1

His Life Story:

SOME YEARS AGO I WROTE ON THE OLD CLASS MATE SITE TELLING SOME THING
ABOUT MY LIFE HISTORY. WELL I AM GOING TO TELL IT AGAIN ON HERE..........MY
NAME IS WILLIAM CAMPBELL, JR.. I GO BY BILL. I WAS BORN IN 1930 IN SAN PEDRO,
CALIFORNIA ON AUGUST THE 20TH TO WILLIAM JOHN CAMPBELL AND
HENRIETTA(NEE) LOYA. THEY WERE MARRIED IN FLORENCE, AZ. WHEN MY MOM WAS
6 MONTHS PREGNANT WITH ME. MY DAD WAS 19 YEARS OLD AND MY MOM 16 YEARS
OLD. I WAS BORN IN ONE OF THE COURTS ON THE CORNER OF GRAND ST. AND
O'FARREL ST. I WAS THE ONLY CHILD. I DID HAVE A BABY BROTHER NAMED EDWARD
WHO WAS BORN IN 1933 BUT DIED A MONTH AFTER BEING BORN DUE TO PNUMONIA,
THEN I HAD ANOTHER BROTHER BORN IN 1937 THAT WAS STILL BORN AND UN-
NAMED. AFTER THAT PREGNANCY MY MOM BECAME ILL AND FOR MANY YEARS WAS
IN AND OUT OF HOSPITALS, MY GRANDMA, MY MOM'S MOTHER NEARLY RAISED
ME.DURING THEM YEARS. MY PARENTS SEPARATED IN 1941. I WAS SUCH A GOOD
STUDENT, BUT AFTER THAT MY GRADES STARTED GOING DOWN UP TO AND
INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS NOT A HAPPY CHILD. MY DAD LIVED WITH ANOTHER
WOMAN IN WILMINGTON WITH 2 KIDS UNTIL 1952. MEANWHILE MY MOM WAS HEART
BROKEN WHEN SHE HEARD OF THIS UNION AND BEGAN DRINKING ALCOHOL AND
RUINING HER HEALTH MORE. I SUFFERED THINKING AND WORRYING ABOUT HER AND
GOT PRE-MATURE GREY HAIR AT 13 YEARS OLD.MY DAD NEVER DIVORCED MY MOM
BECAUSE SHE WAS SICK. HE SUPPORTED HER AND I UNTIL MY MOM DIED IN 1945 AT
THE AGE OF 31 YEARS OLD AND ME UNTIL I WENT INTO THE NAVY IN 1948.I ATTENDED
BARTON HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RICHARD HENRY DANA JR. HIGH SCHOOL AND
SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS PHINEAS BANNING HIGH SCHOOL IN
WILMINGTON WHEN I WENT TO LIVE WITH MY DAD AFTER MY MOM PASSED AWAY IN
1945. A YEAR LATER HE MARRIED THE WOMAN HE WAS WITH. THEY DIVORCED IN
1952. THEN MY DAD LIVED WITH ANOTHER NICE LADY WHO HAD THREE DAUGHTERS
AND THEY MARRIED IN 1966 AND STAYED HAPPILY MARRIED UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY
IN 1986. I STAYED IN THE NAVY FOR 23 YEARS AND RETIRED IN 1970 AS A CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER IN THE FOOD SERVICE DIVISION OF THE SUPPLY DEPT. I WAS
STATIONED AT 16 VARIOUS COMMANDS BOTH AT SHORE STATIONS AND SHIPS.
SERVED IN BOTH THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WAR. SERVED ONE YEAR IN COUNTRY
IN VIETNAM. WHILE THERE I GOT AWARDED THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH
THE COMBAT "V" DEVICE BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. AFTER I RETIRED I WENT
TO WORK FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. AT TWO OF THEIR
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTES IN CASTAIC, CA. AND DOWN TOWN LOS ANGELES. I WAS
IN THE FOOD SERVICE DIVISION AND WAS A SENIOR COOK AND A SENIOR BUTCHER. I
SERVED 10 YEARS UNTIL I WAS 50 YEARS OLD IN 1980 AND RETIRED WITH PAY FROM
THEM. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY PROBATION DEPT.
AT 3 OF THEIR JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTERS IN ORANGE, CA. SANTA ANA, AND MIRA
LOMA, CA. I STARTED AS A SENIOR COOK AND WENT UP TO CHIEF COOK AND FOOD
SERVICE MANAGER. I RETIRED FROM THEM WITH PAY IN 1995 AFTER 15 YEARS. THAT
BROUGHT TO MY CLOSE OF MY WORKING CAREER, HAVE BEEN ENJOYING
RETIREMENT EVER SINCE. I MARRIED A NICE GIRL FROM JAPAN IN 1965 AT THE
AMERICAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO.JAPAN. WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 51 YEARS. WE
MAKE OUR HOME IN LONG BEACH, CA. I HAVE TWO GROWN MARRIED SONS WHO ARE
BOTH GRADUATES OF LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY.MY OLDEST IS A FINANCIAL
ANYLYST WITH A MAJOR STEEL COMPANY IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA. AND MY
YOUNGEST IS AN ELECTRONICS ENGINEER WITH A MAJOR COMPANY IN MONROVIA,
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CA. BOTH ARE DOING GREAT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS. THEY ARE BOTH
MARRIED TO TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTER IN LAWS AND I HAVE THREE GRAND
CHILDREN, ONE GIRL AND 2 BOYS........LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AND COULD NOT
BE BETTER. THE GOOD LORD HAS LET ME LIVE 86 YEARS SO FAR AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

1.
THE TIME WAS 1949 AND THE PLACE WAS SAN FRANCISCO. MY SHIP THE AIRCRAFT
CARRIER USS BOXER CV-21 WAS IN DRY DOCK AT HUNTER'S POINT NAVAL SHIP YARD
GETTING OVER HAULED. I WAS OFF DUTY THAT DAY AND DECIDED TO GO DOWN
TOWN IN THE CITY. I TOOK A JITNEY INTO TOWN. IT WAS A BIG LONG BLACK
CADILLAC AUTO THAT TOOK FIVE SAILORS AT A TIME INTO THE CITY DOWNTOWN
FOR 25 CENTS A PERSON. IT LEFT ME OFF AT 4TH AND MARKET STREET. I STARTED
WALING DOWN THE STREET ABOUT 2 BLOCKS WHEN I HAD THE URGE TO GO TO THE
TOILET AND DO MY THING. UP THE BLOCK WAS THE GREY HOUND BUS STATION, SO I
HEADED TOWARD IT TO THE REST ROOM THERE. THE REST ROOM WAS DESERTED
WITH NO ONE THERE. I WENT INTO ONE OF THE STALLS AND SAT DOWN AND DID MY
THING. WHEN I REACHED FOR THE TOILET TISSUE THE ROLL WAS EMPTY. I WAITED
FOR SOME ONE TO COME IN SO THEY COULD HAND ME A ROLL FROM ANOTHER
STALL. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND NO ONE SHOWED UP. I THOUGHT
WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO? SO I TOOK OUT MY WALLET AND TOOK OUT FIVE ONE
DOLLAR BILLS AND CLEANED MY SELF WITH THEM.......NO I DID NOT CLEAN THEM AND
FLUSHED THEM DOWN THE TOILET. FIVE BUCKS WAS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME AT
THAT TIME. FROM THEN ON TO THE PRESENT TIME I ALWAYS CARRY A SMALL PACK
OF KLEENEX TISSUES WITH ME WHEN EVER I LEAVE THE HOUSE.

2.
THIS IS A RE-RUN FOR REENIE HARDING WHITNEY WHO REQUESTED IT.--------------MY
NAME IS BILL CAMPBELL AND I HAD A 23 YEAR CAREER IN THE U.S. NAVY. FROM 1947-
1970.I ROSE FROM THE RANKS FROM SEAMAN RECRUIT---SEAMAN APPRENTICE--
SEAMAN----COMMISSARYMAN THIRD CLASS----COMMISSARYMAN SECOND CLASS---
COMMISSARYMAN FIRST CLASS AND COMMISSARY MAN CHIEF WHICH IS A CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER. I WAS STATIONED IN 16 VARIOUS COMMANDS. NAVAL TRAINING
CENTER, SAN DIEGO, NAVAL FIRE FIGHTERS BASE AND SCHOOL, USS BOXER CV-21,
NAF LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ.---USS PHILLIPINE SEA CV-47, NAS ATSUGI, JAPAN, ANTI
SUBMARINE SQD, VS-37 SAN DIEGO AT NORTH ISLAND, FLTACTS SASEBO, JAPAN---
USS NORTON SOUND AVM-1, PORT SERVICES, YOKOSUKA, JAPAN ABOARD A YARD
OILER AND A TUG BOAT---USS FLOYD B, PARKS DD-884, USS CHEVALIER DD-805(2
TIMES), NAVSTA PHILADELPHIA, PA.,USS EPPING FORREST MCS-7. NSAD TAN MY,
VIETNAM, USS CHEVALIER DD-805, I RETIRED FROM HERE IN 1970. I HAVE BEEN IN 37
COUNTRIES AND IN TWO WARS.......KOREAN WAR AND VIETNAM WAR. THE NAVY WAS
NOT A JOB FOR ME....IT WAS AN ADVENTURE.

3.
BACK IN 1956 IN AUGUST I GOT BACK TO THE STATES AFTER BEING STATIONED IN
JAPAN THE LAST THREE YEARS. MY NEW DUTY STATION WAS AT NORTH ISLAND IN
THE SAN DIEGO AREA. I WAS WITH AN ANTI-SUBMARINE SQD. AND TEMPORARY
ATTATCHMENT DUTY TO THE BASE MESS HALL AS A NAVY COOK. I NEEDED A CAR
TO GET ME AROUND AND TO GO TO SAN PEDRO AND WILMINGTON TO SEE
RELATIVES. SO THREE DAYS AFTER I ARRIVED I WENT INTO SAN DIEGO TO SHOP FOR
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A USED CAR. I CASHED IN SEVERAL U.S. SAVINGS BONDS. AT ONE OF THE USED CAR
LOT I SPOTTED A 1952 ENGLISH MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE. IT HAD A BLACK BODY
AND A BLACK AND RED CHECKRED CANVASS TOP. IT HAD A SMALL 4 CYL. ENGINE
AND WAS GOOD ON GAS. I DROVE ALL OVER THE SAN DIEGO AREA IN IT. ONE
AFTERNOON 4 OF US COOKS WERE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS AND WE WERE
SITTING IN OUR BARRACKS SHOOTING THE BREEZE. ONE OF THE COOKS BROUGHT
UP THE SUBJECT OF ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA AND THE DOLLAR LOBSTER
DINNERS WITH THE SIDES. WE HAD ALL GONE TO EAT THERE AT ONE TIME OR
ANOTHER. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED TO GO THERE TODAY. SINCE IT WAS PAY
DAY WE ALL AGREED. SO WE PILLED INTO MY MORRIS MINOR AND TOOK OFF FOR
ENSENADA WHICH WAS 60 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF TIAJUANA. WE ARRIVED AT THE
BIG NIGHT CLUB NAMED THE BAHIA. THEY SERVED LOBSTER DINNERS AND A GIRLIE
DANCING REVUE. WE DOWNED THE LOBSTER DINNER AND THE SIDES WITH
CARDINAL BEER AND STAYED THERE AND DID SOME BEER DRINKING.ABOUT 2
A.M. WE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO NORTH ISLAND TO OUR BASE. ABOUT 10 MILES
OUT OF THE CITY, MY CAR GOT HOT. SO I STOPPED AND CHECKED UNDER THE
HOOD. THE RADIATOR HAD A PIN HOLE LEAK IN IT. WHILE WE WERE PARKED MOST
OF THE WATER SPILLED OUT OF THE RADIATOR ON TO THE GROUND. I DID NOT TAKE
NOTICE. IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER RUNS OUT. SO
I STARTED THE CAR AND POURED IN A SIX PACK OF BEER THAT I HAD IN THE TRUNK
OF THE CAR INTO THE RADIATOR AND THEN ALL FOUR OF US URINATED INTO IT. THE
RADIATOR BECAME A URINATOR. SO WE MADE IT BACK TO THE BASE AND WHILE WE
WERE DRIVING THE STRONG ODOR OF URINE WAS PRESENT. THE NEXT MORNING I
TOOK THE CAR TO THE HOBBY AUTO SHOP ON THE BASE AND ARCED WIELDED THE
PIN HOLE. THEN I FLUSHED OUT THE SYSTEM AND ADDED A MIXTURE OF ANTI-
FREEZE AND WATER AND WATER PUMP LUBRICATION, THEN I WAS ALL SET.

4.
THIS STORY IS ABOUT OLD HONG KONG IN 1950 AND THE NOTORIUS RICKASAWS. WE
PULLED INTO HONG KONG ON A FOGGY COLD MORNING ABOARD MY AIR CRAFT
CARRIER THE USS BOXER CV-21. WE HAD JUST LEFT SINGAPORE IN MALAYA. A
RICKSAW IS A TWO SEAT PERSONNEL CARRIAGE WITH TWO LARGE WHEELS ON IT'S
SIDE. IT HAS TWO LONG POLES ON EACH SIDE AND A BAR IN BETWEEN THEM, IT IS A
MAN POWERED VEHICLE WITH THE MAN BEHIND THE BAR. MOST OF THE OPERATORS
LIKED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DRUNKEN SAILORS OF THE U.S.A. NAVY. THEY
WOULD MEET A DRUNKEN SAILOR ON THE STREET AND WOULD TELL THEM THAT
THEY WOULD GIVE THEM A FREE RIDE TO THE HONG KONG PIER. MOST SAILORS
WOULD TAKE THE OFFER. ONCE THE OPERATOR HAD THE SAILOR ABOARD HE
WOULD HEAD FOR A DARK ALLEY WHICH THERE WERE PLENTY OF IN THE CITY. IN
THE ALLEY THE OPERATOR WOULD STOP AND TILT THE CARRIAGE BACK WARDS AND
SPILL THE SAILOR TO THE GROUND AND THE SAILOR WOULD BE DAZED IN HIS
DRUNKEN CONDITION. THE OPERATOR WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO THROUGH THE
SAILORS POCKET AND TAKE HIS WALLET AND MONEY. HE WOULD ALSO TAKE OFF
THE SAILORS SHOES AND PEA COAT AND QUICKLY FLEE INTO THE NIGHT. THE
COMMANDER THE PACIFIC FLEET NOTIFIED THE BRITISH OFFICIALS THAT IF THIS
PRACTICE CONTINUED HE WOULD PUT HONG KONG OFF LIMITS TO ALL NAVAL
VESSELS. HONG KONG WAS UNDER BRITISH RULES THEN.THE RICKASAW
OPERATORS WERE DOING OTHER BAD THING ALSO. THE BRITISH OFFICIALS
NOTIFIED ALL THE RICKASAW OPERATORS TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT OR LOSE THEIR
LICENSE TO OPERATE A RICKASAW. THEY COMPLIED TO THE ORDER. PRETTY SOON
THE RICKASAWS WERE GONE FROM HONK KONG AND PEDI-CABS CAME TO BE USED.
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IT WAS A BICYCLE WITH A TWO SEAT CARRIAGE ATTATCHED TO IT. THEN THEY WERE
GONE TOO AND SMALL FRENCH MADE TAXIS WERE USED. NOW IN HONG KONG A
HAND FULL OF RICKASAWS ARE SEEN AND USED FOR A NOVELTY RIDE SUCH AS THE
HORSE CARRIAGE IN CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY.

5.
THE YEAR WAS 1949 AND THE PLACE SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS 19 YEARS OLD AND
COULD NOT GO IN BARS. THERE WERE THREE PLACES THAT I WENT ALONE TO AND
THEY WOULDN'T CHECK MY NAVY I.D. CARD. THE FIRST PLACE WAS THE FORBIDDEN
CITY NIGHT CLUB IN CHINA TOWN. THE OTHER TWO PLACES THAT I WENT TO DRINK
BEER AT. WERE FINNOCHIO'S AND MONA'S. BOTH GAY BARS. FINNOCHIO'S WAS
WHERE THE GAY GUYS HANGED OUT AT AND MONA'S WAS WHERE THE GALS
HANGED OUT AT. ONE DAY IN FINNOCHIO'S THIS THIS SKINNY GUY APPROACHED ME
AND SAID THAT IF I WENT TO HIS ROOM HE WOULD GIVE ME TEN DOLLARS. HE SAID
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TAKE A WASTE PAPER BASKET FULL OF PING PONG BALLS AND
THAT HE WOULD GET IN THE NUDE AND I WAS SUPPOSE TO HIT HIS BACK WITH A
PING PONG BALL, AND WHEN HE GAVE ME THE SIGNAL I WAS SUPPOSE TO DUMP THE
REST OF THE PING PONG BALLS ON HIS BACK AT ONE TIME. I DECLINED HIS
OFFER...........ANOTHER TIME THIS GUY CAME UP TO ME, AND HIS NOSE AND FACE
WERE BRUISED AND BATTERED. HE SAID IF I WENT WITH HIM TO HIS MOBILE HOME IN
NEAR BY VALLEJO HE WOULD GIVE ME ALSO TEN DOLLARS. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TO
HIT HIM ACROSS THE FACE WITH A TWO BY FOUR PIECE OF WOOD. I ALSO DECLINED
HIS OFFER. TEN DOLLARS WAS A LOT OF MONEY IN 1949. MY MONTHLY PAY AS A
SEAMAN IN THE NAVY WAS $90 A MONTH AT THAT TIME. MY PRIDE WAS WORTH
MORE THAN MONEY, SO I DID NOT ENGAGE IN STRANGE THINGS AND ENCOUNTERS
OF THE THIRD KIND.

6.
THIS TOOK PLACE IN 1959 AND I WAS ABOARD MY STATION SHIP THE USS NORTON
SOUND AVM-1 A GUIDED MISSELL TESTING SHIP IN PORT HUENNEME, CA. WE TESTED
AT THE PACIFIC MISSELL RANGE DAILY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY. WELL THIS DAY IT
WAS FRIDAY AND THE END OF THE WORKING WEEK. DURING THE MORNING A VERY
GOOD SHIPMATE NAMED RICK ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO WITH HIM TODAY ON A
BLIND DATE WITH HIS GIRL FRIEND A MODEL AND ASPIRING ACTRESS. HIS FATHER
WAS A MOVIE PRODUCER IN HOLLY WOOD. I SAID SURE. AFTER WE KNOCKED OFF
WORK AT 4 P.M. WE WENT TO SHOWER AND GOT READY FOR THE TRIP TO
THOUSAND OAKS WHERE HIS GIRL FRIEND HAD A CONDO. HIS GIRL FRIEND AND MY
DATE MET US AT THE DOOR. MY DATE LOOKED FAMILIAR TO ME BUT I COULD NOT
PLACE HER. ANY WAY WE TOOK OFF FOR THE PIER AT REDONDO BEACH AND WENT
INTO THIS LARGE FANCY JAPANESE GARDEN RESTAURANT. WE SAT ON LOW ROUND
TABLES ON A MAT. THE WAITRESS IN KIMONO BROUGHT US EACH A SMALL BASKET
WITH A HOT DAMP FACE TOWEL ROLLED UP TO WIPE OUR HANDS AND FACE
WITH.WE ALL ORDERED BEEF SUKIYAKI WHICH WAS COOKED AT OUR TABLE WHILE
WE WATCHED BY THE CHEF. WE ALSO HAD THE SIDES. AN ELDERY LADY IN KIMONO
ENTERTAINED US WITH A JAPANESE GOTO GUITAR. AFTER WE ATE WE HAD
COCKTAILS. WE THEN LEFT AND HEADED TO HOLLYWOOD TO THE PANTAGES
THEATER TO WATCH A NEW MOVIE. WE THEN HEADED TO THE SANTA MONICA PIER
TO TAKE A STROLL IN THE MOONLIGHT ON THE SANDY BEACH. WE THEN HEADED TO
VENICE TO THE BEACH WHERE THERE WAS A FAMOUS HOLE IN THE WALL THAT
SERVED GREAT MILE LONG CHILI DOGS AND SOFT DRINKS. WE ATE AND THEN LEFT
FOR THOUSAND OAKS TO TAKE THE GIRLS
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HOME. WE WALKED THE GIRLS TO THE DOOR AND MY DATE GAVE ME A LIGHT KISS
ON THE CHEEK AND SAID THAT SHE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. ON THE WAY BACK TO
THE SHIP I THANKED RICK FOR INVITING ME ON THE DATE AND TOLD HIM THAT MY
DATE LOOKED FAMILIAR TO ME AND THAT I COULD NOT PLACE HER. HE SAID SHE
WAS A FULL TIME ACTRESS AND WENT BY THE STAGE NAME OF PIPER LAURIE. TWO
DAYS LATER I LEFT FOR A NEW DUTY STATION IN YOKOSUKA, JAPAN FOR A 2 YEAR
TOUR THERE.

7.
THE TIME WAS 1957 AND THE PLACE WAS ROTA, SPAIN. I WAS ABOARD MY SHIP AND
WE WERE MAKING A MEDITERANIAN CRUISE. WE PULLED INTO SPAIN ON
A FRIDAY MORNING AND TIED UP AT ONE OF THE PIERS AT THE NAVAL AIR BASE IN
ROTA. THAT SUNDAY I WENT OFF THE BASE IN THE MORNING AND WENT INTO ONE
OF THE CANTINAS IN THE CITY. I MADE CONVERSATION WITH THE BARTENDER IN
SPANISH. WE BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT OF BULL FIGHTING. MADRID HAD THE
BIGGEST BULL FIGHT ARENA IN THE WORLD. THE BARTENDER SAID THAT 15 MILES
AWAY FROM HERE IN PORT OF SANTA MARIA THERE WAS A SMALL BULL FIGHT
ARENA AND ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS THEY HELD BULL FIGHTS THERE. I LIKED THE
IDEA OF GOING THERE SO I TOOK A BUS TO PORT OF SANTA MARIA. I WENT TO THE
BULL FIGHTS AND THEY WERE VERY GOOD. AFTER THE BULL FIGHTS I WENT TO
LOOK FOR A CAFE TO GET A BITE TO EAT. THERE WAS A CAFE A BLOCK AWAY.I
ENTERED THE PLACE AND SAT DOWN AT A TABLE. THERE WAS A YOUNG COUPLE
EATING WHAT SEEMED TO BE VERY LARGE MEAT BALLS THAT HAD A NICE AROMA.
THE WAITER CAME TO MY TABLE TO TAKE MY ORDER, I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD LIKE
WHAT THAT COUPLE WERE EATING. SO HE BROUGHT ME A PLATE WITH TWO LARGE
MEAT BALLS. THEY WERE DELICIOUS WITH A SPECIAL SAUCE AND THE SIDES. I
ASKED THE WAITER WHAT THEY CONSISTED OF AND HE SAID THEY WERE THE
TESTICLES OF THE BULLS KILLED IN THE ARENA. I CHUCKLED AND LEFT THE PLACE
FULL FILLED. THE NEXT WEEK I WENT TO THE ARENA AGAIN AND WENT TO THE SAME
CAFE AND ORDERED THE SAME BALLS. WHEN HE BROUGHT ME MY PLATE I NOTICED
THAT THE BALLS WERE VERY MUCH SMALLER. I ASKED THE WAITER WHY. HE
LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE WITH A SERIOUS LOOK AND SAID "SENOR, SOME
TIMES THE BULL WINS."

8.
TONIGHT AS I SAT ALONE ON MY RECLINER IN MY FRONT ROOM, I BEGAN TO THINK
HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE REACHED MY AGE OF 86 YEARS OLD. AND
FOR THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN MY LIFE. AND I THANK THE FORCE
FOR THIS. AND ESPECIALLY FOR FEELING ALIVE WHILE GROWING OLD. SOME
PEOPLE GROW OLD WITHOUT REALIZING THAT THEY BEEN DEAD A LONG TIME. FOR
THESE PERSONS I FEEL SORRY FOR. LIFE IS BUT A JOURNEY ON THIS PLANET THAT
WE HERE CALL EARTH. AND I MYSELF WANT TO ENJOY IT FOR THE TIME I HAVE LEFT.
I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY A LONG HAPPY LIFE AND HOPE YOUR DREAMS ALL COME
TRUE. FOR A HAPPY LIFE IS A LONG ONE. YES, I AM A VERY LUCKY MAN.

9.
TIME FOR A LITTLE HUMOR-------------------------THERE WAS THIS GUY THAT HAD A SICK
CAT AT HOME. IT JUST LAY AND LICKED IT'S FUR. THE GUY WENT OUT FOR AN
ERRAND AND MET UP WITH THE TOWN VETERINARIAN . THEY EXCHANGED
GREETINGS AND THE VET ASKED HIM HOW HE WAS. THE GUY TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD
A SICK CAT AT HOME AND ALL IT DID WAS LIE DOWN AND LICK HIS FUR. THE VET
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TOLD HIM TO GIVE IT A PINT OF CASTOR OIL. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THEY MET
ON THE STREET AGAIN AND THE VET ASKED HOW HIS SICK CALF WAS. THE GUY SAID
THAT HE HAD A SICK CAT NOT A CALF. THE VET ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED. THE
GUY SAID THAT THE LAST TIME HE SAW HIS CAT HE WAS GOING UP THAT DIRT HILL
WITH FIVE OTHER CATS. TWO WERE DIGGING, TWO WERE COVERING AND THE
OTHER WAS UP AHEAD SCOUTING FOR NEW TERRITORIES.

10.
IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT A NAVY SAILOR HAS THE CLEANEST BODY AND THE DIRTIEST
MIND. WELL THAT MAY BE SOME WHAT TRUE. AS WHEN THEY ARE OUT AT SEA THEY
TELL SEA STORIES AND SOME OF THEM ARE OFF COLOR. WE USE TO GATHER AT
THE FAN TAIL OF THE SHIP WHICH IS THE STERN OR THE BACK OF THE SHIP AND
TELL STORIES TO PASS THE LONG MONTHS OR DAYS OUT AT SEA. I HEARD A LOT OF
OFF COLOR STORIES AND THEY WERE GOOD ONES. IF MY GROUP WERE AN ALL
MALE GROUP I WOULD TELL SOME THAT I HEARD OR HAVE A SPECIAL HIDDEN PLACE
FOR THEM AND WARNING THAT THIS WAS AN OFF COLOR BLOB AND NOT TO VIEW IF
OFFENDED. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO LOSE MEMBERS FOR THIS.

