let you know, if we had crashed and survived, you could have had my van.' 'Yeah, I know. Thanks.'
Naples Med Cruise 1975
After we got to have liberty (that's getting off the big boat onto a little boat and going to fleet landing and then into town and do what sailors to best, get drunk barhopping and bargirl hopping) I had shore patrol duty (that's making sure sailors get back to the big boat after they done doing what sailors do best).
Naples is a big port city, shore partol got their own permenant group there, all the ships pool there duty people who then get assigned different places in the city. While standing around waiting, do a lot of waiting in the military, I notice a young girl and her parents sitting and waiting too. I know why they were there, didnt have to ask either, some sailor probably got her pregnant or at least had sex with her and now the parents are after him.
I got assigned to a bar that night, a place where you had to walk down some stairs to get into, then down some more stairs after you got in. It was an 'L' shape room, bar and tables down one part, dance floor in the corner, more tables down the other part.
I just stood around and walked around went back outside a couple of times too, then back inside. There was a couple of drunken locals near the dance floor. One of them was staggering around spilling his beer. He falls down once and I walk over to help him back up. His friend comes over and says, 'Not military, not military.' I replied, 'ok, just trying to help him, you should do the same.'
I walk back down the long part of the 'L' between the bar and tables, weaving around all the people, people coming and going. I get to the bottom of the stairs and step to one side to get out of the way of traffic.
Just as I step aside there was this 'pop pop pop'. There was rumbling as I heard people ducking under tables. I turn my head and see this dude grab his head, sparks still falling. He hesitates a second then takes off running up the stairs. Some other dude takes off up the stairs too.
I just stand there with my mouth agape, the image of those two dudes still in front of my minds eye. 'Damn, I know I was just between those two. Was he aiming at me?'
Had to stand around and wait and wait for the authorities to show up. Wondering what kind of red tape mess I got into now. They finally came and the local police talked in Itailian a moment with the barkeep then turn to me and said, 'Shore patrol get your people out of here.'
I make a quick tour through the place looking for American type looking people telling them they should leave. Then I did. Stood around outside talking with the guys about what happened, who was it, is he dead and such. Shore partol bus came around and took us back to headquarters then to fleet landing.
The next morning I go up to the squadron's personnel place on the boat and tell the Chief there, 'Get me off shore partol, they've started to shoot at me.' He just kind of looked at me then said, 'Ok.'
Med Cruise Spring 1975
First BarGirl
I really dont remember which port it was, Barcelona feels right but I'm not sure. Sam, some others and I went into one of the bars. We're sitting at the bar, turned around with our backs to it, just looking around and talking. This woman comes up to me and starts talking to me too, she looked thirty or fortysomething I guess.
After a few minutes she reaches down and tries to unzip my pants. I push her hand away and say no thanks. She pushes mine away and says something. We repeat the the process again. Sam leans over and says, 'Let her.'
So I just stop and leave her alone even though she didnt leave me along. The guys where joking and laughing. I was looking around trying to see who was watching. It was still early Spring and cold, I was wearing long underwear plus regular underwear, you know lots of layers to go through. She kept on feeling around saying things in English then whatever her native language was. 'Where's your pee pee?' 'Dont you have one.'
The other guys were having a great laugh. After a while, what seemed like a long while, she gave up, turned and said something in native language to the other women in the bar.
I zipped my pants back up and went back to drinking my beers. Probably thought something like, next time I'll not wear any underwear. Next time never happened.
Brindisi Italy
First place I sat foot on European soil was in Brindisi, Italy.
First liberty launch, small boat ride to first fleet landing. Got on a bus with the other guys headed to a nearby military base, Army or Airforce I think. Looked out the bus window at the houses and countryside, just kinda wondering and thinking. Got to the base, went to the enlisted club and started drinking.
Stepped outside a few times to clear my head some. It was night time by then. Looked up at the stars, dont remember seeing the moon, it could have been there.
'Oh man, look at me. I'm standing here in Europe.' Went back in and drank some more.
Made the bus ride back to fleet landing, got on the small boat for the ride back to the big boat.
Did the same thing over again the next night. While waiting for the little boat to arrive I wandered around fleet landing. It had some kind of concrete structure there, observation platform or such. I walked up the steps and looked around. Wasnt anyone near by and had to pee really bad. I did, off in one corner.
Bari Italy was just up the coast a few miles. Some guys and I took a train ride up to that city. First big European city for me. Walked around the streets and boulivards. It was great walking the narrow winding streets. It was great riding the train too, got to see more of the country side.
Jacksonville FL Nov 1974
Navy Buddys
We were down there for the shake down cruise. Couple of the guys drove their cars down from VaBeach. Some of them stayed in a motel rather than the beach, I think, anyway it was someones motel room. We were sitting around talking, bitching about the Navy, some were bitching about being away from their girls or wives, wanting to go back to VaBeach. I made another one of my flippant remarks, 'Lets go.'
Don picked up on it, said 'Yeah.' We piled into one of the dude's car who drove down and left, I got in the front seat next to the driver, there was six of us altogether. I thought it was all a joke we were just going back to the big boat I thought. We drove back from the beach area to Interstate 95 and headed north. Drove pass the turn off to the navy base, drove through Jacksonville and onward. 'Oh ooo, these guys are serious.'
Somewhere up the road I'm getting really worried, start talking about going back, the other guys wouldnt listen. This went on for a few more miles. I reach over and turn the car off. The driver gets pissed, stops and lets me out. 'Get out fucker.'
I get out and watch them drive on up the road, walk across the medium then stand around and wait with my thumb stuck out. 'They'll stop and come back now.' Least that was what I was hopeing for. They didnt and I wasnt getting any rides so I start walking back. Went off down an exchange to some stores. Tried calling back to the base to let them know I was on my way back; didnt get through cause I didnt know what number to call. Went back up to the interstate and started walking and thumbing.
It was late evening when all this started. It was early morning hours when I was walking the interstate. Walking and wondering and worring about what was going to happen. The big boat was suppose to leave that morning and I was going to miss it, get wrote up big time and a heap of trouble. On through the night I walked and wondered and worry. 'Why the hell dont someone stop and pick me up?'
Someone finally did after it got on toward dawn and people started heading in to work. Some man finally did picked me up. I got in. There's a pistol on the seat between us. We talked and I told him what had happened, he made some comment about choosing better friends. It turns daylight and he lets me out at a taxi station. I got out and thanked him a lot for the ride. Rented a cab for the base told him to hurry.
I got back about an hour before the boat left, rushing on like I had spent the night out partying and just making it back in time. Ha, some party. Went on board and started looking for Steve, the driver, asking if he was back.
He was so I went up to his bunking place. There he was sleeping. I started right in punching him and poking at him. 'Dont you ever do that to me again! you hear! wake up! dont you ever do that again!' He just mumbles something about getting out and leaving him alone.
I go back to my bunk crawl in and go to sleep.
Yeah, they did turn around and start back. They even got worried about me when they didnt see me on the side of the road. The first class in charge of the shop commented later on about how a good thing it was I did turn the car off, 'Good thing, else I would have a bunch of E3's to work on the cruise.'