11.
THIS STORY I HEARD FROM ANOTHER PERSON DURING THE VIETNAM WAR...........THIS
ARMY SOLDIER WAS RETURNING FROM THE WAR IN VIETNAM AFTER HAVING SERVED
A TOUR OF DUTY IN THE SHAU VALLEY IN I CORPS IN VIETNAM. HE ARRIVED AT
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE IN FAIR FIELD, CA. HE CALLED HIS PARENTS TO INFORM
THEM THAT HE WAS BACK FROM THE WAR FOR GOOD. HIS PARENTS WERE
DELIGHTED AND TOLD HIM TO HURRY ON HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE TOLD HIS
PARENTS THAT HE WAS NOT ALONE. THERE WAS A GOOD BUDDY WITH HIM THAT
HAD LOST AN ARM AND A LEG IN THE WAR AND THAT HE WANTED FOR HIM TO STAY
FOR A SHORT TIME AT THE HOUSE BEFORE HE WENT HOME TO NEW YORK. HIS
PARENTS SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA AND THAT IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM
TAKING CARE OF HIM. HE TOLD THEM THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE FOR A SHORT TIME.
HIS PARENTS SAID NO THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIS FRIEND TO GO HOME AND
LET HIS PARENTS TAKE CARE OF HIM. HE ASKED THEM IF THAT WAS THEIR FINAL
WORD. THEY SAID YES AND TO COME HOME. HE HUNG UP AND NEVER WENT HOME.
ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER A DETECTIVE FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPT. CAME
TO THE PARENTS DOOR AND INFORMED THEM THAT THEIR SON HAD COMMITTED
SUICIDE AND JUMPED OFF A 7TH STORY BUILDING IN DOWN TOWN SAN FRANCISCO
AND THAT THEY HAD TO GO TO THE CITY MORGUE TO IDENTIFY THEIR SON'S BODY.
WHEN THEY ENTERED THE MORGUE THEY WERE HORRIFIED TO SEE THAT THEIR
SON'S BODY WAS MISSING A LEG AND AN ARM.

12.
HOW MANY ON HERE REMEMBER THE VARIOUS JOBS YOU HELD WHEN YOU WERE
YOUNG FROM YOUR SCHOOL DAYS ON DOWN..........MINE STARTED WHEN I WAS 9
YEARS OLD IN 1939. I HAD A PINK LEMON ADE STAND IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE NEXT
TO THE STREET. I SOLD ICED COLD PINK LEMONADE FOR 3 CENTS A PAPER CUP.
SHINNING SHOES ON THE WATERFRONT AND AT THE FERRY BUILDING WITH A SHOE
SHINE BOX AT 5 CENTS A SHINE. MOST OF MY CUSTOMERS WERE SAILORS AND
SOLDIERS. SELLING NEWSPAPERS ON THE WATERFRONT AND ON THE TROOP SHIPS
THAT WERE TIED UP ON TERMINAL ISLAND DURING WORLD WAR 2. WORKING AT TWO
DIFFERENT BOWLING ALLEYS IN SAN PEDRO AND WORKING 2 ALLEYS AT A TIME
SETTING BOWLING PINS. MOWING LAWNS WITH A FRIEND FOR 25 CENTS A LAWN
 7

WITH A MANUAL LAWN MOWER. MAKING PURSE SEINER FISHING NETS FOR THE
FISHING FLEET----WASHING AND LABELING WINE BOTTLES AT MY AUNT'S LIQUOR
STORE. PRUNING AND TRIMMING NEIGHBORHOOD TREES. GOING DOOR TO DOOR
SELLING MAGAZINES SUCH AS LIBERTY, WOMEN'S HOME COMPANION AND MODERN
ROMANCES. ROUNDING UP BEER AND SODA BOTTLES IN THE VARIOUS ALLEYS.
RUNNING TWO SHOE SHINE STANDS, ONE ON BEACON STREET IN SAN PEDRO AND
THE OTHER IN WILMINGTON ON AVALON BLVD. NEXT TO THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED
CAR DEPOT-----PULLING NAILS FROM WOODEN BOARDS FROM OLD ARMY WW2
BARRACKS IN WILMINGTON. WORKED AT A FISH CANNERY ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE WILMINGTON BOWL ARENA. WORKED AT THE WILMINGTON BOWL ARENA
AS AN USHER, PROGRAM VENDOR AND POP CORN, PEANUTS AND COKE VENDOR.
RACKED POOL BALLS AT THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON BEACON STREET.
WORKED BEHIND THE COUNTER OF A DRY CLEANING AND LAUNDRY PLACE ON
BEACON STREET AND MY LAST JOB BEFORE JOINING THE NAVY FOR THE NEXT 23
YEARS WAS THAT OF A COOK'S HELPER IN A FILIPINO RESTURANT NAMED THE OUR
CAFE ON BEACON STREET. I ALSO AT THE SAME TIME USE TO SWEEP SHANGAI RED'S
BAR ON BEACON STREET. SO FROM THE TIME I WAS 9 YEARS OLD UNTIL I WENT INTO
THE NAVY I ALWAYS HAD COINS TO JINGLE. IN HIGH SCHOOL AND JR. HIGH I ALWAYS
TREATED SOME OF THE UNDER PRIVILEGED STUDENTS TO SOME GOODIES AT THE
SCHOOL. I LEARNED THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR AT THAT TIME IN MY YOUTH. IN THE
NAVY IN MY YOUNG YEARS IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY THEN. SOME TIMES I WAS
BROKE ON THE DAY BEFORE PAYDAY. AS I LIKED TO GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME
AS MOST YOUNG SAILORS LIKED TO DO. WHEN I WAS BROKE I STILL HAD THREE
HOTS AND A COT AND A ROOF OVER MY HEAD AND FREE MOVIES TO WATCH IN THE
EVENING. PLAYED PINOCHLE CARD GAME ALSO TO PASS THE TIME AWAY. WHEN I
GOT MARRIED I WAS NEVER BROKE AGAIN AND SAVED AND SAVED MONEY FOR THE
FUTURE. AND NOW I AM GLAD THAT I DID BY DOING IT MY WAY.

13.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW I WAS BORN IN SAN PEDRO, CA. AND LIVED FOR 2 1/2 YEARS
IN WILMINGTON, CA. PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE NAVY. WHEN I WAS A TEEN AGER
FROM 1944 TO 1948 I WORKED IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE TOUGHEST STREET IN
THE UNITED STATES ACCORDING TO THE READER'S DIGEST. OF COURSE I AM
TALKING ABOUT BEACON STREET WHICH WAS AN EYE SORE FOR THE SMALL TOWN
NEXT TO THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR.BEACON STREET WAS LOCATED ONE SHORT
BLOCK FROM THE WATER FRONT. THE NOTORIUS SECTION WAS JUST THREE
BLOCKS LONG FROM 4TH ST. TO 7TH ST. THERE WERE MANY BARS, HOTELS, LIQUOR
STORES,POOL HALLS, BARBER SHOPS, CAFES, A SMALL GROCERY STORE AND A
LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANER'S. ON WEEKENDS THE SAILORS AND SOLDIERS,LONG
SHOREMEN, MERCHANT SEAMEN, SCALLERS,SHIP YARD WORKERS, AND CANNERY
WORKERS WOULD FREQUENT THE BARS AND FIGHT OVER THE MANY BAR FLIES IN
THE BARS. I WORKED RACKING POOL BALLS IN THREE POOL HALLS, RAN A SHOE
SHINE STAND IN FRONT OF A BARBER SHOP, WORKED AS A COOK'S HELPER IN A
FILIPINO CAFE AND WORKED BEHIND THE COUNTER AT A DRY CLEANING PLACE. I
KNEW EVERY PIMP AND HOOKER ON THE STRIP. THEY WOULD COME IN EVERY
MORNING TO BRING IN THEIR SUIT OR DRESS FOR A QUICK DRY CLEAN. I BELIEVE
THEY OWNED JUST ONE SUIT OR ONE DRESS. I USE TO SEE THE DRUG DEALERS
SELLING THEIR STUFF ON THE STREET. THERE WERE FIGHTS IN THE BARS AND ON
THE STREET EVERY DAY. SHORE PATROL AND ARMY MILITARY POLICE AS WELL AS
FOOT PATROL OFFICERS WERE SEEN EVERY DAY. THE MOST NOTORIUS BAR WAS
SHANGHAI RED'S PLACE ON THE CORNER OF BEACON ST. AND 5TH ST. SHANGHAI
 8

WAS A HEAVY STOUT MAN AND HE BOASTED THAT HE COULD LICK ANY MAN IN THE
WORLD IN A STREET FIGHT. I WITNESSED TWO KILLINGS ON THE STREET WHEN I
WAS RUNNING MY SHOE SHINE STAND. A FILIPINO GUY HAD ONE OTHER FILIPINO
GUY WITH HIS HEAD PINNED UNDER A CAR BUMPER AND REPEATEDLY STUCK A
POCKET KNIFE IN THE MANS HEAD. ANOTHER TIME THERE WAS A BAR NEXT DOOR
NAMED THE BATAAN BAR AND A GUY CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE BAR WITH A
SECURITY GUARD CHASING HIM AND THE GUARD SHOT HIM IN THE BACK. I HAD TO
GO TO SUPERIOR COURT BOTH TIMES AS A WITNESS. NO RESPECTABLE WOMAN OR
GIRL WENT DOWN TO BEACON STREET. AND MANY GUYS DID NOT EITHER. ABOUT
1967 THE ENTIRE THREE BLOCKS WERE RAZED TO THE GROUND AND NEW
BUSINESSES WERE BUILT. THE SECTION LOOKS PRETTY NICE NOW. A LOT OF THE
GUYS AND SAILORS MISSED THE PLACE.

14.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN BORN AT THE TIME THAT PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY
WAS ASASSINATED. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE AT THE TIME? I WAS
ABOARD A DESTROYER AND WE WERE TIED UP AT THE PIER IN KAEOSUNG, TAIWAN
ON THAT FATEFULL DAY IN NOVEMBER OF 1963. IT WAS ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING
AND I WAS THE NIGHT BAKER AND BAKING BLACKBERRY PIES. ONE OF THE DUTY
RADIO MEN POKED HIS HEAD IN THE GALLEY AND INFORMED ME THAT PRESIDENT
KENNEDY HAD BEEN ASASSINATED IN DALLAS, TEXAS. IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY
EYES AS I LOVED OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF. ALL THE CREW WAS STUNNED. THE
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AT THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PUT OUT
THE ORDER FOR ALL NAVAL SHIPS IN THE WORLD TO HEAD OUT TO SEA UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE. WE WAITED UNTIL 8 AM WHEN ALL THE LIBERTY PARTY WAS BACK
ABOARD. WE STAYED ON THE HIGH SEAS UNTIL 4 PM WHEN THE ORDER WAS SENT
TO HEAD BACK TO PORT. LIBERTY WAS GRANTED TO ONE THIRD OF THE CREW. THE
ENLISTED MEN'S CLUB IN TOWN WAS OPENED BUT NO MUSIC WAS PLAYED. EVERY
ONE WAS SAD. AS WE WALKED THE STREETS OF THE CITY THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN
BOWED TO US IN RESPECT OF OUR FALLEN PRESIDENT. IT WAS LATER THAT WE
LEARNED WHO SHOT OUR PRESIDENT. WAS I SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT IT WAS LEE
HARVEY OSWALD. FOR I KNEW LEE. I WAS STATIONED WITH HIM AT THE NAVAL AIR
BASE IN ATSUGI, JAPAN WHEN HE WAS A MARINE. THEIR BARRACKS WAS ACROSS
THE STREET FROM US. HE WAS A MARINE GUARD CHASER FOR THE BASE BRIG. HE
ACCOMPANIED THE PRISONERS TO THE MESS HALL TO EAT. WHILE THEY ATE, LEE
AND I WOULD CHAT. WE DRANK BEER TOGETHER A COUPLE OF TIMES AT THE BASE
E.M. CLUB AND AT THE LOCAL BARS IN TOWN. HE SEEMED LIKE A NICE LIKABLE GUY
AND NOT BE CAPABLE OF DOING THE HORRENDOUS THING OF KILLING OUR
PRESIDENT. IF HE DID DO IT, HE DID NOT ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION.......FOR YOU
CANNOT END YEARS OF LIGHTNING WITH A SINGLE BULLET AND A DAY OF DRUMS.

15.
THIS STORY IS ABOUT AN UN-FORGETFUL CHARACTER NAMED T. C. JONES. THE
PLACE WAS THE NAVAL AIR FACILITY BASE IN LITCHFIELD PARK, ARIZONA. THE TIME
WAS IN 1950. JONES WAS A BIG STOUT JOLLY BLACK MAN WHO WAS 30 YEARS OLD.
HE WAS A TEDDY BEAR WHO LIKED MODERN MUSIC AND DORIS DAY WAS HIS
FAVORITE SINGER. HE WAS A SEAMAN IN RANK AND HAD BEEN CALLED BACK TO
DUTY WHEN THE KOREAN WAR BROKE OUT. HE HAD SERVED IN WORLD WAR 2. HE
WAS A SHIP'S COOK LIKE I WAS AND LIVED IN THE COOK'S QUARTERS ADJOINING
THE MESS HALL AND GALLEY. THAT DAY ONE OF THE DESERT PATROL HAD KILLED A
DIAMOND BACK RATTLE SNAKE OUT IN THE DESERT BEHIND ONE OF THE AIRPLANE
 9

WHEELS THAT WAS IN PRESERVATION ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER MAKE OF

AIR CRAFT. HE BROUGHT IT TO THE GALLEY TO SHOW US. ONE OF THE COOK'S
NAMED BRYANT ASKED THE DESERT PATROL MAN IF HE COULD HAVE THE REPTILE
SO HE CAN PLAY A PRANK ON T.C. JONES WHO WAS OFF THAT DAY AND IN PHOENIX
ON SHORE LEAVE. JONES CALLED HIMSELF T.C. BECAUSE HIS NAME WAS THETHILIAN
CORNELIUS JONES. SO HE COULD NOT BE BLAMED FOR THAT. ANY WAY BRYANT PUT
THE DEAD SNAKE UNDER THE COVERS OF JONE'S COT. ABOUT 1 A.M. JONES CAME
INTO THE SLEEPING QUARTERS AND WENT TO BED. IN A FEW SECONDS HE JUMPED
OUT OF HIS COT AND STARTED SCREAMING. HE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT TO THE
PARKING LOT TO HIS CAR AND CAME BACK WITH A LOADED .32 CALIBER HAND GUN.
HE TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND CAME RIGHT TO ME TO MY COT AND PUT THE
BARREL OF THE GUN IN MY MOUTH AND SHOUTED "YOU SON OF A BITCH" I KNOW IT
WAS YOU, AND I AM GOING TO BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF".I WAS TERRIFIED FOR MY LIFE
AND SAID" IT WAS NOT ME, IT WAS BRYANT". BRYANT JUMPED OUT OF HIS COT IN HIS
SHORTS AND RAN OUT INTO THE NIGHT TERRIFIED. HE WAS NOT TO BE SEEN
UNTIL 10 DAYS LATER WHEN T.C. JONES SENT OUT THE WORD THAT HE FORGAVE
HIM AND TO COME BACK TO THE BASE BECAUSE HE WAS A.W.O.L. SO BRYANT CAME
BACK AND APOLLIGIZED TO JONES. BRYANT HAD TO GO BEFORE THE CAPTAIN AT
CAPTAINS MAST AND RECEIVED A 30 DAY RESTRICTION TO THE BASE. A DEAD
RATTLE SNAKE IS STILL DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FANGS STILL CONTAIN VENOM. A
BABY RATTLE SNAKE IS MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO
CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF VENOM PUT OUT AND LETS IT ALL OUT AT ONE TIME.

16.
THE TIME WAS 1950 AND I WAS ABOARD MY AIRCRAFT CARRIER THE USS BOXER CV-
21 AND OUR TASK FORCE HAD JUST LEFT YOKOSUKA, JAPAN ENROUTE TO OLD
HONG KONG, CHINA. WE ARRIVED THERE ON A COLD FOGGY MORNING AT 8 AM IN
FEBRUARY. HONG KONG PIER COULD BE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE. WE ANCHORED
ABOUT 3 MILES OUT ON THE STREAM. LIBERTY OR SHORE LEAVE WAS GRANTED TO
ONE THIRD OF THE CREW. MY GOOD SHIPMATE ALVIN MOORE FROM MARKS, MISS.
AND I WERE ON THE LIBERTY PARTY. WE SHOWERED AND GOT INTO OUR DRESS
BLUE UNIFORMS AND GOT OUR RICHON CAMERAS THAT WE HAD JUST BOUGHT IN
JAPAN. WE WAITED IN LINE ON THE HANGAR DECK AT THE AFTER BROW TO BOARD
ONE OF THE MOTOR LAUNCHES TO TAKE US ASHORE. WE ARRIVED AT HONG KONG
PIER AND WE LEFT FOR THE NOTORIUS WANSCHAN DISTRICT IN THE CITY. WHEN WE
GOT THERE WE PASSED MANY DARK ALLEYS THAT WERE IN ABUNDANCE IN THE
CITY. SOON ONE YOUNG MAN THAT IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A GUIDE CAME OUT OF
ONE OF THE ALLEYS. HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A GUIDE AND TOLD US THAT FOR A
SMALL FEE HE WOULD SHOW US PLACES OF INTEREST. WE TOOK HIM UP ON IT. HE
LES US INTO THE DARK ALLEY AND SOON WE CAME TO A PLACE THAT HAD BLUE
SWEET SMELLING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DOOR. OUR GUIDE TOLD US WE HAD
ARRIVED AT AN OPIUM DEN WHICH WERE PLENTY IN THE CITY. ON THE FLOOR LYING
ON STRAW MATS WITH A FLAT STONE CRADLING THEIR HEADS WERE ABOUT 30 MEN
AND WOMEN PUFFING AWAY ON AN OPIUM PIPE. THEY HAD THAT FAR AWAY LOOK IN
THEIR GLAZED EYES. OUR GUIDE TOLD US THAT THEY AVERAGED ABOUT 3 PIPES A
DAY. IN THE CENTER OF THE LARGE ROOM AT A TABLE SAT THE DEN MASTER. HE
WAS LOADING OPIUM PIPES FROM A BOWL OF DARK BROWN TAR LOOKING OPIUM.
THE OPIUM PIPES WERE ABOUT 14 INCHES LONG WITH A SMALL BOWL AT ONE END
THAT HAD A SMALL HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL, HE DABBED SOME OPIUM
INTO THE HOLE WITH A THIN BAMBOO STICK. HE EXTENDED A PIPE TOWARD US. WE
SMILED AND SAID NO THANKS.WE ASKED HIM IF WE COULD TAKE SOME PICTURES OF
 10

THE ACTION. HE SAID FOR A SMALL FEE WE COULD. SO WE BEGAN SNAPPING AWAY
WITH OUR CAMERAS. WE THEN LEFT WITH OUR GUIDE AND HE TOOK US TO THE
ROOF TOP HOUSES OF ILL REPUTE.SITTING ON CHAIRS WERE WOMEN OF VARIOUS
TYPES. SOME OLD, SOME YOUNG AND SOME VERY YOUNG.THERE WERE THE LONG
THE SHORT AND THE TALL. SOME PRETTY AND SOME NOT. THERE WERE ALSO
ABOUT THREE WHITE RUSSIAN WOMEN IN THE GROUP. OUR GUIDE ASKED US IF WE
WANTED PART OF THE ACTION. WE SAID NO. WE HAD BEEN BRIEFED THE DAY
BEFORE OF THE SPREAD OF VENEREAL DISEASES THERE WHICH WAS HIGH AND THE
DREADED BULL HEADED CLAP. WE SOON LEFT OUR GUIDE AND HEADED FOR THE
FLEET ANCHOR CLUB, A BRITISH ENLISTED MEN'S CLUB BY THE PIER. HONG KONG
WAS BRITISH RULED THEN.WE WENT TO THE THIRD FLOOR WHERE THEY HAD A
CHINESE RESTURANT AND WE BOTH ORDERED SWEET/SOUR PORK, FRIED RICE AND
EGG ROLLS AND WASHED IT DOWN WITH RED TOWER BRITISH BEER. WE THEN WENT
TO TWO NEAR BY NIGHT CLUBS TO CHAT WITH THE PRETTY HOSTESSES THAT WORE
LONG PARTY GOWNS. WE THEN HEADED BACK TO THE PIER TO GO BACK ABOARD
OUR SHIP.

17.
BACK IN 1959 I WAS TEMPORARY STATIONED AT WHIDBEY ISLAND IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON WITH MY AIR CRAFT SQUADRON. I HAD A 1955 RED CORVETTE AND A
RED HEAD GIRL FRIEND NAMED GEORGETTE. SHE WAS FROM VANCOUVER, CANADA
AND SHE WAS FRENCH CANADIAN AND A BEAUTY. SHE LOVED TO DRIVE MY RED
CORVETTE AND WOULD DO SO ALL OVER TOWN AND IN VANCOUVER. WELL LATER I
LOST MY CORVETTE BECAUSE I COULD NOT KEEP UP THE HEAVY MONTHLY
PAYMENTS, AND AT THE SAME TIME I LOST MY RED HEAD GEORGETTE. I THINK SHE
WAS GOING WITH ME JUST FOR MY RED CORVETTE.

18.
THE TIME WAS 1943, AND THE PLACE WAS SAN PEDRO, CA. MY HOME TOWN. I LIVED
ON FIRST AND MESA ST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE WATER FRONT OF THE LOS
ANGELES HARBOR. I USE TO GO PIER FISHING A LOT AT THE TEN FISH MARKET
LOCATION WHERE THE PORTS OF CALL IS NOW. ON THIS CERTAIN DAY I THOUGHT I
WOULD STROLL DOWN TO THE PIER AND SEE WHAT THE ANGLERS WERE CATCHING.
AFTER STAYING THERE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND OBSERVING, I LEFT AND WENT UP
TO 8TH AND BEACON ST. TO SEE THE NEW POST OFFICE THAT OPENED TODAY. AS I
WAS WALKING THROUGH THE MAIN LOBBY I SPOTTED WHAT SEEMED TO BE AN
ALBER'S DRY CEREAL COUPON. I CASUALLY PICKED IT UP AND PUT IT IN MY
TROUSERS, THE NEXT DAY WHEN MY MOM WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY AND GOING
THROUGH MY TROUSER POCKETS AS SHE USUALLY DID SHE FOUND WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS A COUPON. SHE CALLED ME INTO THE HOUSE AND ASKED ME WHERE
I GOT THIS. I TOLD HER I FOUND IT AT THE NEW POST OFFICE. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS
A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL. I DIDN'T KNOW AS I NEVER SAW A ONE HUNDRED
DOLLAR BILL BEFORE. SHE SAID WE WERE GOING TO TURN IT IN TO THE POLICE
STATION ON BEACON STREET. WHEN WE ARRIVED THERE THE DESK SGT. ASKED IF
HE COULD HELP US. MY MOM TOLD HIM WHAT I FOUND. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK US
INTO LT. EVANS CHIEF OF DETECTIVES OFFICE. HE CALLED IN TWO REPORTERS
FROM THE SAN PEDRO NEWS PILOT AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. HE HAD ME SIT
ON HIS DESK AND HE BROUGHT OUT A ROLL OF MONEY AND TOLD ME TO LOOK AND
OOGLE AT IT. THE TWO REPORTERS BEGAN SHOOTING PHOTOS OF ME. THE LT.
GAVE ME A ROLL TO HOLD OFF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD TRY TO CLAIM IT
FALSIFIED. THE NEXT DAY MY PICTURE WAS IN BOTH NEWS PAPERS AND SAID THAT
 11

HARBOR AREA BOY HAD FOUND MONEY AT THE NEW POST OFFICE IN SAN PEDRO
AND THAT IF NO ONE CLAIMED IT THE MONEY WAS MINE. 30 DAYS LATER THE MONEY
WAS GIVEN TO ME. MY MOM BOUGHT A WASHING MACHINE WITH THE EXTRACT
RUBBER ROLLERS ON IT AND I GOT A NEW WESTERN FLYER BIKE FROM THE
WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY STORE ON 4TH AND PACIFIC AVE. THERE WAS SOME MONEY
LEFT FOR A COUPLE OF TRIPS TO THE LONG BEACH PIKE. I WAS SOME WHAT OF A
CELEBRITY AT JR. HIGH SCHOOL FOR A WHILE.

19.
THE YEAR WAS 1950 AND WE HAD JUST LEFT SINGAPORE IN MALAYA BOUND SOUTH
FOR SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. WE CROSSED THE EQUATOR BETWEEN BORNEO AND
MALAYA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN AT LATITUDE 00-00 AND LOGTITUDE 106o-03.7.
I WAS ABOARD THE AIR CRAFT CARRIER USS BOXER CV-21. WE ANCHORED AT THE
EQUATOR AND HAD A DAY OF INITIATIONS FOR CROSSING THE EQUATOR.
POLLYWOGS BECAME SHELL BACKS. WE THEN HEADED SOUTH FOR SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA. WE ARRIVED AT ABOUT 8 AM IN THE MORNING ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE
TIED UP AT THE PIER OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY YARD. LIBERTY OR SHORE LEAVE
WAS GRANTED TO ONE THIRD OF THE 3500 MAN CREW. AT THAT TIME AUSTRALIA
HAD A YOUNG MAN SHORTAGE AS MANY WERE KILLED IN WORLD WAR TWO. I WAS
GRANTED LIBERTY THAT MORNING. WHEN WE GOT TO THE MAIN GATE THERE WERE
ABOUT 200 YOUNG LADIES WAITING TO DATE US. THE HOMLIEST MAN ON THE SHIP
DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM DATING A GIRL. WHEN I GOT OUT THE MAIN GATE THIS
PRETTY RED HEAD GIRL RUSHED UP TO ME AND INTRODUCED HER SELF TO ME. HER
NAME WAS PATRICIA O'GRADY. SHE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO BE HER DATE FOR
THE DAY. I OBLIGED AND WE TOOK OFF TO THE NICE BEACH AND WE RENTED A 2
PERSON KAYAK AND PADDLED AROUND THE BEACH. THEN WE WENT TO AN OPEN
AIR SEA FOOD RESTURANT AND HAD AUSTRALIAN LOBSTER AND THE SIDES AND RED
TOWER BRITISH BEER. WE THEN WENT TO A PUB AND HAD COCKTAILS AND WE
PLAYED DARTS. WE THEN WENT TO A MOVIE. AFTER THAT IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT
AND SHE WALKED ME TO THE MAIN GATE. WE STAYED IN SYDNEY FOR 7 DAYS. I WAS
WITH THE FOOD SERVICE DIVISION AND WE HAD OPENED GANGWAY AND GOT TO GO
ASHORE EVERYDAY. I SPENT THEM ALL WITH PATRICIA. ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE
WE HEADED FOR BALI HAI IN INDONESIA SHE TOOK ME TO MEET HER PARENTS.THE
NEXT MORNING WHEN WE PULLED OFF SHE WAS AT THE MAIN GATE WAVING ME
OFF. I NEVER RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA UNTIL 1956 WHEN I WENT TO MELBOURNE
FOR THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, THIS TIME THERE WERE NO GIRLS WAITING FOR
US AT THE MAIN GATE. YOU HAD TO SEEK ONE OUT AND TURN ON THE CHARM
WHICH I DID. WE STAYED IN MELBOURNE FOR 15 DAYS AND I DATED THREE GIRLS.
AFTER THAT I NEVER WENT TO AUSTRALIA AGAIN. BUT I DID GO TO NEW ZEALAND TO
AUCKLAND.

20.
THE TIME WAS 1950 AND THE PLACE WAS ARIZONA. I WAS STATIONED AT THE NAVAL
AIR FACILITY AT LITCHFIELD PARK ABOUT 15 MILES FROM PHOENIX. WE WERE AN
AIRPLANE GRAVE YARD OUT IN THE DESERT. ABOUT 4000 WORLD WAR 2 ERA
AIRPLANES WERE THERE. THEY WERE COVERED WITH PRESERVATION MATERIAL.
WHEN THE KOREAN WAR WAS ANTICIPATED THEY STARTED TO PUT SOME OF THE
AIR CRAFT BACK INTO COMMISSION. THERE WERE ABOUT 90 OF US STATIONED
THERE. 4 MILES UP THE ROAD WAS LUKE AIR FORCE BASE WITH 10,000 PERSONNEL.
THERE WAS A CITY NAMED MESA RIGHT OUT OF PHOENIX, AND I USE TO FREQUENT
A COUNTRY MUSIC DINE AND DANCE PLACE NAMED KARL'S DINE AND DANCE. A
 12

YOUNG MAN FROM NEARBY GLENDALE WAS PERFORMING THERE AS A GUITAR

PLAYER AND SINGER. HE WAS AN UP AND COMING COUNTRY WESTERN STAR. AND
DID HE BECOME ONE LATER ON. HE AND I BECAME GOOD FRIENDS AND WE DOUBLE
DATED A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH TWO OF THE AIR FORCE WOMEN THAT WERE
ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AT TEMPE. WHEN THEY COMPLETED THEIR
STUDIES THEY WOULD BE COMMISSIONED AIR FORCE OFFICERS. WE TOOK THEM
INTO PHOENIX TO MAKE THE ROUNDS OF THE THREE OPEN AIR COUNTRY WESTERN
DANCING PAVILLIONS AND TO A FAMOUS BAR. THE DANCING PAVILLIONS WERE
NAMED THE PLANTATION, THE WILLOW BREEZE AND THE RIVERSIDE. THEY HAD LIVE
BANDS AND SERVED BEER AND SOFT DRINKS AND SNACKS. AFTER WE MADE THE
ROUNDS OF THE PAVILLIONS WE LEFT FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO A BIG
FAMOUS COUNTRY WESTERN MUSIC BAR NAMED THE SHED 13. IT SERVED BEER,
SOFT DRINKS AND COCKTAILS. THEY HAD THREE BANDS PERFORMING THERE.
ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER MY FRIEND COMPLETED HIS OBLIGATION AT KARL'S AND
LEFT FOR ASSIGNMENT TO WACO, TEXAS FOR ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT AT A NIGHT
CLUB THERE. WHO WAS MY FRIEND? NO OTHER THAN THE GREAT MARTY ROBBINS
OF THE FAMOUS SONG "EL PASO" HIS TWIN SISTER NAMED RACHEL ATTENDED ALL
HIS PERFORMANCES AT KARL'S DINE AND DANCE. UNFORTUNATELY AND SAD, WE
LOST MARTY AT AN EARLY AGE IN 1986. HE DIED ON THE OPERATING TABLE DUE TO
COMPLICATIONS OF OPEN HEART SURGERY. HIS SONGS WILL LIVE ON FOR MANY
YEARS TO COME. HE MADE A MOVIE WITH CLINT EASTWOOD NAMED "HONKY TONK
MAN", BUT PASSED AWAY BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.......SO
LONG, BUDDY.............UNTIL NEXT TIME.................................UNTIL NEXT TIME.

21.
DURING MY ONE YEAR TOUR IN-COUNTRY IN TAN MY, VIETNAM FROM 1968-69 I WAS A
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE BASE MESS HALL AND GALLEY. I HAD 57
COOKS UNDER ME FROM THE NAVY,MARINES AND ARMY.ONE DAY THE CHIEF
MASTER AT ARMS FROM THE BASE WHICH IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON THE BASE
HAD TO GO ON A ONE MONTH HUMANITARIAN LEAVE TO BE WITH HIS AILING WIFE AT
HOME. SINCE I HAD SO MANY COOKS ON HAND AND SENIOR PETTY OFFICERS, THE
CAPTAIN THOUGHT THAT I COULD PERFORM COLLATERAL DUTIES AS THE BASE
CHIEF MASTER AT ARMS. I LEFT MY ACE PETTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE
GENERAL MESS, BUT I CHECKED ON HIM PERIODICALLY. MOST OF MY TIME AND MY 3
MAN POLICE FORCE WERE KEPT BUSY DEALING WITH DRUG USERS ABOARD THE
BASE. OUR BASE WAS A SMALL ONE. JUST TWO SQUARE BLOCKS BIG. WE USE TO
APPREHEND THE USERS WITH POT AND OTHER DRUGS. OPIUM PIPES AND ROACH
CLIPS AND DRUG READING MATERIAL. IF WE WANTED TO GO INTO THEIR LOCKERS
WE HAD TO HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE CAPTAIN. WHEN WE CAUGHT SUSPECTS
WITH DRUGS I WOULD PUT MY INITIALS ON A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE DRUG. THE
REST WE WOULD SUBMERGE IN A LARGE TANK OF CREASOTE LIQUID. IN A FEW DAYS
AN AGENT FROM THE C.I.A. WOULD COME TO THE BASE AND TAKE THE INITIALED
PACKS OF DRUGS BACK TO HEADQUARTERS IN DANANG.THEN A FEW DAYS LATER
ONE OF THE MEN FROM MY POLICE FORCE AND I WOULD TAKE THE DRUG USER TO
DANANG FOR A POSSIBLE COURT MARTIAL. MOST OF THIS TIME THIS DID NOT
HAPPEN. THE DRUG USER WAS GIVEN A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND SENT BACK TO
DUTY. IF YOU PUT THE USERS IN PRISON YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MEN TO
PROTECT THE BASE. WHEN I WAS THERE THEY HAD 550,000 MILITARY IN COUNTRY.
YOU HAD TO EITHER DRINK ALCOHOL OR USE DRUGS TO SURVIVE YOUR ONE YEAR
IN VIETNAM MENTALLY. IF YOU USED NEITHER YOU WOULD SOON BE A BASKET CASE
AND SENT BACK TO THE STATES. WE HAD ONE CHIEF THAT WAS AMONG US EIGHT
 13

THAT NEVER DRANK OR USED DRUGS. ABOUT 2 MONTHS INTO HIS TOUR OF DUTY HE
WAS FOUND IN HIS ROOM LAUGHING TO HIMSELF AND OUT OF HIS HEAD. HE WAS
SENT BACK TO THE STATES. I MYSELF DRANK BEER. I WOULD RATHER HAVE A GUY
HIGH ON DRUGS OR POT FIGHTING BESIDE ME THAN A DRUNK THAT WAS FILLED
WITH ALCOHOL AND COULD HARDLY STAND UP OR STAY AWAKE. THEY WERE A
DANGER TO US AND TO THEMSELVES WITH THEIR LOADED M-16 RIFLES. WE
CONFISCATED VARIOUS DRUGS SUCH AS OPIUM,MORPHINE, METHADONE,
HEROIN,GANJA, MARIJUANA, BLACK MOTO, PEYOTE. LSD, COCAINE, RED DEVILS,
YELLOW JACKETS, BLUE HEAVENS,BENZAGRINE, DEXTAGRINE AND OTHER THIRD
WORLD JUNK THAT WE HERE IN THE STATES NEVER HEARD OF. A MONTH LATER THE
CHIEF MASTER AT ARMS CAME BACK ABOARD.

22.
FORT ARTHUR MC ARTHUR IS IN SAN PEDRO, CA. IT IS NAMED AFTER THE FATHER OF
GENERAL OF THE ARMY DOUGLAS MC ARTHUR. HIS FATHER WAS A GENERAL ALSO.
BOTH GOT AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR. IT USE TO BE AN ARMY BASE BUT IS
NOW AN AIR FORCE BASE.BACK IN 1943 WHEN IT WAS AN ARMY BASE, THE BASE
WOULD HOLD PERIODICALLY BOXING SMOKERS WITH SOLDIERS FROM THE BASE
AND SAILORS FROM THE FLEET. SOME PEOPLE MAY RECALL OR REMEMBER SGT.
JOE LOUIS OF THE ARMY. HE WAS AT THE PRESENT TIME THE HEAVY WEIGHT
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD IN BOXING. WELL ONE DAY I ATTENDED ONE OF THE
SMOKERS AND JOE LOUIS WAS SCHEDULED TO BOX AN EXHIBITION WITH ONE OF
THE ARMY BASE HEAVY WEIGHT BOXERS. I WAS SITTING NEAR RING SIDE AND THIS
LITTLE OLD THIN BLACK GREY HAIRED LADY SAT NEXT TO ME. WHEN JOE MADE HIS
WAY INTO THE RING THE LITTLE LADY STOOD UP AND CLAPPED AND TURNED TO ME
AND SAID "THAT'S JOE, THAT'S JOE, MY PRIDE AND JOY". JOE FOUGHT THREE
ROUNDS WITH THE BASE SOLDIER. HE CLOWNED AND TOYED AROUND WITH HIM AND
ALSO LET HIM KNOCK HIM DOWN. THE CROWD WENT WILD. THEY FOUGHT 3 ROUNDS
TO A DRAW. IF JOE HAD BEEN SERIOUS HE WOULD OF TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS ON
THE SOLDIER IN A FEW SECONDS. JOE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND THE
ARMY ASSIGNED HIM TO SPECIAL SERVICES TO ENTERTAIN THE TROOPS AND TO
ATTEND SAVINGS BOND RALLY'S WHICH HIS BEING THERE SOLD MANY SAVINGS
BONDS.

23.
THIS THREAD IS FOR ANYTHING YOU DID OF INTEREST IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN I WAS IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN THE

1930'S THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SOLD BABY CHICKS AND DUCKS
FOR A PENNY EACH AND ENVELOPES OF VEGETABLE SEED FOR A PENNY ALSO.THIS
WAS SO THAT THE STRUGGLING FAMILIES COULD PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. WHICH
WERE MOSTLY US. MY GRAND MA WOULD HAVE ME BUY 20 CHICKS AT A TIME AND
SEVEN ENVELOPES OF VARIOUS VEGGIE SEEDS. MY UNCLE BUILT A CHICKEN COOP
OF BOARDS AND CHICKEN WIRE NEXT TO THE HOUSE. I WOULD GO TO THE SUPER
MARKET UP THE STREET AND THE PRODUCE MAN WOULD GIVE ME THE LEAFS OFF
THE LETTUCE AND CABBAGE.EVERY TUESDAY I WOULD GO DOWN TO THE WATER
FRONT WHERE THE A-1 MILLING COMPANY HAD A SILO THAT WOULD FILL THE HOLDS
OF SHIPS WITH POPCORN GRAIN. AS THE BASKETS OF GRAIN WERE LOADED ONTO
THE SHIPS SOME OF THE GRAIN FELL TO THE GROUND,AND I WOULD QUICKLY FILL A
NO. 10 PAPER BAG WITH THE GRAIN. THE CHICKS LOVED THIS AND THE LETTUCE AND
 14

CABBAGE LEAFS. THEY GREW UP QUICKLY AND MY UNCLE WOULD SLAUGHTER A

COUPLE OF CHICKENS AT A TIME. FIRST HE CHOPPED THEIR HEADS OFF AND THEY
WOULD JUMP ALL OVER THE BACK YARD SQUIRTING BLOOD ALL OVER. FROM THERE
ON HE SLASHED THEIR NECKS AND THREW THEM IN A DRUM AND CLOSED THE
LID.MY GRANDMA MADE ALL KINDS OF DISHES FROM THE CHICKENS. I LIKED
CHICKEN ALA KING THE MOST. WHEN MY GRANDMA GOT DOWN TO 10 CHICKENS,
SHE WOULD BUY 10 MORE BABY CHICKS. HER GARDEN ALSO GREW WELL WITH
TOMATOES, CELERY, ONIONS,GREEN BEANS, CARROTS, CUCUMBERS AND BEETS.

24.
THE YEAR WAS 1953 AND THE PLACE WAS THE NAVAL AIR BASE IN ATSUGI, JAPAN
WHERE I WAS STATIONED UNTIL 1956. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE BASE BOXING TEAM
FOR A SHORT WHILE. MY HEART WAS NOT INTO THE PUGALISTIC ART. I WAS A
WELTER WEIGHT AND WEIGHED 146 LBS. I WAS NOT A VERY GOOD BOXER. I LOST 8
BOUTS AND WON 2 OF THEM. WE HAD INTER SERVICE COMPETITION BOUTS
THROUGH OUT THE YEAR WITH OTHER NAVAL BASES AS WELL AS ARMY. AIR FORCE
AND MARINE TEAMS. THIS DAY WE WERE SCHEDULED TO BOX WITH THE ARMY TEAM
FROM ASCOT CITY, KOREA. THEY HAD THE BEST TEAM IN THE FAR EAST.THE
SMOKERS WERE HELD IN THE BASE GYM THAT COULD HOLD 2000 PERSONNEL. TO BE
PRESENT THAT DAY IN THE AUDIENCE WERE 2 GENERALS AND TWO ADMIRALS WITH
THEIR FAMILIES AND OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN WITH SOME WITH FAMILIES. I
WAS IN THE DRESSING ROOM WARMING UP AND SHADOW BOXING WITH MY SECOND.
SOON ONE OF THE OFFICIALS POKED HIS HEAD IN THE ROOM AND SAID THAT I WAS
NEXT ON THE CARD. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY BOXING ROBE AND I WAS VERY NERVOUS
BECAUSE THE GUY THAT I WAS FACING HAD 16 WINS AND NO LOSES WITH 16 KNOCK
OUTS. MY SECOND AND I MADE OUR WAY INTO THE BOXING RING AND A LOUD
APPLAUSE CAME FROM MY SHIP MATES FROM THE BASE. I STARTED SPARING AND
SHADOW BOXING AND PRANCING AROUND THE RING AND WARMING UP. SOON MY
OPPONET CAME INTO THE RING AND GAVE ME THE STINK EYE. I JUST GRINNED AT
HIM AND WONDERED WHAT ROUND HE WAS GOING TO KNOCK ME OUT IN. THE
BOUTS WERE THREE ROUNDS EACH. SOON THE REFEREE MADE HIS ENTRANCE INTO
THE RING. HE GAVE US OUR INSTRUCTIONS AND TOLD US THAT HE WANTED US TO
OBEY HIS COMMANDS AT ALL TIMES AND NOT TO HIT BELOW THE BELT AND NO
RABBIT PUNCHES AND THAT WHEN HE SAID TO BREAK WE WERE TO DO SO. ALL THIS
TIME MY OPPONET STARED ME DOWN. WELL WE WENT BACK TO OUR CORNERS TO
WAIT FOR THE BELL AND I REMOVED MY BOXING ROBE. A THUNDEROUS ROAR CAME
FROM THE CROWD AS WELL AS LOUD LAUGHTER. I WAS CONFUSED AND LOOKED AT
MY SECOND. HE GRINNED AND TOLD ME THAT I FORGOT TO PUT ON MY BOXING
TRUNKS. IN THE DRESSING ROOM WITH MY NERVOUS STATE I FORGOT TO PUT ON
MY TRUNKS. MEAN WHILE THE CROWD WAS STILL LAUGHING. HERE I AM ALL ALONE
WITH JUST MY JOCK STRAP ON AND NO WHERE TO HIDE. THE REFEREE TOLD ME TO
GO BACK TO THE DRESSING ROOM TO PUT ON MY TRUNKS. WHEN I GOT TO THE
DRESSING ROOM I WAS SO EMBARASSED AND TOLD MY SECOND THAT NO WAY IN
HELL WAS I GOING BACK TO THAT RING, I FORFITED THE BOUT TO MY OPPONET. AND
THAT MY FRIENDS WAS THE END OF MY SHORT CAREER AS A BOXER.

25.

SOME OF US DONE SOME PRETTY FOOLISH THINGS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.
BACK IN 1946 WHEN I WAS ATTENDING BANNING HIGH SCHOOL IN WILMINGTON, CA. I
 15

SOME TIMES DITCHED SCHOOL FOR AN ENTIRE DAY. WELL THIS PARTICULAR DAY 2
OTHER CLASSMATES AND I DITCHED SCHOOL AND WENT TO PACIFIC COAST HWY
AND ALAMEDA ST. TO CATCH THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR TO GO TO LOS
ANGELES TO THE BURLESQUE SHOW ON MAIN ST.WE ARRIVED AT THE STATION ON
6TH AND MAIN ST. AND MADE IT UP THE BLOCK TO THE BURBANK BURLESQUE SHOW.
THAT DAY THEY FEATURED BETTY ROWLAND THE BALL OF FIRE, CANDY BARR,
TEMPEST STORM AND LILI ST. CYR BILLED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE
WORLD. I THOUGHT SHE WAS. THE PRICE OF ADMISSION WAS 50 CENTS. YOU HAD TO
BE 18 YEARS OLD BUT THE BOX OFFICE MAN LET US IN. WE TOOK OUR SEATS AND
WAITED FOR THE SHOW TO BEGIN. SOON TWO TALL MEN WITH SUITS CAME WITH A
FLASH LIGHT AND LOOKED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY CAME TO US AND TOLD US TO
ACCOMPANY THEM OUT SIDE AND SAID THEY WERE TRUANT OFFICERS. THEY HAD
US GET INTO A STATION WAGON AND TOOK US TO A HIGH SCHOOL NEAR BY NAMED
FORT HILL HIGH SCHOOL. THEY TOOK US INTO AN EMPTY SCHOOL ROOM AND
QUESTIONED US. ON THE BLACK BOARD WAS A MESSAGE SAYING THAT WE WERE
CAUGHT ROAMING THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND
THAT WE WOULD BE RETAINED HERE UNTIL 3 PM. IT FURTHER SAID THAT OUR
PRINCIPAL WOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS. THE NEXT DAY I WAS CALLED INTO THE
BOY'S VICE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND HE SAID THAT I HAD TO BRING MY PARENT TO
HIS OFFICE TOMORROW. MY DAD WAS MAD AT ME. WE WENT TOGETHER INTO HIS
OFFICE AND HE TOLD MY DAD THAT THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENED I WOULD BE
EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL. I HAD TO GO TO THE LETTER MEN VARSITY CLUB COUNCIL
OFFICE AND RECEIVE A BIG SWAT. MY DAD GROUNDED ME FOR A MONTH. I DID NOT
GO BACK TO THE BURLESQUE THEATER UNTIL I WENT INTO THE NAVY.

26.

SOME PEOPLE ON HERE MAY SOME TIME WONDER WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS DOES A
PERSON WHO PUTS 20YEARS IN THE MILITARY AND THEN RETIRES RECEIVES. IF THE
PERSON RETIRES WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, THE PERSON RECEIVES 50 PERCENT
OF HIS OR SHE'S BASIC PAY. FOR EVERY YEAR SERVED AFTER 20 YEARS ADD 2 1/2
PERCENT TO THE BENEFIT UP TO 30 YEARS IN WHICH 75 PERCENT APPLIES. THE
PERSON RECEIVES MILITARY HEALTH CARE AT A MILITARY HOSPITAL OR CLINIC
CALLED TRI-CARE. IF THE PERSON LIVES MORE THAN 30 MILES FROM A MILITARY
HOSPITAL HE IS AUTHORIZED TO USE A PRIVATE DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL. THE
MILITARY PAYS FOR IT. THE PERSON'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY GETS TO USE THIS
BENEFIT ALSO. HIS KIDS UP TO 18 YEARS OF AGE AND 23 YEARS OF AGE IF
ATTENDING A CREDITED COLLEGE. THE PERSON HAS 10 YEARS TO GET A FREE 3
YEAR COLLEGE EDUCATION AT ACREDITED COLLEGE. THE PERSON CAN KEEP HIS
GOVERNMENT ISSUE LIFE INSURANCE WHICH IS VERY CHEAP. HE CAN USE THE
COMMISSARY WHICH IS A SUPER MARKET WHERE YOU SAVE 40 PERCENT
COMPARED TO A CIVILIAN MARKET. YOU CAN USE THE BASE EXCHANGE WHICH IS A
DEPARTMENT AND DRUG STORE COMBINED AND SAVE ABOUT 20 PERCENT. YOU CAN
USE THE BASE GAS STATION AS WELL AS THE BASE LIQUOR STORE. ALL THE FAST
FOOD FACILITIES ON THE BASE AS WELL AS THE BASE GYM, SWIMMING POOL,
 16

BARBER SHOP, BEAUTY SHOP,POST OFFICE, BANK, LAUNDRY AND CLEANERS. THE
BASE CHAPEL AS WELL. YOU NEED A MILITARY I.D. CARD TO ENTER THE BASE. AFTER
YOU PUT 20 YEARS IN THE MILITARY IN THE NAVY YOU GO INTO THE FLEET RESERVE
STATUS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND CAN BE RE-CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN AN
EMERGENCY SUCH AS A WAR, PROVIDING YOU PASS A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.
DURING THIS TIME YOU RECEIVE WHAT IS CALLED RETAINER PAY. AFTER 30 YEARS
FROM YOUR TIME OF YOUR FIRST ENLISTMENT THEY CAN ONLY CALL YOU BACK
WITH YOUR PERMISSION AS WELL AS A PHYSICAL EXAM.AFTER 30 YEARS YOU
RECEIVE THE SAME PAY BUT IT IS CALLED RETIRED PAY. RETIRED AND RE-TAINER
PAY GOES UP EVERY 1ST OF DECEMBER EACH YEAR ACCORDING HOW HIGH THE
COST OF LIVING GOES UP. THIS IS CALLED C.O.L.A. OR COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE.
BUT WE RETIREES MUST ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT CONGRESS GIVES YOU,
CONGRESS CAN TAKE AWAY. RETIRES CAN ALSO BE BURRIED FREE OF CHARGE AT A
NATIONAL CEMETERY AND A BURIAL MARKER AND FLAG ISSUED ALSO FREE OF
CHARGE. MY WIFE AND I WILL BE INTERENED TOGETHER IN THE SAME GRAVE AT THE
RIVERSIDE, CA. NATIONAL CEMETERY WHEN OUR TIME COMES. WHEN A RETIRED
PERSON AND HIS WIFE OR HUSBAND TURN 65 YEARS OF AGE AND ON MEDICARE
WITH THE A AND B CARE YOU GO INTO TRI CARE FOR LIFE. IN WHICH YOU DO NOT
PAY ONE CENT FOR HEALTH CARE AND MEDICATION. EVERY THING COMES FREE OF
CHARGE. AFTER YOU RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS YOU GET FREE MEDICATION
PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED AT A MILITARY BASE PHARMACY. FREE FLU SHOTS ALSO.

27.

THE YEAR WAS 1968 AND I WAS STATIONED IN COUNTRY IN VIETNAM ON AN ISLAND
NAMED TAN MY IN THE I CORPS SECTION OF SOUTH VIETNAM. I WAS THE CHIEF IN
CHARGE OF THE GENERAL MESS IN OUR SMALL BASE.WELL ONE DAY LYNDON B.
JOHNSON THE PRESIDENT PAID OUR BASE A VISIT. WITH HIM WAS DELBERT BLACK
THE FIRST CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE NAVY. THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE
COULD NOT BE IN THIS SECTION OF THE WORLD AND NOT PAY HIS TROOPS A VISIT.
HE WAS AT A WORLD CONFERENCE WITH LEADERS OF THE WORLD IN MANILA,
PHILIPPINES. HIS SUN IN LAW PAT NUGENT WAS STATIONED AT CAM RAHN AIR
FORCE BASE. THIS WAS THE SAFEST BASE IN VIETNAM WHICH RARELY GOT IN
COMING ROCKETS OR MORTARS. WHEN HE ARRIVED THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY
WERE TAKEN TO THE CHIEFS CLUB WHICH WAS LARGER AND MORE FANCY THAN
THE OFFICERS CLUB. THERE WERE 8 CHIEFS STATIONED ON THE ISLAND. WE ALL
SAT AT TABLES WHICH CONSISTED OF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF AND
OFFICERS AND CHIEFS FROM OUR BASE. WE HAD DRINKS AND COCKTAILS AND
SMALL SNACKS. ONE OF THE CHIEFS ASKED ME WHY I DID NOT SING FOR THE
PRESIDENT. I CAN SAY I WAS A PRETTY GOOD VOCALIST. SOME SAID THAT ROBERT
GOULET SOUNDED LIKE ME. WE HAD A SMALL STAGE AND MIKE IN THE CLUB. I HAD
BACKGROUND MUSIC TAPES. I SANG THREE SONGS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
MEMORIES-----YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE AND THE UNREACHABLE STAR. THE
PRESIDENT WAS DELIGHTED AND STOOD UP AND APPLAUSED ME. LATER ON I ASKED
HIS CHIEF OF STAFF WHAT THE PRESIDENT LIKED TO EAT. HE SAID THE PRESIDENT
 17

WAS FROM TEXAS AND LOVED MEXICAN FOOD AND THAT HIS FAVORITE DISH WAS
GREEN CHILI PEDERNALES. WELL IT JUST HAPPENED THAT I HAD 3 CASES OF
ORTEGA WHOLE GREEN CHILES IN MY SUPPLY ROOM. OUR CHIEFS CLUB HAD A
SMALL PANTRY WITH A STOVE AND OVEN. I PREPARED GREEN CHILE PERDENALES,
SPANISH RICE A LA VALENCIANA, REFRIED PINTO BEANS WITH A LOT OF MONTEREY
JACK CHEESE AND SMALL FLOUR TORTILLAS. THE PRESIDENT WAS SURPRISED AND
ASTONISHED WHEN HE SAT DOWN TO EAT. WHEN HE WAS DONE EATING HE GOT UP
AND GAVE ME A BIG HUG AND A BIG SMILE. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT THIS A
THIS PART OF THE WORLD. HE PULLED MY LEG AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO
BECOME PART OF HIS KITCHEN STAFF AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I JUST LAUGHED. NOW
THIS PRESIDENT WAS A DOWN TO EARTH PERSON AND LIKED TO TELL JOKES. LATER
IN THE EVENING IT WAS TIME FOR THE PRESIDENTS BED TIME. HE WAS INFORMED
THAT HIS V.I.P. QUARTERS WERE READY FOR HIM. HE SAID THANKS BUT THAT HE
WAS GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT NEXT DOOR OF OUR BASE AT A THREE STORY
LUXRY HOTEL ON A WATER BARGE. THIS WAS THE LOCATION OF HIS WIFE'S
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. THE LBJ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR LADY BIRD
JOHNSON. THE CHIEFS AND OFFICERS OF OUR BASE HAD BEEN INVITED MANY TIMES
TO THE HOTEL. THE BALL ROOM WAS LIKE THE WALDORF ASTORIA WITH PLUSH
THICK RED CARPETING AND BROWN PANEL WALLS WITH SHANDELIERS AND
PERFORATED CEILING FIXTURES AND A FULL BAR. THE NEXT DAY THE PRESIDENT
TOOK OFF FOR CUAVIET NAVAL BASE BY THE DMZ.

28.

THE TIME WAS 1963 AND I WAS STATIONED ABOARD A NAVY DESTROYER TIED UP AT
THE PIER AT THE DESTROYER BASE IN SAN DIEGO, CA. WE GOT WHAT IS CALLED THE
PLAN OF THE DAY. A SHEET OF PAPER TELLING US OF THE EVENTS OF THE DAY. IT
GOES UP ON THE BULLETIN BOARD OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE
PERSONNEL OFFICE.IT GOES UP THE DAY BEFORE AT 6 PM. TODAY IT SAID THAT
TOMORROW PRESTON FOSTER THE MOVIE ACTOR WAS COMING ABOARD OUR SHIP
FOR A SHORT MORNING CRUISE IN THE CHANNEL ISLAND AREA. OUR SHIP WAS THE
FLAG SHIP FOR DESRON 21 AND WE CARRIED THE COMMODORE NAMED CAPTAIN
SILK. EVERYONE CALLED HIM SMOOTH AS SILK AS HE LIKED TO BE CALLED THAT. HE
WAS MARRIED TO A TALL SPANISH WOMAN FROM THE PHILIPPINES. SHE WAS THE
DAUGHTER OF THE MAYOR OF MANILA. PRESTON FOSTER WAS A VERY GOOD
FRIEND OF THE COMMODORE. PRESTON FOSTER WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE COAST
GUARD AUXILLIARY. WE WENT AROUND SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, CATALINA AND
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. FOR ABOUT AN HOUR PRESTON TOOK OVER THE BRIDGE AND
DIRECTED THE RUN OF THE SHIP. HE WAS A VERY NICE INDIVIDUAL AND SIGNED
AUTOGRAPHS AS WELL AS POSED WITH US FOR PICTURES. A REPORTER FROM THE
SAND DIEGO TRIBUNE MADE THE TRIP WITH US AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE EVENT.
THREE OF THE PICTURES CAME OUT NEXT DAY IN THE NEWSPAPER WITH A SHORT
STORY. I COULD BE SEEN IN THE BACK GROUND OF ONE OF THE PHOTOS.
SOMETIMES WE TOOK OUT SEVERAL OTHER V.I.P.'S SUCH AS THE MAYOR OF SAN
DIEGO OR OTHER POLITICIANS SUCH AS CONGRESSMAN AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
 18

ONE TIME WE TOOK OUT THE THEN GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

DUEKMAJIAN. OUR COMMODORE KNEW A LOT OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE. HE WAS A
NICE LIKABLE DOWN TO EARTH PERSON. WE CARRIED 12 CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS
ABOARD OUR SHIP. I WAS ONE OF THEM.WHEN WE WOULD EMBARK OVER SEAS TO
THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND WE WERE OUT AT SEA THE COMMODORE WOULD INVITE
ONE OF US CHIEFS AT A TIME TO HAVE SUPPER WITH HIM IN THE FLAG CABIN. HE
WOULD SERVE COCKTAILS ALSO OR BEER IF YOU DESIRED ONE. WE WOULD SIT AND
TALK FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. HE KNEW HIS MEN AND HIS MEN KNEW HIM.

29.

THIS STORY CAN ONLY BE WRITTEN IN THIS FORM TO GET THE FULL MEANING OF IT.
IT WILL OFFEND SOME OF YOU, PLEASE READ NO FURTHER. THE PLACE WAS THE
NAVAL BASE IN YOKOSUKA, JAPAN IN 1961. I WAS STATIONED AT PORT SERVICES ON
A BASE SMALL YARD OILER THAT HAD 25 CREW MEN.ONE OF THE CREWMEN WAS A
SMALL GUY NAMED ALVAREZ A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS. HE WAS FROM WACO, TEXAS
AND STOOD ABOUT 5 FOOT 3 INCHES TALL AND WEIGHED ABOUT 110 LBS. WHAT
MADE ALVAREZ DIFFERENT FROM A NORMAL GUY WAS THAT HE HAD A 13 INCH
PENIS. HE WAS KNOWN TO PULL A JEEP WITH IT. HE USE TO BET ON HIMSELF THAT
HE COULD DO IT. WELL ONE SATURDAY HE WAS SCHEDULED TO PULL ONE ON BACK
OF THE BASE GYM.THAT CERTAIN WEEK I HAD ALVAREZ ON MESS COOK DUTY
WORKING WITH ME IN THE MESS HALL. HE ASKED ME IF I WAS GOING TO BET ON HIM.
I SAID NO. HE SAID FOR ME TO BET ON HIM AS IT WAS A SURE BET. I SAID I WOULD
BET 20 BUCKS ON HIM AND THAT HE BETTER DO IT OR ELSE. WELL THAT SATURDAY
MORNING HE CHECKED OUT A JEEP FROM THE MOTOR POOL AND TOOK IT TO THE
BACK OF THE GYM. HE HAD GOT SOME PARACHUTE LINE FROM SOME WHERE. HE
PUT THE JEEP ON LEVEL GROUND AND PUT OFF THE BRAKES AND SET THE GEAR
SHIFT IN NEUTRAL. HE THEN TIED ONE END OF THE PARACHUTE LINE TO THE FRONT
BUMPER OF THE JEEP AND THE OTHER END TO HIS PENIS WITH DUCT TAPE. THEN HE
PUT BOTH HANDS BEHIND HIS HEAD AND SLOWLY STARTED TO MOVE THE JEEP
ABOUT 20 FEET. ALVAREZ HAD A TATTOO OF A LARGE FLY ON HIS PENIS. WHEN IT
WAS ENERGIZED THE FLY SPREAD OUT TO READ " EAT AT CHILI JOE'S PLACE, WACO,
TEXAS. I WAS OFF DUTY EVERY AFTERNOON AND I WORKED AS A CLUB ALLIANCE
POLICE AT THE ENLISTED MEN'S CLUB. I WAS A PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS AND
WORKED EVERY 3 DAYS ON AN 8 HR. SHIFT. I GOT PAID FOR IT. WELL ONE EVENING I
HAD THE DUTY IN THE MAIN BALL ROOM WHERE A GIRLIE VARIETY SHOW WAS IN
PROCESS.THERE WERE MANY FLEET MARINES THERE FROM THE FLEET MARINE
SHIP IN PORT. ALVAREZ LIKED TO PICK FIGHTS WITH MARINES. HE WAS PRESENT
THAT NIGHT IN THE BALL ROOM. SOON A FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN SAILORS AND
MARINES AND ALVAREZ WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL. I SAW HIM GRAB A MARINE BY
THE HEAD AND NECK AND HIT HIM ACROSS THE NOSE WITH HIS CRANK. IT LOOKED
LIKE HE BROKE THE MARINE'S NOSE WITH IT. I ARRESTED ALVAREZ AND HAD HIM
TAKEN AWAY TO SHORE PATROL HEAD QUARTERS IN TOWN. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER
AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S INQUIRY WAS HELD AT THE BASE. PRESENT WERE
ALVAREZ AND HIS DIVISION OFFICER AND THE MARINE WITH HIS EXECUTIVE
 19

OFFICER. THE BASE EXECUTIVE OFFICER WAS KNOWN AS THE GEORGIA PEACH AND
HE WAS A MEAN AND PUNISHABLE GUY. HE FIRST CALLED ALVAREZ FRONT AND
CENTER AND READ HIM THE CHARGES. HE CALLED ME UP AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS
THE POLICE PRESENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT DID I SEE. I TOLD HIM THAT
A FIGHT BROKE OUT WITH THE SAILORS AND MARINES AND I SAW ALVAREZ HIT THE
MARINE IN THE NOSE WITH HIS CRANK. HE SAID WHAT WAS ALVAREZ DOING WITH A
CRANK IN THE CLUB. I SAID HE HIT HIM WITH HIS PENIS. HE SAID WHAT? I SAID
ALVAREZ IS THE GUY THAT PULLED A JEEP WITH HIS PENIS IN BACK OF THE BASE
GYM. HE TURNED TO THE COURT YEOMAN AND TOLD HIM TO OMIT THAT AND WRITE
THAT HE WAS HIT BY A FOREIGN OBJECT. ALVAREZ WAS RESTRICTED TO THE YARD
OILER FOR A MONTH AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE MARINE GOT OUT SIDE OF A
BROKEN NOSE.

30.

THE TIME WAS 1957 AND THE PLACE WAS THE LONELY COLD DESERT ON HIGH
WAY 15 JUST OUT OF LAS VEGAS AT 2 AM IN THE MORNING. MY GOOD SHIPMATE
TONY DELANO FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y. AND I WERE RETURNING FROM 2 DAYS OF FUN
IN LAS VEGAS AND DRIVING BACK TO OUR NAVAL AIR BASE IN NORTH ISLAND IN THE
SAN DIEGO AREA. 2 OTHER CARS WERE BEHIND US. PRETTY SOON WE GOT TO
WHERE THERE WAS A CAR OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN AN EMBANKMENT. WE
STOPPED AS WELL AS THE OTHER 2 CARS TO SEE IF AID WAS NEEDED.TONY AND I
WERE THE FIRST ONES ON THE SCENE. IN THE CAR WAS A YOUNG AIRMAN OF THE
AIR FORCE IN UNIFORM. HE WAS MOANING. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND
TURNED OFF THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TONY AND I GENTLY LIFTED THE INJURED
YOUNG MAN FROM THE CAR AND LAID HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COVERED
HIM WITH MY NAVY PEA COAT. WE WERE IN UNIFORM. ONE OF THE CARS BEHIND US
WAS A 1956 GREEN CHEVY CORVETTE WITH A SPECIAL TELEPHONE ATTATCHED
UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE OWNER PHONED THE HIGH WAY PATROL AND TOLD
THEM TO BRING AN AMBULANCE. I WENT BACK TO THE INJURED AIRMAN AND HE WAS
STILL MOANING. I COULD TELL THAT HIS INJURIES WERE SEVERE AND HE WOULD
NOT PROBABLY SURVIVE THEM. HE WHISPERED TO ME THAT HE WANTED A PRIEST.
HERE WE ARE IN THE LONELY DESERT AT 2 AM IN THE MORNING, THIS WAS
IMPOSSIBLE. SO I BEGAN TO ADMINISTER THE LAST RITES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH TO HIM IN LATIN. WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD I WAS AN ALTAR BOY FOR MY
PARISH IN SAN PEDRO, CA. MY HOME TOWN. I OFTEN ACCOMPANIED OUR PARISH
PRIEST ON FUNERALS IN THE HARBOR AREA AND PRETTY WELL KNEW THE
PROCEDURE. IT WAS MY INTENT TO ENTER THE PRIEST HOOD IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT
NEVER MATERIALIZED. THE HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED AS WELL AS AN AMBULANCE.
THE YOUNG MAN WAS PUT IN IT AND TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL. I NEVER
FOUND OUT IF THE YOUNG MAN SURVIVED HIS INJURIES. DID I DO WRONG IN
ADMINISTERING THE LAST RITES TO THIS YOUNG MAN? HERE WE ARE IN NO MAN'S
LAND IN THE REMOTE COLD DESERT AT 2 AM IN THE MORNING AND A DYING MAN
WANTS TO MAKE PEACE WITH HIS GOD. I THINK NOT, AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN
WHICH I DID YEARS LATER IN VIETNAM WHICH IS A STORY FOR LATER.
 20

31.

THOSE OF YOU ON HERE THAT ARE OLD ENOUGH PROBABLY REMEMBER THE
RATIONING DAYS OF WORLD WAR TWO. EVERY MAN, WOMEN AND CHILD WERE
ISSUED 2 RATIONING BOOKS WITH STAMPS IN THEM. ONE BOOK HAD RED STAMPS
WHICH WERE USED TO BUY MEAT PRODUCTS. YOU DID NOT NEED STAMPS TO BUY
HORSE MEAT. AND ANOTHER BOOK CONTAINED BLUE STAMPS FOR CANNED GOODS.
FAMILIES WITH AUTOMOBILES WERE ISSUED A C STICKER THAT WAS APPLIED TO
THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR AND YOU WERE ALLOTED 5 GALLONS OF GASOLINE A
WEEK. MORE COULD BE GOT AT A BLACK MARKET OUTLET. NUCCO OLEOMARGARINE
WAS AVAILABLE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR BUTTER. A ONE POUND BRICK WITH A
YELLOW FOOD COLOR PACK WERE SOLD. NO BUBBLE GUM WAS AVAILABLE.
SYNTHETIC RUBBER CAR TIRES WERE SOLD. NO WOMEN NYLONS WERE AVAILABLE.
LEG MAKE UP WAS USED. IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD. EGGS WERE SCARCE AND
WERE SOLD LOOSE AND 6 EGGS WERE AVAILABLE IF YOU COULD FIND SOME. SOME
STORES SOLD THEM UNDER THE COUNTER TO THEIR FAVORITE CUSTOMERS. THIS
RATIONING WAS BECAUSE FOOD AND FUEL AND RUBBER AND NYLON WERE USED
FOR THE MILITARY. NO CARS WERE MANUFACTURED FOR THE YEARS 1943 TO 1944
AND 1945. THE 1942 CARS HAD NO CHROME ON THEM BUT PLASTIC. METAL WAS
USED FOR THE BUILDING OF SHIPS AND AND WAR MATERIAL. WE ALL GOT USE TO
THIS WAY OF LIFE IN TIME.

32.

I DO NOT REMEMBER IF I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT I WAS THE CHAPLAIN OF MY

ASSOCIATION SOME YEARS AGO. I BELONGED TO THE FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION
BRANCH 43 LONG BEACH, CA. I OFFICIATED AT MANY FUNERALS AROUND THE
HARBOR AREA IN THE LONG BEACH VACINITY.MOSTLY RETIRED NAVY PERSONNEL
AND THEIR SPOUSES I WAS LOOKING THROUGH A LOT OF OLD PAPERS AND
DOCUMENTS THAT I HAD STASHED AWAY IN THE CLOSET AND RAN ACROSS THIS
SERMON PIECE. I THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT:

I'M SURE IF SHIPMATE JOHN DOE COULD SPEAK NOW, HE WOULD SAY:

"THIS ISN'T DEATH.........IT'S GLORY!

IT IS NOT DARK..............IT'S LIGHT!

IT ISN'T STUMBLING, GROPING, OR EVEN FAITH....IT'S SIGHT!

 21

THIS ISN'T GRIEF......IT'S HAVING MY LAST TEAR WIPED AWAY.

IT'S SUNRISE....IT'S THE MORNING OF MY ETERNAL DAY!

MY LAST BREATH ON EARTH, WAS MY FIRST BREATH IN HEAVEN.

33.

THE YEAR WAS 1943 IN SAN PEDRO, CA. AND I WAS 13 YEARS OLD. THERE WAS THIS
UNFORGETABLE CHARACTER THAT WE KIDS CALLED MA SHUNK. SHE WAS AN
ELDERY GRAY HAIRED WOMAN AND SHE WAS A BAG LADY THAT COULD BE SEEN
RUNNING THE ALLEYS IN SEARCH OF JUNK, SHE HAD JUNK IN HER HOUSE WHICH
SHE OWNED AND WAS RUN DOWN ON THE 2OOTH BLOCK OF 2ND ST.AND JUNK IN
HER BACK YARD. SHE NEVER SOLD THE JUNK, JUST COLLECTED IT AND SAVED IT. MA
SHUNK NEVER SMILED AND HAD A MEAN LOOK ON HER SCRAGGLY FACE. WE KIDS
WERE AFRAID OF HER. WHEN EVER I ENCOUNTERED HER ON THE SIDE WALK I
WOULD CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET TO AVOID HER. WELL ONE DAY
THE OLD LADY PASSED AWAY AND HER ESTATE WENT TO THE STATE AS SHE HAD NO
KNOWN RELATIVES. THE HOUSE WAS WORTHLESS AND RUN DOWN SO THE STATE
RAZED IT TO THE GROUND. ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A PILE OF DIRT. WE KIDS
WOULD PLAY ON THE SAND PILE MAKING SAND CASTLES AND DIGGING TUNNELS.
ONE DAY A PLAYMATE NAMED GILBERT JACOBS DUG UP A SMALL GOLD COIN THE
SIZE OF A DIME. IT WAS A TWENTY DOLLAR EAGLE GOLD PIECE. THE OTHER BOYS
AND US STARTED DIGGING AND FOUND SOME MORE COINS. SOON SOME ADULTS
CAME AND BEGAN DIGGING. CARS WERE DRIVING BY VERY SLOW AND HOLDING UP
TRAFFIC AS THEY TOOK IN THE VIEW OF US DIGGING FOR COINS. SOON THE POLICE
CAME BY AND CHASED US ALL OUT OF THE AREA. WITHIN AN HOUR THE STATE PUT
UP A CHAIN LINK FENCE AROUND THE AREA.I FOUND 4 OF THE COINS AND MY MOM
TOOK THEM TO THE BANK AND GOT 80 DOLLARS FOR THEM. SHE BOUGHT A SECOND
HAM MODERN STOVE AND OVEN, MY DAD GOT 4 NEW TIRES FOR HIS 1937 CHEVY
AND I GOT A NEW WESTERN FLYER BICYCLE THAT I BOUGHT AT THE WESTERN AUTO
SUPPLY STORE AT THE CORNER OF 4TH ST. AND PACIFIC AVE.A CONTRACTOR
BOUGHT THE LAND FROM THE STATE AND BUILT A 2 STORE BUILDING ON IT. MY AUNT
ANNIE WHO OWNED A LIQUOR STORE NEAR BY MOVED INTO ONE OF THE NEW
STORES AND LEASED IT.

34.

AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE......I HAVE HIT A WOMAN JUST ONE TIME IN MY

LIFE......THE YEAR WAS 1959 AND I WAS STATIONED ON A STATION SHIP IN PORT
HUENNEME, CA. AT THE SEA BEE BASE. I USE TO BAR TEND AT TIMES AT ONE OF THE
 22

FIVE BARS OUT SIDE OF THE SOUTHERN GATE OF THE BASE. THERE WAS THIS ODD
COUPLE. A PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS NAVY COOK THAT WAS COOKING ON A SMALL
UTILITY CRAFT IN THE HARBOR AND HIS WIFE NAMED JUDY FROM AUCKLAND, NEW
ZEALAND. WHY THEY LOOKED ODD WAS BECAUSE JUDY WAS ABOUT 6 FT. 1 INCH
TALL AND WEIGHED ABOUT 250 LBS. HER HUSBAND WAS ABOUT 5 FT. 2 INCHES
TALL AND WEIGHED IN AT ABOUT 110 LBS. THEY USE TO FREQUENT THE BARS
ABOUT EVERY EVENING. WHEN JUDY HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK SHE WOULD BEAT UP
ON HER HUSBAND AND HE DID NOTHING BUT TAKE THE BEATING. WELL ONE DAY AS I
WAS TENDING BAR, SHE STARTED BEATING UP ON HER SHORT HUSBAND AND AS
USUALL HE JUST TOOK IT. SHE HIT HIM HARD AND HE FELL TO THE FLOOR AND THEN
SHE STARTED KICKING HIS SMALL BODY. I RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAR AND
GOT A HOLD OF JUDY AND PULLED HER AWAY FROM HIS LYING FRAME. SHE TURNED
TO ME AND GAVE ME A HARD HAY MAKER PUNCH AND SENT ME FALLING TO THE
FLOOR. I GOT UP AND GAVE HER A LEFT HOOK PUNCH AND SHE FELL LIKE A TON OF
BRICKS TO THE FLOOR. SHE GLARED UP AT ME AND GOT UP AND LEFT THE BAR
CUSSING ME OUT AT THE SAME TIME. SHE NEVER CAME INTO THE BAR WHEN I WAS
BAR TENDING. SHE WOULD LOOK IN AND LEAVE IF SHE SAW ME. I HEARD LATER
WHEN I WAS TRANSFERED TO JAPAN THAT HER HUSBAND DIVORCED HER AND SHE
WENT TO SAN DIEGO. I ALSO HEARD THAT HER HUSBAND RE-MARRIED TO A NICE
NAVY WAVE ENLISTED THAT WORKED FOR THE MEDICAL DEPT. AT THE NAVAL
HOSPITAL AND HAD CUT DOWN ON HIS DRINKING. SO A NICE HAPPY ENDING TO A
SOME WHAT SAD STORY. SO THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I EVER HIT A WOMAN.

35.

BACK IN 1939 WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD AND IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION IT WAS THE
CHRISTMAS SEASON. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE ALMOST EVERYONE IN SAN
PEDRO, CA. WAS POOR AS JOBS WERE SCARCE FULL TIME. IF YOU WERE FROM A
FAMILY OF FISHERMEN OR LONG SHORE MEN YOU WERE WELL OFF AND GOT NEW
TOYS. THE REST OF US GOT RE-CONDITIONED TOYS FROM THE GOOD WILL AND
SALVATION ARMY SECOND HAND STORES. MY DAD GOT ME A LARGE RED WAGON
THAT WAS FRESHLY PAINTED RED. I LOVED THAT WAGON AND PULLED IT WHERE
EVER I WENT. THIS SPECIAL YEAR J.C. PENNY CAME OUT WITH A SMALL TWO WHEEL
BICYCLE THAT RESEMBLED A MIDGET MOTOR CYCLE THAT WAS NAMED "SPEEDO
BIKE". OF COURSE US POOR KIDS COULD NOT AFFORD ONE. ONLY THE KIDS OF THE
FISHERMEN AND LONGIES GOT THEM. ONE DAY A FEW DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS MY
DAD AND I WERE WALKING NEAR THE OLD MARY STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH ON 9TH
ST. AND CENTER ST. AND OUT OF THE ALLEY A SMALL BOY RODE OUT ON HIS
SPEEDO BIKE. I WAS PULLING MY RED WAGON AND I STOPPED TO ADMIRE THE BOY
AND THE BIKE. I LOOKED UP AT MY DAD AND SAW THE SAD LOOK ON HIS FACE. I
KNEW WHAT HE WAS THINKING. I TOLD HIM THAT I LOVED MY RED WAGON AND I
LIKED IT BETTER THAN ANY OLD SPEEDO BIKE AND THANKED HIM FOR IT. WE
STARTED ON OUR WAY AND I TURNED TO LOOK AT THE BOY AND HIS SPEEDO BIKE
AND THOUGHT........SOME DAY........SOME DAY. WE HAD A TOY LOAN NEAR OUR HOME
THAT LOANED YOU A TOY FOR A WEEK FREE OF CHARGE. YOU BROUGHT BACK THE
 23

PREVIOUS TOY AND YOU CHECKED OUT ANOTHER. SOME WELL TO DO PEOPLE
DONATED TWO SPEEDO BIKES TO THE TOY LOAN AND THEY LOANED THEM OUT FOR
ONE DAY. I GOT ON THE WAITING LIST AND ABOUT 90 DAYS LATER I CHECKEONE FOR
A DAY. I THOUGHT THAT WHEN I GREW UP AND HAD KIDS THEY WERE NOT GOING TO
GO WITHOUT ANY THING. MY TWO BOYS HAD EVERYTHING THEY WANTED. BUT I
HAVE NEVER FORGOT MY ROOTS AND UP BRINGING.

36.

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THREE UNFOREGETABLE CHARACTERS.......ALL WOMEN. ABOUT

1960 BEFORE I WAS MARRIED I USE TO GO TO A CERTAIN BAR NAMED THE QUALITY. IT
WAS ON UNION STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BAR
WAS THAT THEY SOLD PONY MIXED DRINKS AND PONY DRAFT BEER. THEY WERE
ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF A REGULAR GLASS. THE PONYS OF MIXED DRINKS WERE
ABOUT 4 INCHES HIGH AND THIN IN GLASS. THE PONY DRAFT BEERS WERE IN 6 OZ.
GLASSES. THE PONY MIXED DRINKS WERE 25 CENTS EACH, HALF THE PRICE OF A FULL
COCKTAIL GLASS THAT SOLD FOR 50 CENTS AND THE DRAFT BEERS WERE 5 CENTS
WHICH WAS HALF OF A 12 OZ. GLASS THAT SOLD FOR 10 CENTS A GLASS. THE PLACE
WAS A GOLD MINE. THEY GAVE YOU CREDIT IN THE JOINT IF THEY KNEW YOU AND
YOU WOULD SETTLE THE TAB ON PAYDAY. ANY WAY THERE WERE THESE THREE
WOMEN IN ABOUT THEIR THIRTIES THAT WERE REGULARS THERE. THEY WERE "BED
PAN ALICE"........"TATTOO MILLIE" AND "PEG LEG AGGIE" WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON
WAS THAT THEY WERE MARRIED TO SAILORS WHO WERE OVER SEAS EMBARKED AT
WESTPAC. THEY CHEATED ON THEIR HUSBANDS AND THEIR HUSBANDS CHEATED ON
THEM OVER SEAS. AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER I WAS OVERSEAS WITH ALL THREE
HUSBANDS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER AND I SAW THEM CHEATING WITH OTHER
WOMEN. ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE WOMEN GOT THEIR MILITARY
ALLOTMENTS THEY WOULD YELL AT ONE ANOTHER......"HEY HAVE YOU GOT YOUR
ALLOTMENT CHECK YET?..........."BUY ME A BEER".........TATTOO MILLIE HAD A LOT OF
TATTOOS ON HER ARMS. BED PAN ALICE WORKED AT A THIRD RATE NURSING HOME
TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS, LIKE CHANGING BEDDING, BATHING AND
EMPTYING BED PANS AND SUCH. PEG LEG AGGIE HAD ONE LEG CUT OFF AT THE KNEE
AND WORE A PEG LEG. ONE THING ABOUT THESE WOMEN WAS THAT THEY COULD
DRINK BEER ALL DAY AND HARDLY FEEL THE EFFECTS. THEY WERE VERY GENEROUS
ALSO AND BOUGHT YOU A DRINK OR MORE. WHEN THE HUSBANDS WERE BACK FROM
OVERSEAS THEY DID NOT CHEAT AS WELL AS THE HUSBAND. BUT THEY FREQUENTED
THE QUALITY BAR OFTEN TOGETHER. AND THEY ALL SEEMED HAPPY. ALL THREE
COUPLES WERE CHILDLESS.

37.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT AN UNFORGETFULL CHARACTER NAMED JOHN DWYER WHO WAS
IN THE NAVY WITH ME AT THE NAVAL STATION IN SASEBO, JAPAN IN 1957. WE WERE
BOTH NAVY COOKS AND LIVED IN A HUT BEHIND THE MESS HALL WITH SEVERAL
OTHER COOKS. JOHN WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND THIN AND SHORT. HE HAD THIS
 24

THING ABOUT HIM. HE LIKED TO GO OUT AND DRINK IN TOWN AND COME BACK LATE
AT NIGHT WHILE WE SLEPT IN OUR COTS. HE WOULD THEN START TO PEE ON SOME OF
US FACES. WE WOULD GET UP AND BEAT HIM UP. BUT HE KEPT ON DOING IT AND
ALWAYS HAD BRUISES ON HIS FACE FROM OUR BEATINGS. HE LIKED TO TO PEE ON HIS
JAPANESE GIRL FRIEND ALSO IN TOWN. ONE NIGHT SHE GREW TIRED OF IT ALL AND
TOLD HIM NOT TO GO TO SLEEP, AND IF HE DID SHE WAS GOING TO CUT OFF HIS CURBA.
JOHN JUMPED OUT OF BED AND GOT OUT OF THERE IN A HURRY NOT TO RETURN THERE
EVER. OUR DIVISION OFFICER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH JOHN AND ORDERED HIM
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND BE TREATED FOR MENTAL PROBLEMS. WHEN I GOT
TRANSFERD BACK TO THE STATES JOHN WAS STILL GETTING TREATMENTS. THEY
SEEMED TO BE WORKING AS HE DID NOT PEE ON ANY BODY ANYMORE. YEARS LATER I
MET JOHN IN A SAN FRANCISCO BAR AND ASKED HIM IF HE STILL PEE'D ON PEOPLE. HE
SAID NO. WELL THAT WAS GOOD TO HEAR BECAUSE HE WAS A BEER DRINKER AND
HAD A LOT OF PEE TO GIVE OUT.

38.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, TERMINAL ISLAND IN EAST SAN PEDRO ONCE HAD 16 FISH
CANNERIES ON THE ISLAND. THE PURSE SEINER FISHING FLEET WAS OWNED
ALMOSTENTIRELY BY JAPANESE NATIONALS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ISSEI
WHICH MEANS FIRST GENERATION JAPANESE IN THE U.S.A. THEIR FAMILIES LIVED
MOSTLY IN THE NEAR BY JAPANESE VILLAGE WHICH HAD A POPULATION OF ABOUT
7000 PEOPLE. AND ACROSS THE FROM THE VILLAGE WAS THE MIXED BARRIO WHICH
CONSISTED OF PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ETHNICS. ON TUNA STREET THERE WERE 5
JAPANESE RESTRAUNTS WHERE THE FOOD SERVED WAS VERY CHEAP. FOR FIFTY
CENTS YOU COULD BUY A MEAL CARD THAT YOU COULD USE FOR FIVE DAILY NOON
MEALS. AND THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD AND TASTY. DURING THE CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAYS THE RESTURANT OWNERS WOULD GIVE XMAS GIFTS FROM JAPAN TO THE
CUSTOMERS. MY DAD WOULD COME WITH AN ARM LOAD OF GIFTS. RAIN UMBRELLAS,
BEAUTIFUL CALLENDARS, CIGARETTE HOLDERS AND LIGHTERS, DECORATED
WALLETS,DECORATED PILLOW COVERS, HAND PAINTED CLOTH PICTURES WITH
WOODEN FRAMES AND DECORATED NECK SCARVES. BOTH VILLAGES CLOSED IN
MARCH OF 1942 AFTER THE WW2 STARTED. THE PLACE WAS RAZED AND A SMALL
TEMPORARY NAVAL BOOT CAMP WAS BUILT. AND OF COURSE THE JAPANESE AND
JAPANESE-AMERICAN WERE SENT TO RELOCATION CAMPS INLAND FOR THE DURATION
OF THE WAR. SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN VOLUNTEERED TO GO FIGHT IN EUROPE WITH
THE FAMOUS 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, THE MOST DECORATED UNIT FOR IT'S
SIZE IN THE U.S. MILITARY.THEY ALSO SUFFERED THE MOST CASUALTIES AND DEATHS.
A LOT OF MEDAL OF HONORS WERE AWARDED THEM. THEY HAD QUITE A LOAD. THEY
FOUGHT IN TWO FRONTS. THE SECOND WAS THAT THEIR FAMILIES WERE HELD BEHIND
BARBED WIRE FENCES AND GUARD TOWERS WITH MACHINE GUNS WHILE THEY
PROVED THAT THEY WERE LOYAL AMERICANS AND SPILLED THEIR BLOOD TO PROVE
IT. AFTER THEIR FAMILIES LEFT THE CAMPS IN 1945 THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCE IN CAMP. THEY WERE VERY HURT PEOPLE. THEY WERE CALLED "THE
 25

SILENT AMERICANS". THIS MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANY GROUP. THIS BEING A
DARK CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY.

39.

BACK IN THE EARLY SIXTIES I WAS SITTING AT MY FAVORITE BAR THE CHINA DOLL IN
SAN DIEGO.IT WAS SUNDAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE IN SAND DIEGO BECAUSE OF
THE SAND DIEGO CHARGERS FOOT BALL TEAM PLAYING A TEAM AT NEARBY BALBOA
STADIUM. SO THE BAR WAS CROWDED. IT WAS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND THE
GAME WAS OVER. PRETTY SOON THIS TALL GUY WALKED IN AND HE WAS
INTOXICATED. CURLEY THE BARTENDER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BILLY CANNON A
MEMBER OF THE OPPOSING TEAM. BILLY CANNON WAS AN ALL AMERICAN FOOT BALL
PLAYER FROM LSU UNIVERSITY AND HEISMEN TROPHY WINNER. HE SAT DOWN AT THE
BAR AND ORDERED A DRINK AND LOOKED AROUND TO CHECK OUT THE COCKTAIL
WAITRESSES. ONE WAITRESS THAT I WAS DATING AT THE TIME PASSED BILLY AND
BILLY PATTED HER BUM. SHE IMMEDIATELY SLAPPED HIM AND HE GOT UP AND
PUSHED HER HARD SENDING HER AND A TRAY OF DRINKS TO THE FLOOR. I
IMMEDIATELY REACTED AND WENT UP TO BILLY ON HIS BLIND SIDE AND HIT HIM WITH
A HAY MAKER SUCKER PUNCH. HE FELL LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. THE BARTENDER
CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY CAME AND INVESTIGATED AND GOT THE WHOLE
PICTURE. THEY TOOK BILLY BACK TO HIS HOTEL ROOM AT THE EL CORTEZ HOTEL
NEARBY THE STADIUM. I THOUGHT WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED TO ME IF BILLY WAS
SOBER. HE WAS A PRETTY BIG GUY. THAT NIGHT MY GIRL FRIEND SHOWED ME HER
APPRECIATION FOR DEFENDING HER...........ANY TIME MY LOVE.

40.

AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE, I HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS IN MY
NAVAL CAREER WHEN I WAS A SINGLE MAN. MOST OF THE TIME IT WAS IN THE SAN
DIEGO AREA BECAUSE I WAS THERE MORE TIMES THAN ANY OTHER PLACES LIKE
PHILADELPHIA, PA. BROOKLYN, N.Y., MANHATTAN ISLAND, N.Y.,SEATTLE. WA., SAN
FRANCISCO, CA. SAN PEDRO. CA. AND LONG BEACH, CA. AS WELL AS NATIONAL CITY,
CA., AND OAKLAND, CA. BACK IN 1957 IN SAN DIEGO AT THE DOWNTOWN AREA THERE
WAS THIS NICE GUY NAMED JOE PEPITONI WHO OWNED FIVE BARS IN THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO IN THE DOWN TOWN AREA. HE WAS AN HONEST GUY AND HAD HONEST
BARTENDERS AND COCKTAIL WAITRESSES. IF ANY OF THEM TRIED TO CHEAT HIS
CUSTOMERS AND HE FOUND OUT HE WOULD DISMISS THEM AT AN INSTANT. HE WOULD
GIVE CREDIT TO HIS CUSTOMERS AND LOAN THEM MONEY WITHOUT INTEREST. ALL
THAT HE ASKED FOR WAS THAT HE GOT PAID BACK ON TIME.HE SET YOU UP WITH
DRINKS ON THE HOUSE. FOR BEING LIKE THIS HIS 5 BARS WERE A GOLD MINE. WELL IN
1960 THE OLD GUY PASSED AWAY AND LEFT HIS 5 BARS TO HIS SON EDDIE AND HIS
DAUGHTER FLORENCE.HIS SON EDDIE GOT 3 BARS AND HIS SISTER TWO. EDDIE GOT
THE HIGH LIFE BAR AS WELL AS THE CHINA NIGHT AND SINGAPORE BARS. HIS SISTER
GOT THE GREEN DOOR BAR AS WELL AS THE SAHARA BAR. THE CHINA NIGHT BAR AND
THE SINGAPORE BAR WERE CONNECTED. WHEN YOU GOT INSIDE YOU COULD GO INTO
 26

EACH BAR BY A LARGE DOOR. ALL OF THE BARS HAD GO GO GIRLS DANCING IN
SHIFTS.I DATED SOME OF THE COCKTAIL WAITRESSES IN BOTH BARS.MOSTLY I WAS AT
THE CHINA NIGHT BAR. SOME TIMES ONE OF THE BARTENDERS DID NOT SHOW UP AND I
WOULD FILL IN SERVING THE BEER AND WINE. THE REGULAR BARTENDER TOOK CARE
OF THE MIXED DRINKS.CONNECTED TO BOTH BARS WAS A SMALL SNACK BAR THAT
SERVED FAST FOOD. THAT BELONGED TO EDDIE ALSO.I WAS ONE OF THE IN CROWD
AND WENT TO THE BEACH AFTER THE BARS CLOSED AT 2 AM. IN THE SUMMER. EDDIE
WOULD SUPPLY THE HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS AS WELL AS THE BEER AND SOFT
DRINKS AND POTATO CHIPS.WE WOULD BE THERE UNTIL 8 AM IN THE MORNING. IF IT
WAS BIRTHDAY TIME FOR ONE OF THE IN CROWD, EDDIE WOULD ORDER A LARGE
BIRTHDAY CAKE AND SERVE QUARTERED SANDWICHES OF VARIOUS TYPES AND SIDES.
DRINKS WERE ON THE HOUSE FOR THE ONE THAT HAD THE BIRTHDAY. THEN IN
AUGUST OF 1964 I GOT ORDERS TO GO TO PHILADELPHIA, PA. FOR DUTY THERE ON THE
NAVAL STATION AND THAT NEXT YEAR IN MARCH OF 1965 I WENT TO JAPAN TO MARRY
MY WIFE AT THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY BY THE AMBASSADOR IN TOKYO, JAPAN. I
LEFT A WEEK LATER AND MY WIFE PETTIONED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE
U.S.A. SHE CAME TO PHILADELPHIA 7 WEEKS LATER. AND THAT WAS THE END OF MY
BAR DAYS. MY DRINKING DAYS WERE OVER 20 YEARS AGO. I HAVE A BEER ON MY
BIRTHDAY, FATHER'S DAY AND ONE ON NEW YEARS EVE.

41.

SOME PERSONS ON HERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TO THE PIKE AMUSEMENT PARK IN LONG
BEACH, CA. OR YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT. IT WAS A VERY VERY FUN PLACE
ABOUT A HALF MILE LONG AND THE WALKWAY WAS CALLED THE WALKWAY OF A
MILLION LIGHTS. THEY HAD A LARGE SWIMMING POOL NAMED THE PLUNGE THAT HAD
PURIFIED SALT WATER FROM THE OCEAN IN IT. WELL ACROSS THE STREET THERE WAS
AN EATERY THAT SOLD THE BEST TASTING BURGERS IN THE WORLD. THE AROMA
COULD BE SMELLED A LONG WAYS OFF.WHEN EVER I WENT TO THE PIKE I PUT A DIME
IN MY SHOE TO MAKE SURE I HAD THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR FARE BACK TO SAN
PEDRO WHICH WAS 5 OR 6 MILES AWAY. WELL ONE DAY I STAYED AT THE PLUNGE
UNTIL IT GOT DARK. I HAD SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON THRILL RIDES AND
ATTRACTIONS. THE WATER IN THE POOL MADE ME HUNGRY. AS I LEFT THE POOL THE
AROMA OF THE BURGERS WITH FRIED ONIONS GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I THOUGHT,
SHOULD I SPEND MY DIME IN MY SHOE TO BUY A BURGER OR USE IT AS FARE BACK TO
SAN PEDRO. THE BURGER WON. SO I SAVORED THE DELICIOUS BURGER AND STARTED
TO WALK BACK TO SAN PEDRO. IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND A PLEASANT NIGHT WITH
STARS SHINNING. MY BEACON BACK WAS THE TALL COMMUNICATION TOWER ON TOP
OF THE 7 FLOOR CITY HALL IN SAN PEDRO. I HEADED UP PINE STREET TO ANAHEIM ST.
IN LONG BEACH AND HEADED WEST TO WILMINGTON TO FIGUEROA ST. THEN I TURNED
LEFT AND HEADED FOR THE WILMINGTON/SAN PEDRO ROAD AND WALKED IT INTO SAN
PEDRO. THE LONG WALK MADE ME HUNGRY AGAIN. SO I HEADED TO THE CONEY
ISLAND CAFE ON HARBOR BLVD. I WAS 14 YEARS OLD THEN IN 1944 AND I SOLD
NEWSPAPERS AT THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR DEPOT. WELL A LOT OF US NEWS
BOYS HAD A CREDIT ACCOUNT WITH THE CONEY ISLAND CAFE AND WOULD SETTLE
 27

THE BILL EVERY FRIDAY. SO AFTER MY LONG WALK I WENT INTO THE CAFE AND
ORDERED A LARGE XLNT TAMALE THAT WAS MASHED AND CHILE POURED OVER IT
AND A BIG STACK OF SALTINES AND A LARGE ROOT BEER. THE TAMALE AND CHILE
WAS 25 CENTS AND THE ROOT BEER 5 CENTS. I HAD IT PUT ON MY TAB. FROM THERE ON
I USE TO PUT 2 DIMES IN MY SHOE SO THAT WHEN I LEFT THE PIKE I WOULD BUY A
BURGER AND HAVE MY FARE HOME. TOO BAD THE PIKE CAME TO AN END. IT WAS A
GREAT PLACE TO SPEND THE DAY AT. IN 1955 WHEN DISNEY LAND OPENED THE PIKE
STARTED TO GO DOWN IN ATTENDANCE AND EVENTUALLY CLOSED DOWN. I HAVE
MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF THIS PLACE. A PERSON COULD HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH 2
DOLLARS THEN. ALL THE THRILL RIDES WERE 5 CENTS AND THE PENNY ARCADES
WERE ALL A PENNY TO PLAY THEIR GAMES. THE SIDE SHOWS WERE 10 CENTS. AND THE
TWO FUN HOUSES WERE 5 CENTS AND YOU COULD STAY IN THEM ALL DAY.THEY HAD
A STEEP STAINLESS STEEL SLIDE THAT YOU SAT ON SMALL RUGS AND RODE DOWN.
WHEN YOU WALKED INTO THE PIKE AT THE PINE AVE ENTRANCE THE SMELLS OF
POPCORN, ROASTED PEANUTS, SALT WATER TAFFY AND CHILI DOGS AND BURGERS
WOULD STIMULATE YOUR APPETITE.

42.

DID ANY ONE HERE EVER HAVE A TEACHER IN SCHOOL THAT LIKED TO PERFORM IN
FRONT OF THE CLASS DURING LESSON TIME. WHEN I ATTENDED RICHARD HENRY DANA
JR. HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN PEDRO THERE WERE TWO TEACHERS THAT LIKED TO
PERFORM FOR US. ONE WAS MR. HAYWARD OUR MATH TEACHER WHO LIKED TO PLAY
HIS VIOLIN FOR US DURING CLASS AND MS. LUCIER OUR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
WHO WAS A SOPRANO AND SANG FOR US DURING CLASS. I WOULD UNINTENTIALY
DOZE OFF.AND IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE WAS MRS. GURREAU WHO HAD A
MECHANICAL PEACOCK WITH REAL FEATHERS THAT WOULD WALK AND SPREAD ITS
FEATHERS. SHE WOULD SHOW IT TO US MANY TIMES. AND THERE WAS MR. BANTA AT
BANNING HIGH SCHOOL IN WILMINGTON, WHO WAS OUR U.S.GOVERNMENT TEACHER
AND WHO WAS A SELF MADE COMEDIAN AND TOLD US MANY JOKES DURING
CLASS.AND FINALLY MR. SIEPLE THE ELECTRICIAN SHOP TEACHER WHO LIKED TO
PLAY HIS HARMONICA FOR US IN CLASS. AND OH, YES THERE WAS MR. LEFEVER AT SAN
PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAD A CHARLIE MC CARTHY DUMMY AND DID A GOOD JOB
OF A VENTRILOQUIST. HE WAS OUR DRAFTING SHOP TEACHER..........DID ANY OF YOU
EXPERIENCE THIS?

43.

============="HOW COULD YOU"============

I WAS ADOPTED BY A FAMILY A FEW YEARS BACK. I AM AN OLD GERMAN SHEPHERD

DOG 13 YEARS OLD AND NOT DOING SO WELL.I LOVE MY ADOPTED FAMILY VERY
MUCH. THE PARENTS AND KIDS TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME VERY WELL. BUT NOW I AM
VERY OLD WITH GREY HAIR AND A LIMP AS I WALK. ONE DAY TWO PERSONS FROM
 28

THE ANIMAL SHELTER CAME TO MY HOUSE TO TAKE ME AWAY. MY FAMILY TIED A

LEASH TO MY COLLAR AND PATTED ME. THE KIDS ASKED THE PARENTS "HOW
COULD YOU"? THEY GAVE ME MORE PATS ON THE HEAD AND SAID GOODBYE AND
AVOIDED MY EYES. THEY HAD A DEAD LINE TO MEET AND NOW I HAD ONE TOO.THE
TWO NICE LADIES LOOKED AT MY FAMILY AND THOUGHT "HOW COULD YOU" THEY
ARE AS ATTENTIVE TO US HERE IN THE SHELTER AS THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE ALLOW.
BUT THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FIND ME A NEW HOME. THEY FED US OF COURSE,
BUT I LOST MY APPETITE DAYS AGO. AT FIRST WHEN SOME ONE PASSED MY PEN I
RUSHED TO THE FRONT, HOPING IT WAS MY FAMILY AND THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR
MIND. THAT WAS ALL A BAD DREAM.............OR I HOPED IT WOULD AT LEAST BE SOME
ONE WHO CARED, ANYONE WHO MIGHT SAVE ME. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD
NOT COMPETE WITH THE FROLICKING FOR ATTENTION OF HAPPY PUPPIES, I
RETREATED TO A FAR CORNER AND WAITED. I HEARD HER FOOT STEPS AS SHE
CAME FOR ME AT THE END OF THE DAY. SHE TOOK ME TO A BLISSFUL QUIET ROOM.
SHE PLACED ME ON A TABLE AND RUBBED MY EARS AND TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY. I
WAS MORE CONCERNED FOR HER. THE BURDEN WHICH SHE BEARS WEIGHED
HEAVILY ON HER AND I KNEW THAT. SHE GENTLY PLACED A TOURNIQUET AROUND
MY FORE LEG AS A TEAR RAN DOWN HER CHEEK. I LICKED HER HAND THE SAME WAY
THAT I LICKED MY LOVED ONES. SHE EXPERTLY SLID THE HYPODERMIC INTO MY
VEIN. AS I FELT THE STING AND THE COOLING LIQUID COURSING THROUGH MY BODY,
I LAY DOWN SLEEPILY, LOOKED INTO HER KIND EYES AND MURMURED "HOW COULD
YOU?" PERHAPS BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTOOD MY DOG SPEAK, SHE SAID "I'M SORRY."
SHE HUGGED ME AND KINDLY EXPLAINED IT WAS HER JOB TO MAKE SURE I WENT TO
A BETTER PLACE, WHERE I WOULD NOT BE IGNORED OR ABUSED OR ABANDONED,
OR HAVE TO FEND FOR MY SELF. A PLACE OF LIGHT SO DIFFERENT FROM THIS
EARTHLY PLACE. CALLED THE RAINBOW BRIDGE. WITH MY LAST BIT OF ENERGY. I
TRIED TO CONVEY TO HER WITH A THUMP OF MY TAIL THAT MY "HOW COULD YOU?"
WAS NOT MEANT FOR HER. IT WAS MY BELOVED FAMILY I WAS THINKING OF. I WILL
THINK OF YOU AND WAIT FOR YOU FOREVER.......THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.

44.

IN MY JR. HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH DAYS THEY GAVE OUT SWATS THEN. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THEY GIVE THEM OUT NOW. WHEN I WENT TO RICHARD HENRY DANA JR. HIGH
SCHOOL IN SAN PEDRO THERE WAS A GYM TEACHER NAMED MR. FLANNAGAN THAT
HAD A 9 INCH LEATHER STRAP HOOKED ON TO A 5 INCH WOODEN HANDLE. AND HE
COULD LAY IT ON. HE WOULD HAVE YOU ON THE OPEN FIELD AND HAVE YOU BEND
OVER AND HOLD YOUR KNEES WITH BOTH HANDS AND WOULD GIVE YOU A VERY
HARD SWAT, AND YOU WOULD TAKE OFF LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL AND HAVE A SORE
SEANADY FOR A FEW DAYS.I BELIEVE THAT HE GOT HIS JOLLIES GIVING YOU SWATS
BECAUSE WHEN HE LAID ONE ON YOU HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE, MY
HOME ROOM TEACHER MR. HAYWARD HAD AN 18 INCH PADDLE MADE OUT OF THICK
RED PLASTIC WITH THREE HOLES AT THE END. WHEN HE LAID ONE ON YOU IT WOULD
LEAVE AN IMPRINT OF THREE HOLES ON YOUR FANNY. IN THE SEVENTH GRADE I HAD A
WOMAN P.E. GYM TEACHER NAMED MRS. EHRKE. SHE HAD TWO 18 INCH PIECES OF
 29

PLYWOOD WITH THREE TWO INCH BLOCKS IN BETWEEN THEM. SHE WOULD NOT HIT
YOU HARD BUT THE SWAT PADDLE MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE.THE TWO SHORT TIMES I
WENT TO SAN PEDRO HIGH I DID NOT GET A SWAT THERE LIKE I DID IN JR, HIGH. IN MY
TWO AND A HALF DAYS AT PHINEAS BANNING HIGH SCHOOL IN WILMINGTON I GOT
TWO SWATS. THE TEACHERS DID NOT GIVE OUT THE SWATS. THE VARSITY LETTERMAN
CLUB DID THIS.ONE OF THE SWATS WAS GIVEN TO ME BY A GUY THAT I DID NOT LIKE
AND I GUESS HIS FEELING ALSO. ONE VARSITY CLUB MEMBER WAS ABOUT TO GIVE ME
THE SWAT AND THIS GUY THAT I DID NOT LIKE TOLD THE LETTERMAN TO LET HIM
GIVE ME THE SWAT. HE PUT ALL HIS STRENGTH INTO IT AND IT HURT REALLY BAD. I
SAW RED AND RUSHED THE S.O.B. AND GAVE HIM A HAY MAKER PUNCH TO THE FACE.
HE FELL LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE BOY'S VICE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
IN WHICH I TOLD MY STORY OF THE GUY NOT LIKING ME. HE SAID HE WOULD
INVESTIGATE AND TOLD ME TO LEAVE HIS OFFICE. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING
FURTHER ABOUT IT.THE GUY THAT DIDN'T LIKE ME GRADUATED IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS
AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT. IT WOULD OF BEEN NICE IF WE WERE FRIENDS. HE DIED
IN THE KOREAN WAR IN 1950 IN THE INVASION OF INCHON WITH THE ARMY GROUND
TROOPS.

45.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH ONE CHANGES IN FACIAL FEATURES AS HE OR SHE AGES. I
JUST GOT THROUGH LOOKING AT PHOTOS OF MYSELF WHEN I WAS 20-40-60-80 AND 86
YEARS OLD NO WAY DO I LOOK LIKE MY FORMER SELVES. SOME PERSONS FACIAL
FEATURES NEVER CHANGE BUT GET A FEW WRINKLES IN THE FACE AND GREY HAIR. I
DO NOT HAVE WRINKLES ON MY FACE. PROBABLY FOR THE FACIAL SOAP THAT I USE
WITHOUT ALKALINE IN IT. I HAVE BEEN USING ZEST FACIAL SOAP FOR THE PAST 46
YEARS. BUT FACIAL FEATURES ARE NOT IMPORTANT........A HEALTHY HEART IS WHAT IS
IMPORTANT...........AND I HAVE ONE. MY CARDIOLIGIST AND MY PRIME DOCTOR TELL ME
I SHOULD SEE 100 YEARS OLD BARRING SOME FATAL SICKNESS. SO THAT MEANS I WILL
BE WITH YOU GOOD PEOPLE FOR A WHILE TO COME. I HOPE ALL OF YOU CELEBRATE
YOUR 100TH BIRTHDAY ALIVE AND ENJOYING IT.

46.

WHEN I WAS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. IN 1966, ONCE A MONTH I
HAD THE DUTY OF OFFICER OF THE DAY FOR 24 HOURS FROM 8 AM TO 8 AM. THIS WAS
ON THE QUARTER DECK OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.I HAD A FIRST CLASS
PETTY OFFICER OF THE WATCH THAT TOOK ALL PHONE CALLS AND GREETED
PERSONNEL. WHILE I STOOD OFFICER OF THE DAY I STAYED AT MY OFFICE AT THE
MESS HALL. IF AN EMERGENCY CAME UP I WOULD REPORT TO THE QUARTER DECK AT
ONCE. AT 4 PM I WOULD GO TO THE QUARTER DECK UNTIL 8 AM THE NEXT MORNING. I
HAD A DUTY STATION WAGON WITH A NON RATED SEAMAN AS THE DRIVER. AT10 P.M. I
WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE NAVY EXCHANGE AND SNACK BAR WERE CLOSED ON
TIME AND SET THE WINDOW SAFETY ALARMS.I ALSO MADE SURE THAT THE BASE
SWIMMING POOL WAS CLOSED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT. THEN I WOULD GO TO THE BASE
 30

BRIG TO CHECK THINGS OUT. THE DUTY WARDEN AN E-6 STAFF SGT. MARINE WOULD
MEET ME AT THE GATE AND SALUTE ME AND SAID THAT THE BRIG WAS READY FOR MY
INSPECTION. FIRST HE TOOK ME TO SECTION 5 OF THE BRIG WHERE THE HARD CORE
INMATES WERE HELD. I ASKED THEM HOW THEY WERE DOING. THEY WERE A BUNCH
OF LIARS AND SAID THAT THEY WERE BEATEN AND MISTREATED, AND THEY DID NOT
HAVE A BRUISE OR MARK ON THEM. I JUST TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD LOOK INTO IT.
AT TIMES PRISONERS FROM THE NAVY STOCKADE IN PORTSMOUTH WERE BROUGHT TO
THE QUARTER DECK WITH THREE MARINE GUARDS. THEY WERE BROUGHT TO BE
TAKEN TO THE NAVY HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION. SOME WERE IN FOR MURDER. ONE
OF THE MARINE GUARDS THAT WAS HANDCUFFED TO A PRISONER WOULD HAND CUFF
HIM TO ME. MY DRIVER WOULD THEN TAKE US TO THE NAVY HOSPITAL WHERE I HAND
CUFFED HIM TO AN OFFICER OF THE MEDICAL CORPS. WHO WAS STANDING DUTY OF
OFFICER OF THE DAY. RIGHT ABOUT MIDNIGHT I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL CLUBS
WERE CLOSED. THIS THE OFFICER'S CLUB, THE CHIEF'S CLUB AND THE ENLISTED MEN'S
CLUB AS WELL AS THE MARINE'S CLUB. I ALSO MADE SURE THAT THE WAVE'S WOMEN
BARRACK HAD NO MORE VISITORS AT THEIR LOUNGE. I HAD TO SAMPLE THE LUNCH,
SUPPER AND BREAKFAST MEALS AND WRITE A REPORT ON THE LOG OF THE MEAL.
THERE WAS A SPECIAL TABLE FOR THE OFFICER OF THE DECK. FOR SUPPER MY
WIFEATE WITH ME AT THE MESS HALL.THE SAD PART OF BEING THE O.D.D. WAS THAT
AT TIMES YOU HAD TO TELL SOME SHIPMATE THAT SOME ONE IN THE FAMILY HAD
PASSED AWAY. ONE DAY I HAD TO TELL A 19 YEAR OLD SHIPMATE THAT HIS 16 YEAR
OLD SISTER HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD IN A FORREST IN VERMONT WITH FOUL PLAY
INVOLVED. WE QUICKLY MADE OUT PAPERS OF EMERGENCY LEAVE AND IF THE
SHIPMATE DID NOT HAVE ANY MONEY THE RED CROSS WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM FOR A
RETURN TRIP ABOARD AN AIR LINE. WE WOULD SEND THE SHIPMATES WITHIN AN
HOUR TO THEIR PLACE OF DESTINATION. SOME WE GAVE GOOD NEWS TO. FAMILIES
WERE INFORMED THAT THEIR LOVED ONES HAD BEEN PLACED FROM MISSING IN
ACTION TO THE STATUS OF PRISONER OF WAR.WHEN I HAD THE O.O.D. MY WIFE WOULD
COME TO THE BASE AND WE WOULD HAVE SUPPER AND THEN GO TO MY OFFICER OF
THE DECK LUXURY QUARTERS THAT HAD PLUSH RED CARPET WITH NICE LIGHT
BROWN PANEL WALLS AND A CHANDALIER AND A 42 INCH COLOR T.V. A NICE BED AND
A HUGE LEATHER SOFA AS WELL AS A SMALL REFRIGERATOR. THE MESS HALL WOULD
HAVE COLD CUTS AND SANDWICH PRODUCTS IN THE SMALL FRIG. MY WIFE AND I
WOULD WATCH T.V. UNTIL 10:PM AND THEN SHE WOULD GO HOME. AT 8 AM THE NEXT
DAY I WOULD TAKE THE LOG INTO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S OFFICE AND GO OVER
THE LOG FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS AND THEN I WOULD PASS THE LOG TO THE NEXT 24
HOUR OFFICER OF THE DECK.

47.

BACK IN 1953 IN JAPAN THERE WAS A LOT OF BLACK MARKETEERING GOING ON BY

MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. FAVORITE THINGS WERE PALL MALL CIGARETTES,
FRENCH COGNACS, RED LABEL JOHNNIE WALKER SCOTCH AND GERMAN LEICA
CAMERAS AND OTHER THINGS. I WAS STATIONED AT THE TIME AT THE NAVAL AIR
BASE IN ATSUGI, JAPAN. THERE WAS THIS KOREAN GUY THAT EVERYBODY CALLED
 31

"BLACK MARKET CHARLIE". THERE WAS A VILLAGE ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM THE
BASE THAT HAD ALMOST ALL BARS IN IT. 87 TO BE EXACT.WELL BLACK MARKET
CHARLIE WOULD FREQUENT THESE BARS TO FIND MILITARY MEN TO BUY HIM LEICA
GERMAN CAMERAS AT THE NAVY EXCHANGE ON THE BASE. THE COST WAS $178 EACH.
CHARLIE WOULD GIVE THE G.I. THE MONEY TO BUY A CAMERA AND WOULD GIVE THE
PERSON $20 COMMISSION, WHICH WAS A GOOD SUM IN THEM DAYS. THEN CHARLIE
WOULD TAKE THE CAMERAS TO TOKYO WHERE HE WOULD PROBABLY SELL THEM AT A
GOOD PROFIT. WELL ONE DAY THIS SAILOR WAS READY TO HEAD BACK TO THE STATES
AND SHIP OUT OF YOKOHAMA FOR THE U.S.A. HE WAS SENT TO THE PORT OF
EMBARKATION FOR FURTHER TRAVEL BY SHIP TO THE U.S.A. WELL HE WENT BACK UP
TO THE ATSUGI AREA TO THE TOWN OF SAGAMI OTSUKA WHERE THE 87 BARS WERE. HE
ENCOUNTERED CHARLIE AND TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD BUY HIM TWO CAMERAS AT
THE YOKOHAMA ARMY BASE EXCHANGE. SO CHARLIE DROVE HIM TO THE YOKOHAMA
BASE AND GAVE HIM THE MONEY FOR 2 CAMERAS, AND WAITED FOR THE SAILOR OUT
SIDE THE MAIN GATE. WHEN THE SAILOR GOT INSIDE THE EXCHANGE HE FAKED A
FAINT AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE ARMY HOSPITAL IN
YOKOHAMA AND SHORTLY AFTER RELEASED AND TAKEN TO THE PORT OF
EMBARKATION TO GO ABOARD SHIP AND HEAD BACK TO THE STATES. CHARLIE WAS
OUT $356 AND LEFT HOLDING THE BAG. PRETTY SLY OF THAT SAILOR.

48.

THIS STORY HAPPENED IN 1962 ABOARD MY SHIP THE USS FLOYD B. PARKS DD-884 A
DESTROYER. WE WERE DOCKED AT THE DESTROYER BASE IN SAN DIEGO, CA. IT
WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND AT 4 PM EVERY ONE STOPPED WORK AND WENT TO GET
READY FOR THE WEEK END ASHORE PROVIDING YOU DID NOT HAVE THE DUTY
ABOARD SHIP.THERE WAS THIS 44 YEAR OLD GREY HAIRED SECOND CLASS
BOATSWAIN'S MATE THAT WAS A SUPERVISOR ON THE DECK FORCE. HE HAD ALMOST
25 YEARS IN THE NAVY AND WAS A SINGLE MAN. HE LIKED TO SLEEP LONG SPELLS AT
A TIME.SOME TIMES 24 HOURS AT A TIME. WELL THIS FRIDAY WHEN HE KNOCKED OFF
FROM WORK HE SHOWERED AND THEN LAID DOWN ON HIS BUNK FOR A LONG
EXTENDED SLEEP.COME SATURDAY AND HE WAS STILL SLEEPING. THEN CAME SUNDAY
AND HE WAS STILL ASLEEP. THAN CAME MONDAY MORNING AND EVERYONE HAD TO
MUSTER AT QUARTERS AT 8 AM. THE BM2 WAS NAMED ARMBRUISTER. WELL HE DID
NOT SHOW UP FOR MUSTER SO THE LEADING PETTY OFFICER WENT TO CHECK HIS
BUNK AND SHOOK HIS SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES. HE DID NOT RESPOND. THE LEADING
PETTY OFFICER CHECKED HIS PULSE AND THERE WAS NONE AND HIS BODY WAS COLD
TO THE TOUCH. HE WAS DEAD. THE CORONER SAID HE HAD DIED ABOUT EARLY IN THE
AM ON SATURDAY ABOUT 3 AM. HIS BODY WAS TAKEN TO THE MORGUE AT THE NAVAL
HOSPITAL IN SAN DIEGO. THE MAN HAD NO KNOWN RELATIVES. THE NAVY WAS HIS
FAMILY. SO HE WAS PREPARED FOR BURIAL AFTER AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT HE
HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK AND HAD CORONARY DISEASE.HE WAS BROUGHT
ABOARD OUR SHIP AND WE WENT OUT TO SEA WHERE HE WAS BURIED AT SEA WITH
FULL MILITARY HONORS.........SO SAD. HE NAVIGATED HIS OWN BOAT OF LIFE THROUGH
THEM UN CHARTED WATERS, UNKNOWN TO MORTAL PERSONS TO THAT PORT OF
 32

ETERNAL SALVATION WHERE HE WILL SERVE HIS GOD FOREVER. USING THOSE
BEACONS THAT WERE TAUGHT TO US BY OUR ELDERS I AM SURE HE FOUND THE
WAY......MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

49.

JUST ABOUT ANY PARK THAT HAS A STREAM GOING THROUGH IT HAS CRAWDATS OR
CRAY FISH IN IT. THE STREAM IN AVERILL PARK IN SAN PEDRO, CA. AND BANNING
PARK IN WILMINGTON, CA. WHICH USE TO HAVE ONE YEARS AGO. WHEN I WAS LIVING
IN WILMINGTON I USE TO GO TO THE BANNING PARK TO FISH FOR CRAWDATS. THE
STREAM WAS ABOUT THREE FEET DEEP AND 8 FEET WIDE. I USED A STRING WITH A
PIECE OF RAW BACON TIED TO THE END OF IT. I WOULD LET THE BACON GO TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE STREAM AND A CRAWDAT WOULD GRAB THE BACON AND NOT LET
GO. I WOULD PUT THEM IN A TIN CAN AND WHEN I GOT 20 OF THEM I WOULD TAKE
THEM HOME AND CLEAN THEM AND MY DAD WOULD MAKE SOME VERY DELICIOUS
EGG FOO YONG FROM THEM. IT WAS A GOOD PAST TIME FISHING FOR CRAWDATS.

50.

A RUN DOWN ON FREEZER BURN FOODS................FREEZER BURN OCCURS WHEN

THE FOOD LOSES WATER OR MOISTURE. FREEZER TEMPERATURES FLUCCTUATES
OVER TIME. YOU MUST KEEP THE FREEZER SECTION IN YOUR FRIG AT O DEGREE F.
OR BELOW.YOU CAN STILL EAT FREEZER BURN FOOD BUT IT DOES NOT TASTE
GOOD. IT'S JUST THAT IT HAS LOST SO MUCH OF IT'S MOISTURE. DO NOT BUY A FRIG
THAT THE FREEZER COMPARTMENT DOES NOT GO BELOW O DEGREE F. BUY
PLASTIC FREEZER BAGS DESIGNED TO KEEP MOISTURE IN. ZIPLOC FREEZER BAGS
ARE A GOOD ITEM. IF POSSIBLE DO NOT LET YOUR FREEZER DOOR STAY OPEN.
CHEST FREEZERS WILL NO CAUSE FREEZER BURN. THERE ARE SEVERAL SIZES. IF
YOU GOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUY A "BLAST CHILLER". IT WILL FREEZE FOOD IN MERE
MINUTES WHICH WILL HELP LOCK IN MOISTURE. THEY COST ABOUT $10,000. SO I
GUESS I WILL NEVER OWN ONE..JUST THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

51.

==========TEN VERY VERY SHORT SAD STORIES======

I FOUND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE........SHE DIDN'T.

HE PROMISED HER HE WOULD WAIT FOR HER FOREVER.......SHE KEPT HIM TO HIS
WORD.

IT WAS A LOT.......IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH.

HE WOKE UP, ROLLED OVER AND REACHED FOR HER..........SHE WASN'T THERE, AND
NEVER WOULD BE AGAIN.
 33

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD SAVE MY WIFE OR MY SON...........THEY WERE

WRONG.

AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING HE FINALLY SAW HIS WIFE. HE'D NEVER BEEN
HAPPIER............BUT HE KNEW HE'D HAVE TO WAKE UP SOON.

HE NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE HIS WIFE.......BUT IT WAS GETTING LATE AND THE
GRAVE YARD GATES WERE ABOUT TO BE CLOSED.

MY OWNER WON'T WAKE UP...........MY FOOD BOWL HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR SO LONG.

I PICK UP YOUR LITTLE COLLAR AND LEASH, AND I ALMOST EXPECT YOU TO COME
RUNNING AT THE SOUND..........I WILL NEVER GET USED TO THE AWFUL SILENCE.

I ROCK MY BABY IN MY ARMS AND SING SOFTLY TO HER........ IT HELPS ME PRETEND

THAT SHE IS ONLY SLEEPING.

52.

BACK IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES WILMINGTON WAS NOTED FOR IT'S MANY OIL
WELLS IN THE AREA. SOME BACK YARDS HAD AN OIL WELL LIKE MINE. SOME
OWNERS COLLECTED OIL RIGHTS PAYMENTS FROM THE OIL COMPANY. SOME OIL
WELLS DID NOT HAVE A FENCE AROUND THEM WITH A DANGER SIGN ATTATCHED TO
THE FENCE. WE FOOLISH KIDS AND TEENS AS WELL WOULD CLIMB THE WELL HORSE
PUMP AND RIDE IT LIKE A SEE SAW. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. WELL ONE DAY IN EAST
WILMINGTON A 12 YEAR OLD BOY CLIMBED A PUMP HORSE AND FELL OFF AND HIS
LEG GOT CAUGHT AND MASHED. HIS LEG HAD TO BE AMPUTATED. THE BOYS FAMILY
SUED THE OIL COMPANY FOR NEGLIGENCE OF NOT HAVING A FENCE AROUND THE
OIL DERRICK AND A WARNING SIGN. THEY GOT AWARDED $100,000 WHICH WAS A
VERY LARGE SUM IN THOSE DAYS. THE OIL COMPANIES QUICKLY PUT A FENCE AND A
WARNING SIGN AROUND ALL OF THE WELLS. THE BOY'S FATHER WAS A FISH
CANNERY WORKER. HE BOUGHT 8 HOUSES IN THE HARBOR AREA IN LOMITA,
HARBOR CITY AND WILMINGTON. HE QUIT HIS JOB AND LOOKED AFTER HIS
PROPERTIES AND MAINTAINED THEM AND COLLECTED THE MONTHLY RENTS. LATER
THE SON INHERITED ALL THE PROPERTIES WHICH WERE WORTH ABOUT 2 MILLION
DOLLARS.

53.

SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE OLD ENOUGH OR HEARD OF THE INJUSTICE DONE TO SOME
AMERICAN CITIZENS BACK WHEN WE WENT TO WAR WITH THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN
AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR IN THE HAWIIAN ISLANDS. THEY WERE
PERSECUTED WITH OUT CAUSE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY LOOKED LIKE THE ENEMY.
WAR HYSTERIA WAS AT IT'S WORSE THEN. I AM WRITING ABOUT THE 120,000
JAPANESE THAT WERE RELOCATED FROM THE WEST COAST TO 10 INLAND
RELOCATION CAMPS.SOME WERE NATIVE BORN AMERICANS. I WENT TO
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SAN PEDRO WITH FIVE JAPANESE CLASS MATES. THEIR
 34

NAMES WERE HIDEO MORI, MICHIKO SHINTANI, KIMIKO OMATANI, TOSHIKO HURATA,
AND MICHIKO UCHI. FIVE VERY NICE PEOPLE.AFTER DECEMBER 7, 1941 IN A DAY IN
FEBRUARY 1942 IN THE MORNING, I ENTERED THE FRONT GATE OF THE SCHOOL. IN A
CORNER OF THE AUDITORIUM WERE ALL FIVE OF THEM. THEY WERE ALL CRYING
TOGETHER TRYING TO COMFORT EACH OTHER. I APPROACHED THEM AND ASKED
THEM WHAT WAS THE MATTER. KIMIKO TOLD ME THAT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID
THAT THEY WOULD ALL HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES IN 48 HOURS AND GO LIVE IN
RELOCATION CAMPS FAR INLAND. TERMINAL ISLAND HAD 7000 JAPANESE LIVING
THERE IN A VILLAGE AND A FEW IN SAN PEDRO AND THE HARBOR ARE. THEY COULD
JUST TAKE THEIR CLOTHING AND THEIR CARS TO THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION
CAMP AT THE SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK IN ARCADIA, CA. WHILE THEY BUILT THE
QUICK BARRACKS IN THE 10 CAMPS. ALL THE JAPANESE ASSEMBLED AT THE FOOT
OF 6TH STREET AND HARBOR BLVD. IN THEIR CARS OR BUSSE'S.AT THE FRONT AND
END OF THE CONVOY WAS AN ARMY JEEP WITH THREE SOLDIERS IN THEM AND A 50
CAL. MACHINE GUN MOUNTED ON THEM.THEY PROCEEDED UP 6TH ST. UP TO
PACIFIC AVE.AND TURNED RIGHT ON PACIFIC AVE. AND PROCEEDED TO SANTA ANITA
RACE TRACK. PEOPLE WERE LINED UP ON THE SIDE WALKS WATCHING THE
PROCESSION.I WAS STANDING AT THE CORNER OF 5TH ST. AND PACIFIC AVE. I
SPOTTED THE CAR WITH KIMIKO AND HER FAMILY. THEY HAD A FRESH PRODUCE
MARKET ON THE SAN PEDRO/WILMINGTON ROAD. OUR EYES CAME IN CONTACT AND
SHE WAS CRYING AND SHE WAVED GOODBYE TO ME. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS SO
ASHAMED OF BEING AN AMERICAN. THEY SPENT 3 1/2 YEARS AT MANZANAR
RELOCATION CAMP IN LONE PINE, CA. I NEVER SAW MY JAPANESE CLASS MATES
AGAIN. I HOPE THAT LIFE HAS BEEN KIND TO THEM. THIS IS A DARK CHAPTER IN OUR
HISTORY AND HOPE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. IT ALMOST DID AGAIN DURING
DESERT STORM OPERATION IN IRAQ. HERE IN LONG BEACH MIDDLE EAST PEOPLE'S
BUSINESSES WERE BOYCOTTED FOR A TIME AND THERE WAS TALK OF THEM BEING
SENT TO RELOCATION CAMPS. IT DID NOT MATERIALIZE. THE JAPANESE VILLAGE IN
TERMINAL ISLAND WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE OTHER VILLAGE
ACROSS THE STREET THAT HOUSED FAMILIES OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS THAT
ALL WORKED AT THE FISH CANNERIES. THE AREA WAS TURNED INTO A TEMPORARY
BOOT CAMP FOR THE NAVY.

54.

BACK IN THE LATE 1930'S AND EARLY 1940'S WHEN I WAS A KID THERE WAS A PLACE
CALLED THE GAFFEY CANYON IN MY HOME TOWN OF SAN PEDRO, CA. IT WAS AT THE
END OF 5TH ST. RIGHT OFF CABRILLO ST. WE KIDS CALLED IT THE ENCHANTED
FORREST. THERE WAS A ROUGH ROAD LEADING INTO IT. YOU NEVER WENT ALONE
INTO IT. THE PLACE HAD MANY GREEN TREES AND FOILAGE AND WAS VERY QUIET
AND EERIE. IT HAD TWO SLOPING HILLS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS
DARK. THERE WAS AN IRON DOOR AT THE SIDE OF ONE OF SLOPES. IT WAS SAID
THAT THERE WERE DEAD BODIES STORED INSIDE PUT THERE BY MURDERERS. WE
KID BELIEVED THAT. WE WENT THERE FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THE THRILL OF
IT.JUST BEFORE YOU ENTERED THE GAFFEY CANYON AND RIGHT UP ON THE SLOPE
 35

WAS THE OLD THREE STORY SAN PEDRO HOSPITAL THAT WAS VACANT FOR MANY
YEARS WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKED. WE CALLED IT THE HAUNTED HOSPITAL AND
NO ONE EVER ENTERED IT ALONE. THE PLACE WAS SO OLD THAT WHEN YOU
WALKED ON THE FLOORS THEY SQUEAKED AND YOUR MIND WOULD PLAY TRICKS ON
YOU AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GHOSTS. WHEN YOU WALKED INTO THE CELLAR
WHICH USE TO BE THE MORGUE YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU HEARD MOANS AND YOU
GOT THE HELL OUT OF THERE IN A HURRY. BUT YET YOU WOULD RETURN AT
ANOTHER TIME ALSO FOR THE THRILLS. NOW THE HOSPITAL HAS LONG BEEN
GONE AND HOMES BUILT ON IT'S SITE. AS FOR THE GAFFEY CANYON A DEVELOPER
CLEARED ALL THE FOILAGE AND TREES AND HAD A PAVED ROAD BUILT THROUGH
THERE AND BUILD MANY BEAUTIFUL HOMES THERE. THE PLACE REALLY LOOKS NICE.
I WENT THROUGH THERE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO. THE ROAD INSIDE LEADS TO
ANOTHER STREET WHERE YOU CAN MAKE AN EXIT.

55.

BACK IN 1949 I WAS STATIONED ON THE USS BOXER CV-21 AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
AND WE WERE HOME PORTED IN ALAMEDA, CA, NEXT TO OAKLAND. THERE WERE
FIVE OFFICER'S STEWARDS ABOARD OUR SHIP. THEY WERE NON-RATED MEN. THEY
WERE FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. THEY HAD A SMALL PORTABLE RECORD
PLAYER AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS SEEN PRACTICING DANCING WITH EACH OTHER.
THEY WERE VERY GOOD DANCERS. THESE FIVE GUYS OWNED ONE 1948 BUICK
ROAD MASTER AUTOMOBILE AND ONE FANCY ITALIAN SILK SUIT THAT THEY SHARED
AMONG THEMSELVES.THEY ALSO SHARED ONE TALL BEAUTIFUL BLONDE WOMAN.
THEY COULD ALWAYS BE SEEN AT MONDRI'S NIGHT CLUB IN OAKLAND ON
TELEGRAPH STREET.ONE NIGHT ONE OF THEM WOULD USE THE BUICK AND THE SUIT
AND THE BLONDE WOMAN. THE WOMAN WAS AN EXCELLENT DANCER AND THEY
COULD BE SEEN DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY. HOW IS THAT FOR SHARING. PRETTY
SMART THEM GUYS. AND THE BLONDE GOT DINED AND WINED EVERY NIGHT.

56.

DURING WORLD WAR 2 THERE WERE MANY VOLUNTEER CIVILIAN DEFENSE

POSITIONS. THERE WERE TWO POSITIONS FOR YOUTHS BETWEEN 13 AND 16 YEARS
OLD. THEY WERE MESSENGER IN WHICH YOU CARRIED MESSAGES FROM PRECINCT
TO PRECINCT FOR THE AIR RAID WARDENS ON YOUR BICYCLE DURING AIR RAIDS
AND BLACK OUTS.AND THERE WAS THE DEPUTY AUXILIARY POLICE(DAPS) I
BELONGED TO BOTH. BOYS AND GIRLS PARTICIPATED. FROM 1943 TO 1945 I WAS A
MEMBER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THE DAPS WERE UNDER THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPT. AND WE WORE UNIFORMS AND CAPS. THE BOYS WORE KHAKIS AND
THE GIRLS WORE NAVY BLUE.THERE WERE MANY RANKS IN THE DAPS. SARGEANT,
LEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, AND COMMANDER. I WAS A SARGEANT.DURING AIR RAID OR
BLACK OUTS WE DIRECTED TRAFFIC. WE ALSO WOULD SET UP CAMP IN CORNERS
AND COLLECT SCRAP METAL FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THE WAR EFFORT. IN CASE OF A
MURDER AND THE WEAPON COULD NOT BE FOUND WE SEARCHED FOR IT ALL
 36

AROUND THE AREA OF THE CRIME SCENE. WE ALSO SEARCHED FOR MISSING
CHILDS. WE WENT ON MANY FIELD TRIPS AND TO LIVE BROADCASTS IN HOLLY
WOOD. WE WOULD MEET ONE DAY A WEEK AT THE BOYS CLUB MEETING ROOM AND
MARCHED IN A GROUP. WE HAD A PRIVATE BEACH THAT BELONGED TO THE LOS
ANGELES POLICE DEPT. AND ACROSS THE STREET THERE UP ON A HIGH HILL WAS
OUR CAMP SITE OVER LOOKING THE BEAUTIFUL PACIFIC OCEAN. THE BEACH WAS
PRIVATE AND HAD A FENCE AND A GATE AND A SIGN THAT SAID THIS WAS PRIVATE
PROPERTY OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT. AND NOT TO ENTER. THIS BEACH
WAS AT PORTUGUESE BEND IN THE VISTA DEL MAR AREA. LOS ANGELES POLICE AND
THEIR FAMILIES COULD USE THE BEACH AND CAMP SITE IN GROUPS. UP ON THE HILL
THERE WAS 12 TENTS SET UP WITH COTS AND BLANKETS. A COOKING AREA AND A
WOODEN FRAME HOUSE WHERE OUR DIRECTOR LT. DON DRAPER AND HIS WIFE
LIVED.EVERY SUMMER THE BOYS WOULD SPEND A WEEK AT THE CAMP AND THE
GIRLS AT ANOTHER TIME. LT. DRAPER WAS OUR COOK AND MADE SOME OF THE
BEST BEEF STEW AND CORN BREAD THAT COULD BE MADE. OUR CAMP WAS NAMED
CAMP ARCHIE SHIELDS IN THE MEMORY OF A SAN PEDRO POLICE MAN THAT HAD
DIED. HE WAS A LOVEABLE PERSON WHO TALKED TO US KIDS ALL THE TIME WHILE
HE WAS PATROLING THE SAN PEDRO AREA ON FOOT. WHEN WORLD WAR TWO
ENDED IN AUGUST OF 1945, A MONTH LATER ALL CIVILIAN DEFENSE UNITS
DISBANDED. A GREAT MEMORY TO HAVE.

57.

THIS IS ABOUT GUARDIAN ANGELS. DO YOU HAVE ONE? OR ARE YOU A NON-
BELIEVER.MINE IS DEFINATELY MY MOTHER WHO DIED AT 31 YEARS OF AGE IN 1945.
SHE WAS WITH ME AND TOOK CARE OF ME IN SOME INSTANCES IN THE KOREAN WAR
AS WELL AS THE VIETNAM. HOW DO I KNOW IT IS MY MOM. IN 1959 I VISITED MY DAD
IN WILMINGTON, CA. FOR THE WEEKEND. I WAS STATIONED AT PORT HUENNEME ON
A STATION SHIP.I GOT UP AT 5 AM ON MONDAY MORNING AND LEFT MY DADS HOME
BOUND FOR MY SHIP. MUSTER OR ROLL CALL OF PERSONNEL WAS AT 8 AM. AS I WAS
DRIVING JUST PAST MALIBU I DOZED OFF AT THE WHEEL ALONG SIDE A STEEP
RAVINE BESIDE THE PACIFIC COAST HIGH WAY. I HEARD A VOICE THAT SOUNDED
LIKE MY MOM, CALL OUT "SONNY BOY" AND QUICKLY WOKE UP AND JUST MISSED
GOING DOWN INTO THE RAVINE. NOBODY CALLED ME SONNY BOY EXCEPT MY
MOM.IF YOU DO BELIEVE IN GUARDIAN ANGELS, WHO IS IT THAT YOU BELIEVE IS
YOURS?

58.

WHEN EVER A NAVY SHIP IS OUT AT SEA AND THE WATERS ARE CALM, SOME OF THE
CREW AFTER THE EVENING MEAL GO TO THE FANTAIL WHICH IS THE STERN OR BACK
OF THE SHIP TO RELAX AND TELL SEA STORIES AMONG THEMSELVES. SOME SIT
WITH THEIR CUPS OF COFFEE,CIGARETTES, CIGARS, PIPES AND SOME OTHER
STRANGE SMELLING CIGARETTES. DURING THE KOREAN WAR OFF THE COAST OF
INCHON WE GATHERED ONE EVENING AND A SHIPMATE TOLD A VERY HEART
 37

WARMING STORY THAT I NEVER FORGOT.I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS TRUE OR

NOT....................THE PLACE WAS BOISE, IDAHO, AND THERE WAS A YOUNG FAMILY OF
FOUR. THE COUPLE HAD A 4 YEAR OLD SON AND A SMALL DAUGHTER THAT WAS 2
YEARS OLD. IT WAS WINTER TIME AND THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS NICK NAMED
"SUNSHINE" CAME DOWN WITH DOUBLE PNUMONIA AND WAS IN BAD SHAPE. SHE
WAS TAKEN TO BOISE MEDICAL CENTER AND PLACED IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
THE LITTLE GIRL GOT WORSE AND SHOWED NO IMPROVEMENT.THE DOCTOR SAID
THAT THEY DID THE BEST THEY COULD AND SAID THE LITTLE GIRL WOULD NOT
SURVIVE AND IT WAS BEST FOR THEM TO PREPARE A FUNERAL FOR THE LITTLE
GIRL. THE FAMILY WAS DEVASTATED. THE LITTLE BROTHER SAID HE WANTED TO SEE
HIS LITTLE SISTER AND SING FOR HER. THE HEAD NURSE WHO WAS VERY RUDE SAID
THAT THE LITTLE BOY WAS NOT ALLOWED IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. THE
MOTHER SAID THAT HER SON WANTED TO SING FOR HIS LITTLE SISTER. THE CRABBY
HEAD NURSE SAID NO AND THAT RULES WERE RULES. THE LITTLE BOY FELT BAD
AND STARTED TO CRY. THEY WENT HOME AND THE LITTLE BOY SAID THAT HE
WANTED TO SING FOR HIS SISTER. SO THE MOTHER TOOK THE BOY BACK TO THE
HOSPITAL AND COVERED HIM WITH A SHEET AND TRIED TO SNEAK HIM IN TO THE
WARD. THE HEAD NURSE SAW THIS AND RUDELY TOLD THE MOTHER THAT SHE
WOULD NOT PERMIT THIS AND TO GO HOME. SO THEY WENT HOME AND THE LITTLE
BOY CRIED, THE MOTHER TOLD THE HUSBAND THAT SHE DID NOT CARE WHAT THE
HEAD NURSE SAID AND THAT THIS TIME HER SON WAS GOING TO SEE HIS LITTLE
SISTER AND SING FOR HER. WHEN SHE GOT TO THE ICU WARD THE HEAD NURSE
BLOCKED THE DOOR. THE MOTHER ANGRILY SHOVED THE HEAD NURSE ASIDE AND
WENT IN. THE HEAD NURSE WAS DUMBFOUNDED AND SURPRISED. THE LITTLE GIRL
WAS IN A COMMA AND MANY WIRES HOOKED TO HER LITTLE BODY. THE LITTLE BOY
BEGAN TO SING FOR HIS LITTLE SISTER........." THE OTHER NIGHT DEAR, AS I LAY
SLEEPING,I DREAMED I HELD YOU IN MY ARMS...........THE LITTLE GIRL OPENED HER
EYES........BUT WHEN I AWOKE DEAR, I WAS MISTAKEN.........THE LITTLE GIRL SMILED
AT HER BROTHER......SO I HUNG MY HEAD AND CRIED.......THE MACHINES THAT SHE
WAS ATTACHED TO STARTED TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT...........YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE,
MY ONLY SUNSHINE. YOU MAKE ME HAPPY WHEN SKIES ARE GRAY............THE LITTLE
GIRL SAT UP AND CLAPPED HER HANDS IN GLEE............YOU'LL NEVER KNOW DEAR,
HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY SUN SHINE AWAY." THE LITTLE GIRL
MADE A COMPLETE RECOVERY. THE DOCTORS CALLED IT A MIRACLE AND EVERY
ONE CRIED IN HAPPINESS, AND ALSO THE HEAD NURSE. THE FUNERAL WAS
CANCELLED AND IN TWO DAYS THE LITTLE GIRL WENT HOME. WAS THIS A
MIRACLE?........WHAT DO YOU THINK?

59.

SOME PEOPLE ON HERE MAY SOME TIMES WONDER WHAT LIFE IN A NAVY BOOT
CAMP IS LIKE. WELL THIS IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME ON JULY 12, 1948. I HAD GONE
A WEEK BEFORE WITH MY DAD TO THE SAN PEDRO, CA. POST OFFICE TO THE NAVY
RECRUITING OFFICE THERE. HE SIGNED FOR ME TO ENLIST AS I WAS 17 YEARS OLD
AND WOULD TURN 18 THE NEXT MONTH IN AUGUST. ON THE 12 TH OF JULY I MET
 38

WITH THE NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER RECRUITER AND TWO OTHER ENLISTEES AT 6
AM IN THE MORNING AND WE TRAVELED BY JEEP TO THE BIG POST OFFICE IN LOS
ANGELES TO THE NAVY PROCESSING CENTER THERE.THERE WERE ABOUT 150
POTENTIAL ENLISTEES THERE. WE WERE GIVEN A MEDICAL EXAMINATION. A FEW
FAILED IT. THOSE OF US THAT PASSED IT WERE LINED UP IN A GROUP AND TOOK THE
OATH OF ALLIGENCE TO THE NAVY. WE THEN WERE ALL MARCHED TO CLIFTON'S
CAFETERIA WHERE THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF OUR GROUP TOLD US TO ORDER
WHAT WE WANTED. I STILL REMEMBER WHAT I ATE. IT WAS YANKEE POT ROAST OF
BEEF W/NATURAL SAUCE, BAKED POTATOES, BUTTERED PEAS, COMBINATION SALAD,
STRAW BERRY SHORT CAKE W/WHIPPED CREAM, PARKER HOUSE DINNER ROLLS
AND BUTTER AND A GLASS OF ROOT BEER. AFTER WE ATE WE WERE MARCHED TO
THE NEAR BY UNION STATION TO TAKE A 2 HOUR RIDE ON THE EL CAPITAN TRAIN TO
SAN DIEGO. WHEN WE ARRIVED THERE WERE MANY GREY NAVY BUSSES WAITING
FOR US. WE BOARDED THEM AND MADE THE 1 MILE TRIP TO THE SAN DIEGO NAVAL
TRAINING CENTER. WHEN WE GOT THERE WE WERE TAKEN TO THE MESS HALL FOR
SUPPER. THEY HAD CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH ALL THE SIDES AND A BIG SALAD
BAR AND JUICE STATION.AFTER THAT WE WERE MARCHED TO A LARGE HALL WHERE
WE WERE ISSUED A SMALL CANVASS DITTY BAG WITH LIVING ARTICLES IN THEM LIKE
TOOTH BRUSH, TOOTH PASTE,A COMB,FACE SOAP AND LAUNDRY SOAP,PEN AND
WRITING TABLET AND ENVELOPES, SHOE SHINE BRUSH AND POLISH, RAZOR AND
RAZOR BLADES. FROM THAT DAY ON YOU HAD TO BUY ALL THESE NECESSITIES AT
THE SHIP'S STORE.WE WERE ISSUED 2 NEW BLANKETS AND A BATH TOWEL AND A
FACE TOWEL AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE NEXT DAY WE WOULD BE ISSUED OUR
CLOTHING AND UNIFORMS AND MORE TOWELS AND FACE TOWELS.WE WERE ISSUED
A SEA BAG WITH A PAD LOCK.WE WERE GIVEN G,I, HAIRCUTS AND WERE TAKEN TO
THE DENTAL CLINIC FOR A CHECK UP AND GIVEN ABOUT 4 SHOTS IN OUR ARMS. WE
WERE MARCHED TO OUR BARRACKS AT PRIMARY TRAINING FOR THE NEXT 6 WEEKS.
THEN WE WOULD GO TO ANOTHER BARRACKS FOR ADVANCED TRAINING FOR
5 WEEKS. AT PRIMARY TRAINING WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GO ANY WHERE BUT
OUR BARRACKS, CLASSES AND MARCHING AS WELL AS THE MESS HALL TO EAT.
EVERY WHERE YOU WENT YOU MARCHED IN A GROUP. YOU WENT TO VARIOUS
CLASSES SUCH AS SEAMANSHIP, FIRST AID, FIRE FIGHTING, BOAT ROWING,NAVY
LIFE,TO THE SWIMMING POOL TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU KNEW ON STAYING AFLOAT IN
DEEP WATER.IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, YOU WERE TAUGHT HOW.WE DID OUR OWN
LAUNDRY AFTER WORKING HOURS AT A LAUNDRY RAMP WITH A BUCKET AND
LAUNDRY SOAP AND A BRUSH. THE CLOTHES WERE TIED TO A LONG LAUNDRY LINE
THAT EXTENDED UPWARD. THERE WERE FOUR SUCH LINES FOR EACH OF THE 4
BARRACKS IN THE COMPOUND. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME ONE TO STAND A 2 HOUR
SECURITY WATCH TO SEE THAT NO ONE STOLE YOUR CLOTHES.WE WERE TAKEN TO
THE MARINE BASE AT CAMP PENDELTON TO LEARN HOW TO FIRE OUR M-1 RIFLES.
SO IT WAS PRETTY DULL FOR THEM FIRST SIX WEEKS.OUR BASIC PAY AT THAT TIME
FOR A SEAMAN RECRUIT E-1 WAS $75 A MONTH.WE GOT PAID TWICE A MONTH AND
COULD ONLY DRAW $5. THEY WANTED FOR US TO HAVE MONEY IN OUR ACCOUNT TO
BE ABLE TO GO HOME ON A 2 WEEK VACATION AFTER BASIC TRAINING.WHEN WE
 39

GOT TO PRIMARY TRAINING WE GOT TO USE ALL THE FACILITIES ON THE BASE AND
WERE GRANTED LIBERTY TO GO INTO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SURROUNDING
AREAS. WE COULD NOT LEAVE THE 30 MILE RADIUS LIMIT, UNLESS YOU WERE
GRANTED A 36 HOUR PASS.I FAILED TO MENTION THAT IN PRIMARY TRAINING YOU
WERE ISSUED A DUMMY 5 LB. RIFLE THAT YOU CARRIED EVERY WHERE YOU WENT
AND USED IT FOR THE PHYSICAL DRILL ON THE BASE GRINDER.YOU ALSO WORE
LEGGINGS OVER YOUR LOWER LEGS WHILE IN PRIMARY TRAINING. WHEN YOU GOT
TO ADVANCED TRAINING YOU WERE GIVEN A 9 LB. AUTHENTIC SPRINGFIELD RIFLE
TO CARRY AROUND.AFTER BASIC TRAINING WE WERE SENT ON A 2 WEEK
VACATION.IF YOUR HOME WAS IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY YOU GOT 16
DAYS VACATION. AFTER WE ALL GOT BACK FROM VACATION WE WERE ASSIGNED TO
THE OUT GOING UNIT BARRACKS TO AWAIT OUR ORDERS FOR OUR DUTY STATION.
THERE WERE 75 MEN IN MY COMPANY NO. 278. MY NAME WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE LIST AND IT SAID ALTERNATE WHILE THE REST OF THE COMPANY WENT TO
SHIPS OR SHORE STATIONS. I ASKED THE CHIEF IN CHARGE OF THE OUT GOING UNIT
WHAT ALTERNATE MEANT.HE SAID IF FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER SOME ONE
FROM OUR COMPANY GOT SICK OR SOMETHING AND COULD NOT MAKE THE
ASSIGNMENT I WOULD TAKE HIS PLACE. EVERY ONE MADE THEIR ASSIGNMENT AND
FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS I WAS ASSIGNED TO FUNERAL DETAIL FOR FUNERALS OF
NAVY PERSONNEL ACTIVE OR RETIRED. ONE WEEK YOU WERE A PALL BEARER AND
THE NEXT WEEK YOU WERE ON THE FIRE SQUAD TEAM. THEN MY ORDERS CAME
FOR ME TO REPORT TO THE LONG BEACH NAVAL FLEET TRAINING CENTER WHERE I
WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL FIRE FIGHTING SCHOOL BASE IN PALOS VERDES, CA.

60.

WHEN I COMPLETED BOOT CAMP OR BASIC TRAINING IN THE NAVY AT SAN DIEGO,
CA. IN OCTOBER OF 1948 I WENT TO DUTY AT THE NAVAL FLEET TRAINING CENTER IN
LONG BEACH AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL FIRE FIGHTERS SCHOOL BASE IN
PALOS VERDES. CA. THERE WERE 20 OF US BASED THERE. IT WAS ABOUT A FOURTH
OF A MILE DOWN FROM PECK PARK AND THE CHANNEL HTS. HOUSING PROJECT AND
ACROSS THE STREET ABOUT A BLOCK DOWN FROM THE GREEN HILLS MEMORIAL
PARK ON WESTERN AVE. WHEN I GOT THERE I WAS PUT THROUGH THE 30 DAY
COURSE TO BECOME A SHIP FIRE FIGHTER INSTRUCTOR.THERE WERE THREE
STRUCTURES THERE. AN ENGINE ROOM AND A BOILER ROOM AS WELL AS A SMOKE
HOUSE. AND A WATER SUMP WHERE THE WATER WENT FROM THE FLOODED BOILER
ROOM AND ENGINE ROOM.I WAS ALSO THE LAMP LIGHTER IN WHICH I MADE THE
FLAMES MORE LARGER BY TURNING A VALVE MORE TIMES. THE LEAD FIRE FIGHTER
INSTRUCTOR WOULD TELL ME HOW MANY TURNS TO DO.I GAVE LECTURES ON HOW
TO USE A RESCUE BREATHING APPARATUS (RBA) THAT WAS USED TO ENTER INSIDE
THE SMOKE ROOM. THEN THE PERSONNEL WENT IN WITHOUT A MASK ON.I ALSO
LECTURED ON P-500 WATER PUMPS AND THE SERIES 60 HANDY BILLY WATER PUMP.
ALSO ON HOW TO USE CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL FOAM TO EXTINGUISH GAS AND
OIL FIRES. I GAVE LECTURES ON THE WOLF LAMP WHICH WAS A SMALL METAL
CYLINDER SHAPED OBJECT WITH HOLES THAT WOULD BE USED TO PUT IN A ROOM
 40

AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY OXYGEN IN IT BEFORE ENTERING IT. AT TIMES WE WERE
CALLED UPON TO ASSIST IN THE FIRES AT THE VARIOUS OIL REFINERIES IN THE
HARBOR DISTRICT AREA. ONCE THERE WAS A SMALL VALLEY DOWN FROM OUR BASE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND MARIJUANA WAS GROWING WILD THERE. WE
WERE ASKED BY THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT. TO DESTROY IT. WE SPRAYED
DEASE OIL ON THE CROP OF POT AND LIT IT. THERE WERE ABOUT 30 GUYS
STANDING NEARBY WATCHING IT ALL AND GETTING HIGH ON THE SMOKE FROM THE
FIRE.WE FIVE FIRE FIGHTERS ALSO GOT HIGH. WE WERE GIVEN THE NEXT 2 DAYS
AND SAT. AND SUN. OFF TO GET THE EFFECT OUT OF OUR SYSTEM.THE BASE WENT
OUT OF COMMISSION SOME YEARS BACK, BUT THE STRUCTURES WERE PRESENT
AND COULD BE SEEN FOR MANY YEARS.THERE ARE HOMES AND STORES THERE
NOW.

61.

IN ANY TOWN, U.S.A. WINOS CAN BE SEEN WALKING AND STAGGERING AND LYING
ALONG BUILDINGS. SOME STAGGERING AND FALLING DOWN. SOME PEOPLE THINK IT
IS FUNNY. IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEIR MINDS AND BODY ARE DRUGGED WITH
ALCOHOL AND THEY NEED HELP AND TREATMENT. SOME OF THESE POOR SOULS
WERE ONCE PEOPLE THAT FIT INTO OUR SOCIETY. SOME EVEN PROFESSIONALS
LIKE LAWYERS, DOCTORS, MAILMEN, REAL ESTATE PERSONS, BARBERS AND SUCH.
SOME WHERE DOWN THE LINE SOME THING WENT WRONG WITH THEIR LIVES THAT
DROVE THEM TO DRINK AND TO THE HELL THAT THEY ENDURE. THEY LOST THEIR
FAMILIES AND POSSESSIONS THAT THEY ONCE OWNED.I KNEW A MAILMAN AND A
POLICEMAN WHO WERE ONCE NORMAL AND THEN TURNED TO THE BOTTLE. THE
BOTTLE TENDS TO MAKE THEM FORGET FOR A WHILE, BUT THE SORROW IS STILL IN
THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS AND IS TORMENTING THEM EVEN IF IT DOES NOT SHOW.
SOME TURN UP DEAD IN A PARK OR AN ALLEY. SOME EVEN TURN A NEW LEAF AND
GET RID OF THAT GORILLA ON THEIR SHOULDERS. I KNEW OF A COUPLE OF THEM
AND THEY LED GOOD LIVES WITH THEIR FORMER FAMILIES.SO IF YOU SEE A WINO
STAGGERING DOWN THE STREET HAVE COMPASSION FOR HIM AND THINK OF THE
INNER PRIVATE HELL THAT HE IS GOING THROUGH IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.................SO GOES THE PLIGHT AND BLEEDING HEART OF THE TOWN WINO.

62.

THE FOOLISH THINGS THAT A TEEN AGE SAILOR WILL DO.BACK IN 1950 WHEN I WAS
19 YEARS OLD AND TURNING 20 IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS, I WAS STATIONED AT THE NAF
LITCH FIELD PARK AIR FACILITY IN ARIZONA ABOUT 15 MILES FROM THE CITY OF
PHOENIX. TWO SHIPMATES AND MYSELF WERE IN PHOENIX DOING THE TOWN. AT
ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING WE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE BASE. WE WALKED
OVER TO VAN BUREN AVE. TO HITCH HIKE A RIDE BACK TO THE BASE. THE BUSES
WERE NOT RUNNING UNTIL 6 AM. WHEN WE GOT TO VAN BUREN AVE. THERE WERE 7
OTHER SHIPMATES ALSO TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE. THERE WERE HARDLY ANY CARS
ON THE ROAD. AFTER ABOUT WAITING FOR 20 MINUTES FOR SOMETHING TO
 41

HAPPEN, WE STARTED WALKING TOWARD THE BASE. ABOUT 2 BLOCKS DOWN WE

CAME TO A PARKING LOT FULL OF YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES. TO GET INTO THEM YOU
JUST HAD TO PUSH THE DOOR HARD AND IT WILL OPEN. SO A SHIPMATE NAMED
SHELTON FROM EL DORADO, ARK. HOT WIRED THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE BUS.
WE ALL PILED INTO IT AND GOT ON OUR WAY TO THE BASE. WE DITCHED THE BUS
ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE BASE TO THROW OFF THE INVESTIGATORS
THAT WERE SURE TO BE PRESENT. WE WIPED ALL THE FINGER PRINTS THAT WE
LEFT WITH A HANDKERCHIEF. WE WALKED TO THE MAIN GATE. THE NEXT DAY THERE
WERE POLICE INVESTIGATORS ON THE BASE ASKING QUESTIONS. WE DID NOT KNOW
ANY THING ABOUT THE CASE WE TOLD THE INVESTIGATORS. AFTER THAT DAY
NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE INCIDENT. BUT THEY QUICKLY PUT A CHAIN LINK
FENCE AND GATE AROUND THE SCHOOL BUS PARKING LOT. AS WE GOT OLDER WE
WERE NOT AS WILD.

63.

SOME OF YOU ON HERE KNOW I WAS BORN IN SAN PEDRO, CA. AND SPENT MOST OF
MY FIFTEEN YEARS THERE BEFORE GOING TO LIVE WITH MY DAD IN WILMINGTON
AFTER MY MOM DIED IN 1945. THE BEACH THERE IS NAMED CABRILLO BEACH NAMED
AFTER THE EXPLORER.I DID NOT GO TOO MUCH TO CABRILLO BEACH BECAUSE THE
WATER ON THE OCEAN SIDE WAS VERY COLD AND SOMETIMES WINDY. SO MOST OF
MY SWIMMING WAS SWIMMING ACROSS THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR, THE B.A.B.
BEACH, THE WEST BASIN, BRIGHTON BEACH ON TERMINAL ISLAND UP TO 1942 WHEN
THE NAVAL BASE WAS BUILT THERE AND AT THE YMCA SWIMMING POOL. WHAT THIS
STORY IS ABOUT IS CABRILLO BEACH.THERE WAS A BATH HOUSE FOR MEN AND
WOMEN NEXT TO THE SNACK BAR AND NEXT TO THE OLD MARINE MUSEUM. THE
BATH HOUSE HAD LOCKERS AND DRESSING ROOMS AS WELL AS A SUN DECK ON
THE SECOND FLOOR AS WELL AS SHOWERS. WELL SOME OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
WOULD SUN THEMSELVES ON THE SUN DECK IN THE NUDE. THERE WAS A COAST
GUARD BASE NEARBY WHICH HAD A HELICOPTER. SOMETIMES THE HELICOPTER
WOULD HOVER OVER HEAD OF THE SUN DECKS AND THE CREW OF THE HELICOPTER
COULD BE SEEN WITH BICNCULARS OOGLING THE WOMEN SUNNING THEMSELVES IN
THE BUFF. SOME ONE MUST OF COMPLAINED BECAUSE THE HELICOPTER WOULD
JUST MAKE A QUICK PASS OVER THE SUN DECK, BUT YOU COULD STILL SEE THE
CREW WITH BINOCULARS EYE BALLING THE GIRLS.THE SNACK BAR SERVED SOME
OF THE BEST 10 CENT BURGERS IN TOWN.

64.

I REMEMBER BACK IN THE OLD DAYS IN THE 1930'S AND EARLY 1940'S WHEN A LOT
OF PEOPLE HAD FOOD AND DRINK DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES EARLY IN THE
MORNING. MY MEXICAN GRANDMOTHER WOULD HAVE FRESH MILK AND ORANGE
JUICE DELIVERED BY THE MILK MAN. THE BREAD OR BAKERY MAN WOULD COME
AROUND WITH HIS SMALL VAN WITH DRAWERS AND SELL HIS BREAD, AND PASTRIES
AND DOUGH NUTS. THE FISH MAN WOULD ALSO COME AROUND WITH MACKRELL,
 42

HALIBUT AND BARACUDA SELLING IT VERY CHEAP. AND DON PEDRO WOULD COME
AROUND WITH HIS FRESH PRODUCE TRUCK WITH HIS WIFE AT HIS SIDE AND RINGING
HIS HAND HELD BELL IN THE ALLEYS. THE ICE MAN WOULD COME AROUND AND MY
GRANDMA WOULD BUY A LARGE PIECE OF ICE FOR 10 CENTS. SHE HAD AN ICE BOX
AS LARGE AS AN 18 CU. INCH REFRIGIDAIRE AND WOULD ALWAYS MAKE LEMON ADE
FROM HER LEMON TREE. AND THERE WAS THE EGG MAN WHO CAME AROUND
FREQUENTLY. MY GRANDMA CALLED HIM "EL HOMBRE DE LOS HUEVOS". MY
GRANDMA WAS VERY PICKY WHEN SHE BOUGHT EGGS FROM THE MEXICAN MAN
NAMED TIGURCIO. SHE ALWAYS TOLD HIM THAT SHE WANTED TO SEE HIS HUEVOS
BEFORE SHE BOUGHT THEM.

65.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID BACK IN THE THIRTIES AND EARLY FORTIES WHEN
WE ANXIOUSLY AWAITED THE YEARLY CHRISTMAS PARADE IN OUR TOWN OF SAN
PEDRO, CALIFORNIA.THEN THE STREETS WERE DECORATED WITH MANY LIGHTED
CHRISTMAS TREES ON THE LAMP POSTS AND GARLANDS THAT REACHED ACROSS
THE STREET HIGH UP.THE TREES WERE PLACED ON SIXTH STREET FROM HARBOR
BLVD. TO PACIFIC AVE. AND THEN LEFT GOING SOUTH TO 22 ND. ST. THE PARADE
WAS HELD IN THE EVENING AND TRAVELED FROM HARBOR BLVD. TO 22ND ST. IT WAS
LEAD BY THE TWO NATIVE AMERICANS GIRL TWINS WHO WERE MAJORETTES AND
WORE WHITE COSTUME AND WHITE WAR BONNET.THE PARADE HAD MANY ENTRIES
SUCH AS ARMY AND NAVY PERSONNEL, FIRE TRUCKS AND POLICE PATROL CARS
WITH THEIR RED LIGHTS ON AND THEIR SIRENS SOUNDING. MANY PEOPLE ON
HORSE BACK IN FANCY CLOTHES AND FANCY THOROUGH BRED HORSES.CLOWNS,
SPECIAL GROUPS, MOTOR CYCLES WITH XMAS DECORATIONS ON THEM, BICYCLE
RIDERS WITH THEIR BIKES DECORATED AND MANY MORE.OF COURSE THE HIGH
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE PARADE WAS SANTA CLAUS AND MRS. CLAUS RIDING ON
A RED SLED WITH REINDEERS IN FRONT. SANTA HAD A LARGE BUCKET WITH
PENNIES IN IT AND HE THREW A HANDFUL AT THE CROWD. WE KIDS WOULD
SCRAMBLE FOR THE PENNIES. THIS WAS THE TIME OF PENNY CANDY. I DO NOT
KNOW IF THEY STILL DO THIS IN SAN PEDRO OR NOT. IN SAN PEDRO AT THAT TIME
WE HAD MANY NICE PARADES SUCH AS THE FISHING BOAT PARADE ON THE HARBOR
WITH ALL THE BOATS DECORATED WITH SMALL BANNERS FROM BOW TO STERN.
THIS WAS HELD THE SAME DAY AS THE FISHERMEN'S FIESTA AT THE 22ND
ST. FISHING BOAT FLEET WHARVES. WE HAD THE ARMISTICE DAY PARADE WITH
MANY MILITARY VEHICLES AND TROOPS MARCHING FROM THE VARIOUS BRANCHES
OF THE MILITARY. SAN PEDRO THEN WAS A NAVY TOWN WITH SEVERAL NAVAL
VESSELS DOCKED AT THE HARBOR AREA. WE ALSO HAD THE LABOR DAY PARADE
WITH GROUPS SUCH AS THE LONG SHOREMEN, THE SCALERS, CANNERY WORKERS,
SHIP YARD WORKERS AND OTHER SMALL GROUPS. THEY ALL WORE DARK
TROUSERS WITH WHITE SHIRTS. SOME OF US KIDS MARCHED WITH OUR DADS AT
THEIR SIDE. MY DAD WAS WORKING AT THE BETHLEHELM SHIP YARD AND I MARCHED
AT HIS SIDE. AGAIN I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DO THIS ANY MORE IN SAN PEDRO. I
KNOW THAT THEY DO IT IN NEAR BY WILMINGTON.
 43

66.

TERMINAL ISLAND IN CALIFORNIA ON THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR AREA WAS ONCE
KNOWN AS THE FISH CANNERY CAPITOL OF THE WORLD. BACK IN THE THIRTIES AND
FORTIES THERE WERE 16 CANNERIES OPERATING.THE THREE MAJOR ONES WERE
THE FRENCH SARDINE WHICH LATER BECAME STAR KIST, FRANCO ITALIAN AND DEL
MONTE CANNERIES.MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE LIVED IN ONE OF
TWO VILLAGES THERE. ONE VILLAGE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACK
GROUNDS LIVED THERE AND IN THE OTHER VILLAGE 7000 PEOPLE OF JAPANESE
ORIGIN LIVE THERE IN JAPANESE STYLE HOMES. EACH CANNERY HAD IT'S OWN
DISTINCT WHISTLE THAT LET THE PACKERS AND FISH CUTTERS TO COME TO
WORK.NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE HAD TELEPHONES THEN. THE WHISTLES COULD BE
HEARD FOR A RADIUS OF 8 MILES. WHAT PEOPLE OUT OF THE RANGE OF THE
WHISTLES DID WAS DESIGNATE ONE PERSON TO HAVE A TELEPHONE AND THE
GROUP WOULD CHIP IN AND PAY THE MONTHLY BILL. THE PERSON THAT HAD THE
PHONE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE CANNERY TO COME TO WORK AND THAT
PERSON WOULD TELL THE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. WILMINGTON HAD 2
CANNERIES IN IT'S AREA. ONE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WILMINGTON BOWL
ARENA ON MAHAR AVE. AND THE OTHER IN THE WATERFRONT AREA NAMED CAL
CAP. WILMINGTON ALSO HAD A CANNED TOMATO CANNERY AT THE EAST END OF O
ST. IN EAST WILMINGTON NEAR ALAMEDA ST. THE TWO VILLAGES WERE RAZED IN
1942 DUE TO WORLD WAR 2 AND A SMALL NAVY BOOT CAMP WAS BUILT IN THE
AREA.THE JAPANESE WERE PUT INTO 10 RELOCATION CAMPS IN THE INLAND
EMPIRE FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. THERE WERE 120,000 OF THEM.THE ONES
FROM TERMINAL ISLAND WERE RELOCATED TO MANZANAR RELOCATION CAMP IN
LONE PINE, CA. AS TIME WENT BUY THE CANNERIES WERE DISAPPEARING. I THINK
THERE IS JUST ONE NOW AND IT CANS DOG AND CAT FOOD. I HEAR TALK THAT
MAYBE TWO MAY OPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS A GOOD PAYING JOB FOR THE WOMEN
WHO WORKED AS PACKERS.

67.

BACK AROUND 1946 IN THE HARBOR AREA OF THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR THERE
WERE 5 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.SAN PEDRO HIGH, BANNING HIGH, NARBONNE
HIGH, TORRANCE HIGH AND GARDENA HIGH. THEY WERE ALL IN THE MARINE
LEAGUE. I ATTENDED BOTH SAN PEDRO HIGH AND BANNING HIGH. MOSTLY BANNING
HIGH. BANNING HIGH WAS IN WILMINGTON.I ATTENDED ALL THE FOOT BALL GAMES
AND TRACK MEETS AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS. AT BANNING THERE WAS A CLASS
MATE NAMED ALVIN MOORE WHOSE OLDER BROTHER BOUGHT AN OLD HEARSE
FROM THE WOODS FUNERAL HOME IN WILMINGTON WHEN IT CLOSED DOWN. WELL
ALVIN'S BROTHER WOULD TAKE ABOUT TEN OF US STUDENTS TO THE GAMES IN THE
HEARSE. WE ALL PILLED INTO THE BACK OF THE BLACK PACKARD FUNERAL HEARSE.
IT WAS FUN BUT YET EERIE BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT MANY PERSONS HAD TAKEN
THEIR LAST RIDE HERE INSIDE OF THE HEARSE. WHEN WE GOT TO THE HIGH
 44

SCHOOL PARKING LOTS THE PEOPLE WOULD LAUGH AT US AS WE PILED OUT OF

THE HEARSE IT WAS A NOVELTY AND IT WAS FUN.

68.

A LOT OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY ENTIRE WORKING LIFE WAS THAT OF
FOOD SERVICE. AS A CHEF, BAKER AND BUTCHER. IN THE NAVY AND IN FIVE
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTES BOTH FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS. WHEN I WAS ATTENDING SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL MY FIRST FOOD
SERVICE JOB WAS THAT OF AN APPRENTICE COOK AT A FAMOUS FILIPINO
RESTURANT NAMED THE OUR CAFE ON BEACON ST. ON THE WATER FRONT. THEIR
CHICKEN AND PORK ADOBO WAS FAMOUS IN THE SOUTH LAND.THEY SERVED ABOUT
500 PLATES A DAY.THEY WERE OPENED FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM. WHEN EARL WARREN
THE LATE SUPREME JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT WAS GOVERNOR OF
CALIFORNIA AND LIVED IN SANTA MONICA, HE AND HIS FAMILY CAME TO EAT
CHICKEN ADOBO AT THE OUR CAFE WHEN EVER HE AND HIS FAMILY CAME TO GO
GRUNION HUNTING AT CABRILLO BEACH. IN THE CAFE THERE WAS A LARGE PICTURE
OF GOVERNOR WARREN AND HIS FAMILY AND ALL THE STAFF OF THE CAFE.
READING AT THE BOTTOM "A FRIENDLY GATHERING"

69.

BACK IN 1951 2 BUDDIES AND I FROM OUR SHIP IN SAN DIEGO BOUGHT 3 ONE WAY
TICKETS FOR THE GREY HOUND BUS TO HOLLY WOOD. WE HAD GOT PAID ON FRIDAY
AND TODAY WAS SATURDAY SO WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE DAY IN HOLLYWOOD
AND SEE THE SIGHTS AND DO SOME BARS. WE WENT TO THE FAMOUS BROWN
DERBY AND HAD A BEER. JUST ONE BECAUSE THE COST OF A BEER THERE WAS AN
ARM AND A LEG. WE WENT TO A FANCY RESTURANT TO EAT, WE ALL ORDERED
ROAST SIRLOIN OF BEEF WITH THE SIDES. WELL WE SPENT ALL OF OUR MONEY AND
DID NOT SAVE ANY FOR A TICKET BACK TO SAN DIEGO. SO WE DECIDED TO HITCH
HIKE TO LOS ANGELES TO THE AREA OF 7TH AND MAIN STREET WHERE THE GREY
HOUND STATION WAS AND HOPE TO SEE SOME SHIPMATES FROM OUR SHIP THERE
AND BORROW SOME MONEY FOR A TICKET BACK TO SAN DIEGO.ACROSS FROM THE
GREY HOUND STATION WHERE WE WERE STANDING WAS THE RESCUE MISSION AND
IT WAS FEEDING TIME FOR THE HOMELESS AND WE COULD SMELL THE GOOD ODORS
OF THE FOOD BEING SERVED THERE. AN ELDERY GENTLEMAN APPROACHED US. WE
WERE IN UNIFORM, AND HE ASKED US IF WE WOULD LIKE TO COME IN FOR SUPPER.
WE WERE HUNGRY AND ACCEPTED HIS KIND OFFER.THEY WERE SERVING SOME
EXCELLENT BEEF STEW, RICE, CORN BREAD AND CHOCOLATE PUDDING AND KOOL
ADE.WHILE WE ATE, THE ELDERY MAN SAID HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE RESCUE
MISSION. WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE FROM SAN DIEGO AND WE WENT TO HAVE
FUN IN HOLLYWOOD AND DID NOT BUY A RETURN TICKET TO SAN DIEGO AND
THAT WE WERE BROKE AND WE WANTED TO SEE IF ANY ONE FROM OUR SHIP WAS
IN THE GREY HOUND STATION AND LOAN US SOME MONEY FOR A TICKET.THE MAN
TOOK OUT HIS WALLET AND GAVE US FIVE DOLLARS A PIECE AND SAID THAT WE
 45

COULD SEND HIM THE MONEY WHEN EVER WE COULD. THAT WAS MORE THAN
ENOUGH FOR A TICKET. WE THANKED HIM FOR THE MEAL AND FOR THE LOAN AND
TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD SEND HIM THE MONEY NEXT PAY DAY. THAT PAY DAY WE
PUT A THIRTY DOLLAR MONEY ORDER IN AN ENVELOPE AND A THANK YOU CARD
FROM ALL THREE OF US. I NEVER WILL FORGET THAT DAY AND THE KINDNESS OF
THE MAN. THE MAN WAS A PASTOR.

70.

SOMETIMES WHEN A PERSON BUTTERFLYS OR CHEATS ON THEIR SPOUSE IT CAN BE

DANGEROUS AND SOME TIMES DEADLY. IN 1960 WHEN I WAS STATIONED AT PORT
HUENNEME, CA. AT THE SEA BEE BASE ABOARD SHIP I WOULD SOMETIMES TEND
BAR AT ONE OF THE 5 BARS OUTSIDE THE BASE GATE. THE SEA BEES WOULD GO
OVER SEAS FOR 6 MONTHS TO SOME SHORE INSTALLATION AT VARIOUS COUNTRIES
IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THEN THEY WOULD RETURN FOR AN 18 MONTH STAY AT THE
SEA BEE STATION IN PORT HUENNEME. WELL ONE COUPLE THAT I KNEW WELL USE
TO COME INTO THE BAR I WORKED AT OFTEN. ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE
QUONSET HOUSES WHERE THE ENLISTED MEN LIVED WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND
KIDS.THIS PARTICULAR COUPLE DID NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN. THE HUSBAND GOT
READY TO DEPLOY OVERSEAS FOR 6 MONTHS AND THEN LEFT. THE NEXT DAY A
SHIP MATE FROM MY SHIP MOVED IN WITH HER AND HAD A RELATION. WELL ABOUT 2
WEEKS AFTER THE HUSBAND GOT TO KOREA HE GOT A MESSAGE THAT HIS FATHER
HAD DIED IN ARKANSAS. HE WAS GIVEN BEREAVED LEAVE TO GO TO HIS FATHER'S
FUNERAL. HE DID NOT WANT TO CALL HIS WIFE BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO
UPSET HER. SO HE LEFT FOR PORT HUENEME TO PICK UP HIS WIFE AND HEAD FOR
ARKANSAS. IT WAS ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING WHEN HE GOT TO HIS HOUSE. HE
LET HIMSELF IN WITH A KEY. HE WENT TO THE BEDROOM AND TURNED ON THE
LIGHTS AND SAW HIS WIFE AND MY SHIPMATE IN EACH OTHERS ARM AND ASLEEP
AND IN THE NUDE.HE WENT TO THE CLOSET AND GOT HIS 22 CAL. RIFLE AND SHOT
MY SHIPMATE 2 TIMES IN THE LEG. HIS WIFE DID NOT GET SHOT. THE HUSBAND WAS
TAKEN PRISONER AND PUT IN THE STATION BRIG.TEN DAYS LATER I WAS
TRANSFERED TO JAPAN AND I NEVER HEARD OF THE OUT COME.MY SHIPMATE WAS
LUCKY THAT THE HUSBAND DID NOT KILL HIM AND THE WIFE. IN THE NAVY SOME
COUPLES ARE VERY YOUNG WHEN THEY MARRY AND THE WIFE GETS LONESOME
WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED AS WELL AS THE HUSBAND WHO MIGHT CHEAT ON HIS
WIFE WHEN HE IS OVERSEAS. INMY YOUNG YEARS IN THE NAVY BEFORE I WAS
MARRIED I NEVER DATED A MARRIED WOMAN IF I KNEW SHE WAS MARRIED TO
EITHER A CIVILIAN OR MILITARY MAN.................IT WAS JUST TOO DANGEROUS TO DO
SO.

71.

ONCE AGAIN THE UGLY AMERICAN HAS LEFT IT'S MARK. THIS TIME AT THE OLYMPIAD
GAMES IN RIO DE JANIERO. THREE MEMBERS OF THE OLYMPIC MEN'S TEAM
VANDALIZED A REST ROOM IN RIO AND LIED THAT THEY WERE ROBBED AT GUN
 46

POINT. AND THEY WERE ALL EXTREMELY DRUNK. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE MANY
COUNTRIES I HAVE TRAVELED TO THROUGH OUT THE WORLD. SOME OF US
AMERICANS DO NOT RESPECT THE PEOPLE AND LAWS OF THE VARIOUS HOST
COUNTRIES. I SEEN A LOT OF THIS IN JAPAN AND IN VIETNAM. ONE TIME WHEN I WAS
STATIONED IN JAPAN IN THE BASE MESS HALL, THERE WAS THIS COOK THAT WAS
DRESSING DOWN A JAPANESE CIVILIAN FOOD SERVICE MAN BECAUSE HE WAS NOT
SPEAKING ENGLISH TO ANOTHER JAPANESE EMPLOYEE. I HAD TO REMIND HIM THAT
THIS IS THEIR COUNTRY AND WE WERE THE GUESTS HERE. SOME LAWS AND
CUSTOMS ARE WAY FAR DIFFERENT THAN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE
SHOULD RESPECT THEM EVEN IF WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM. SOME OF THE
INDEGINOUS PERSONNEL THAT WE HAD WORKING DID NOT KNOW ENGLISH AT ALL
BUT KNEW HOW TO DO THINGS BY WATCHING IT DONE.

72.

WHILE MAKING A MEDITERANIAN AND WORLD CRUISE ABOARD MY SHIP WE WENT UP

THE ATLANTIC SEA TO BREMERHAVEN, GERMANY AND TIED UP AT THE NAVAL SHIP
YARD THERE. WE WERE NEXT TO THE RHINE RIVER. I HAD A SHIPMATE THAT WAS
PART OF THE CREW OF A TUG LIKE RIVER BOAT THAT PATROLED THE RIVER FROM
BREMERHAVEN TO OPPENHEIM. THEY WERE NAMED THE RHINE RIVER PATROL UNIT
ONE. THE BOAT HAD A 10 MEN CREW AND MY SHIPMATE THAT HAD BEEN WITH ME IN
SASEBO, JAPAN AT THE BASE THERE, AND WAS THE COOK ON BOARD. THEY
PATROLED THE RIVER EVERY OTHER DAY.I WAS OFF DUTY SO I TOOK A TRIP WITH
THEM ON THE BOAT WHEN THEY LEFT AT 8 A.M. IN THE MORNING THEY WOULD TAKE
ON 2 ELDERY GERMAN WOMEN WHO WOULD DO THE LAUNDRY WHILE PATROLING
THE RIVER. THE WOMEN DID NOT WANT MONEY FOR THEIR LABOR BUT JUST ASKED
FOR FACE SOAP, LAUNDRY SOAP, BLEACH,TOOTH PASTE,COLOGNE,CIGARETTES
AND TOILET TISSUE. THEY WOULD DO THE LAUNDRY AND HANG IT UP ON LINES IN
BACK OF THE BOAT AND THE CLOTHES WOULD BE DRIED IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR.
THE WOMEN HAD LUNCH WITH US ALSO. THE PATROL TOOK 8 HOURS AND WAS BACK
IN PORT BY 4 PM. ON THE RHINE RIVER THERE WERE MANY SMALL ISLANDS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE RIVER MAYBE A BLOCK LONG IN SIZE. MANY WEALTHY PEOPLE HAD
MANSIONS ON THESE ISLANDS. AS WE PASSED SOME OF THE ISLANDS THE PEOPLE
WERE OUT SITTING IN UMBRELLA TABLES AND WOULD WAVE AT US AND SOME
WOULD MOTION US TO COME ALONG SIDE OF THE SMALL PIERS AND THEY WOULD
HAND US BOTTLES OF HENNESEY AND MARTELLS COGNAC LIQUOR.

73.

NAVY COOKS AND BAKERS ARE KNOWN TO BE SOME OF THE BEST EXPERTS IN
MAKING HOME MADE WINES ABOARD SHIPS OR NAVAL STATIONS. THEY MAKE RAISIN
JACK,PRUNO, PINEAPPLE WINE,APRICOT WINE,GRAPE WINE,CHERRY WINE AND
PEACH WINE. ONE DAY SOME MESS MEN OR K.P.S THAT WERE WORKING AT THE
GENERAL MESS ON NORTH ISLAND, CA. IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA TRIED TO MAKE
SOME PINEAPPLE WINE. IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND HOT SO THEY HID IT IN THE
 47

LAUNDRY AREA ON THE ROOF. IT TAKES ABOUT 5 DAYS TO FERMENT INTO A

WINE.ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING WE WERE ALL WOKE UP WITH A LOUD
EXPLOSION COMING FROM THE LAUNDRY AREA ON THE ROOF.SOME OF US COOKS
WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND WE GOT THE STRONG ODOR OF PINE APPLE WINE. WHAT
THE MESS MEN DID WRONG WAS TO COVER THE 5 GALLON METAL MILK CAN WITH
THE WINE INSIDE WITH THE LID. THE GASES BUILT UP INSIDE AND CAUSED AN
EXPLOSION. INSIDE THE CAN WAS PINEAPPLE TID BITS, PINEAPPLE JUICE AND
SUGAR AND YEAST AND WATER. WHAT THEY SHOULD OF DID WAS COVER THE TOP
OF THE HOLE OF THE CAN WITH CHEESE CLOTH. AFTER THE 5 DAYS THE WINE
WOULD BE STRAINED THROUGH THE CHEESE CLOTH AND PUT INTO EMPTY GREEN
OLIVE QUART JARS.

74.

SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OR SEEN THE BARRAGE BALLOONS OF WORLD
WAR TWO THAT WERE SENT UP TO THE SKY ALL OVER THE WEST COAST. THEY
RESEMBLED SMALL BLIMPS AND SILVER IN COLOR. THEY WERE SENT UP
PERIODICALLY UP IN THE AIR. THEY WERE SENT UP TO ENTANGLE ENEMY AIR CRAFT
OVER HEAD IN THEIR CABLES AND EXPLODE DOWNING THE AIR CRAFT. THEY WERE
ATTACHED TO A THICK CABLE THAT THAT WAS UNWOUND FROM A WINCH. THERE
WERE 12 MEN ARMY CAMPS SET UP AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE HARBOR AREA
OF LONG BEACH, SAN PEDRO, WILMINGTON, LOMITA AND HARBOR CITY. I LIVED IN
SAN PEDRO ON FIRST STREET AND MESA ST. AND THERE WAS AN ARMY CAMP AND
BALLOON ACROSS THE STREET FROM US ON AN EMPTY LOT. WHEN THE BALLOONS
WERE UP IN THE AIR AND IT WAS A WINDY DAY THE BALLOONS WOULD SWAY DOWN
VERY CLOSE TO OUR ROOF TOPS IN THE AREA AND IT WAS SCARY. TWO SOLDIERS
FROM THE CAMP NAMED JOE TRACCHIO AND AL BORENI BOTH FROM BROOKLYN
NEW YORK BECAME GOOD FRIENDS WITH MY FAMILY AND WE WOULD OFTEN INVITE
BOTH OF THEM FOR SUPPER. ACROSS FROM THE CAMP THERE WAS A LARGE
APARTMENT BUILDING AND SOON JOE AND AL'S WIVES CAME TO LIVE THERE. SO
THEY BOTH JUST HAD TO GO ACROSS THE STREET TO THEIR JOB.DURING THE WAR
PERIOD THE BALLOONS ON THE WEST COAST NEVER ENCOUNTERED AN ENEMY AIR
CRAFT. IN WILMINGTON THEY HAD A BARRAGE BALLOON CAMP IN BANNING PARK AS
WELL AS AN AIR CRAFT ARTILLARY UNIT, THERE WERE BALLOONS NEAR THE HENRY
FORD BRIDGE AND ANOTHER NEAR THE BORAX COMPANY AT THE WATER FRONT.
ALL THE CAMPS DISASSEMBLED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1945.

75.

THE TIME WAS DECEMBER OF 1953 AND I WAS STATIONED WITH THE NAVY AT THE
AIR BASE AT ATSUGI, JAPAN UP IN THE COUNTRY ABOUT 35 MILES FROM THE OCEAN.
OUR LARGE BASE WAS SURROUNDED BY FARMS AND FIELDS.ABOUT A MILE AWAY
FROM THE BASE WAS THE SMALL TOWN OF SAGAMI OTSUKA OR AS WE CALLED IT
"SCIVVY TOWN". IT WAS A TOWN OF 87 BARS AND A HOTEL,BARBER AND BEAUTY
SHOP,LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANERS,TAILOR SHOP, TWO SOUVENIER GIFT SHOPS, 5
 48

RESTURANTS AND A FOOD MARKET. MOST OF US FROM THE BASE SPENT OUR
SHORE LEAVE OR LIBERTY THERE ENTERTAINED BY THE PRETTY HOSTESSES THERE
IN THE BARS.WELL IT WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS BEFORE NEW YEARS EVE AND I WANTED
TO LOOK SHARP AND IMPRESS THE GIRLS. SO I WENT TO THE TAILOR SHOP AND GOT
FITTED FOR A WHITE CHASHMERE SUIT AND A CASHMERE TOP COAT AND A BLACK
SILK SHIRT. I WENT INTO YAMATO CITY WHICH WAS NEXT TO SAGAMI OTSUKA AND
BOUGHT A PAIR OF BLUE SUEDE SHOES WITH A ZIPPER ON THE SIDE. NEW YEARS
NEVER CAME AND I WAS SET. I GOT INTO MY THREADS AND I WAS CLEAN AS CAN
BE.THAT NOON IN TOKYO THE ANNUAL RICE BOWL FOOT BALL GAME BETWEEN THE 2
BEST MILITARY TEAMS IN THE FAR EAST WAS BEING HELD. OUR TEAM THE ATSUGI
NAVAL FLYERS AND THE YOKOSUKA NAVAL SEA HAWKS WERE PLAYING FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP. SO I TOOK THE BASE BUS THAT TOOK US TO THE STADIUM IN DOWN
TOWN TOKYO. OUR TEAM WON THE GAME. SO AFTER THE GAME THE BUS
HEADEDBACK TO OUR BASE AND WE ASKED THE DRIVER TO LET US OFF A BLOCK
AWAY FROM SAGAMI OTSUKA. I MADE THE ROUND OF THE BARS AND WAS
COMPLIMENTED FOR MY GLAD RAGS BY THE GIRLS. SO MIDNIGHT CAME AND A NEW
YEAR CAME AND I KISSED ALL THE GIRLS.I TOOK TWO OF THEM FOR A LATE SNACK
AT ONE RESTURANT WHICH SERVED CHINESE FOOD. AT 2 AM I GOT SLEEPY AND
HEADED TO THE BASE,. AT THAT HOUR THE BUSES WERE NOT RUNNING AND THERE
WAS NO TAXI IN SIGHT. SO I DECIDED TO WALK TO THE NEAR BY BASE. I TOOK A
SHORT CUT ACROSS A VEGETABLE FIELD AND DID NOT NOTICE A BENJO DITCH IN
FRONT OF ME. A BENJO DITCH IS A DITCH WITH HUMAN WASTE AND WATER IN IT AND
MOSTLY KNOWN AS A "HONEY BUCKET" DITCH BY MANY. IT IS USED TO FERTILIZE
THE FIELDS WHICH IS KNOWN AS NIGHT SOIL. I FELL INTO IT WHICH WAS ABOUT
FOUR FEET DEEP. I WAS ALL COVERED WITH THE WASTE AND SMELLED LIKE
HELL.ALL MY RAGS WERE DARK BROWN IN COLOR AS WELL AS MY SHOES. I GOT OUT
OF THE DITCH AND MADE MY WAY TO THE MAIN GATE. THE MARINE GUARDS TOOK
ME IN THE BACK OF THE GUARD HOUSE AND WASHED ME DOWN WITH A HOSE. I
THEN WENT TO MY BARRACKS AND TOOK OFF MY CLOTHES AND TOOK A VERY LONG
SHOWER WITH BAKING SODA RUBBED OVER MY BODY TO ABSORB THE AWFUL
ODOR. I LOOKED AT MY CLOTHES AND SHOES AND THREW THEM ALL IN THE TRASH
CAN. THEY WERE A TOTAL LOSS. AT LEAST I GOT TO WEAR THEM FOR A DAY. THEY
DID NOT COST VERY MUCH AS AT THAT TIME EVERY THING WAS VERY CHEAP IN
JAPAN. PROBABLY ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR ALL OR 36,000 YEN IN
JAPANESE CURRENCY.

76.

THOSE WHO LIVE OR KNOW ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR AREA ARE
ACQUAINTED WITH THE PALOS VERDES ESTATES AND THE ROLLING HILLS IN UPPER
SAN PEDRO, CA. AREA. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS STILL THERE,BUT BACK IN THE
FORTIES AND BEFORE THERE WAS A PLACE IN THE ROLLING HILLS CALLED
MAGNETIC HILL. ITWAS A STEEP HILL ABOUT A BLOCK LONG. IF YOU WENT TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TURNED OFF YOUR MOTOR AND YOUR BRAKES OFF AND
YOUR GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL, YOUR CAR OR TRUCK WOULD SLOWLY GO BACK UP
 49

THE HILL TO THE TOP BY ITSELF BACKING UP. THE BELIEVE IT OR NOT COLUMN IN
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES NEWS PAPER CARRIED AN ARTICLE ON THIS HAPPENING.
THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A MIRAGE AND THAT IT WAS A HILL WITHIN A HILL,
WHATEVER THAT MEANT. ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN BELOW WAS WESTERN AVE. IN
THE PALOS VERDES AREA. THERE WAS A LARGE VEGETABLE FIELD THERE THAT
LATER IN 1949 BECAME GREEN HILLS MEMORIAL PARK. IN THE SUMMER DURING THE
SCHOOL SUMMER BREAK MANY STUDENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA OF
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS WERE HIRED TO PICK STRING BEANS. YOU
HAD TO BE 14 YEARS OLD AND HAVE A WORK PERMIT FROM YOUR SCHOOL TO WORK
NOT OVER 4 HOURS A DAY.BUT THE FIELD BOSS WOULD LET YOU WORK 8 HOURS.
IN 1944 I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND WENT TO WORK THERE FOR 25 CENTS AN HOUR
WHICH WAS MINIMUM WAGE THEN.ONE DAY MY BEST FRIEND VICTOR PONCE AND I
WENT TO WORK THERE. IT WAS VERY HOT THAT DAY AND WE WORE SUN GLASSES
AND A LARGE COW BOY HAT. AT THE END OF OUR 8 HOUR SHIFT WE WERE BOTH
EXHAUSTED. BUT THAT DID NOT STOP US FROM BOTH GOING TO THE LONG BEACH
PIKE AFTER WE SHOWERED AND CHANGED CLOTHES AT HOME. AFTER WE LEFT THE
FIELD WE HEADED TOWARD THE CHANNEL HEIGHTS PROJECT AREA NEAR PECK
PARK AND CAUGHT THE BUS TO TAKE US BACK HOME.WE BOTH WENT TO THE REAR
SEAT OF THE BUS AND LAID DOWN. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR STOP WE HEADED HOME
TO CLEAN OURSELVES UP. WE HAD GOT PAID THE 2 DOLLARS IN QUARTERS. WHEN I
LAID DOWN ON THE BACK SEAT, ALL OF MY QUARTERS MUST HAVE CAME OUT OF MY
POCKETS AND FELL DOWN ON THE FLOOR IN THE BUS. I QUICKLY WENT TO THE BUS
STOP AND WAITED FOR THE BUS. I TOLD THE BUS DRIVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND
HE LET ME ON THE BUS TO LOOK FOR MY MONEY. IT WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. I
FELT BAD THAT I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT MONEY. I TOLD VICTOR THAT I COULD
NOT GO WITH HIM TO THE PIKE BECAUSE I LOST MY MONEY ON THE BUS. HE TOLD
ME NOT TO WORRY THAT HE WAS GOING TO TREAT ME THERE. THAT IS THE WAY
VICTOR WAS WITH PEOPLE. HE HAD A HEART OF GOLD. LATER IN LIFE VIC PONCE JR.
BECAME A MAIN EVENT BOXER JUST LIKE HIS DAD KID PONCE. VIC WAS KNOWN AS
KID PONCE JR.HE BECAME A VERY GOOD BOXER AND NOW HOLDS THE FASTEST
KNOCK OUT RECORD IN BOXING HISTORY. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT IN THE FIFTIES
AT THE HOLLY WOOD LEGION STADIUM ARENA. HE KNOCKED OUT HIS OPPONET IN 17
SECONDS OF THE FIRST ROUND.LATER VIC BECAME A DOCK WORKER LIKE HIS DAD.
SADLY VIC PASSED AWAY SOME YEARS AGO. I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE KNOWN HIM IN
MY LIFE.MAY HE REST IN PEACE.VIC AND I HAD SIMILAR CHILD HOODS. VIC WAS I
YEAR OLDER THAN I HAVING BEEN BORN IN 1929.WE WERE THE ONLY CHILD.WE
BOTH HAD PRETTY MOMS. WE BOTH LOST THEM 3 MONTHS APART IN 1945 AND WE
WERE BOTH PRODUCTS OF A BROKEN HOME.

77.

=====CHRISTMAS DAY IN VIETNAM=====

 50

IN VIETNAM I WAS AT A BASE NAME NSAD TAN MY. WE WERE A FUEL DEPOT WITH
MANY GIANT TANKS OF MOTOR OIL, DEASEL OIL, GASOLINE, AND JP-500 AVIATION
GASOLINE. I WAS THE CHIEF IN CHARGE OF THE GENERAL MESS AND GALLEY. WE
WERE ABOUT 5 KILOMETERS FROM THE ANCIENT CITY OF HUE. I HAD A STAFF OF 57
COOKS AND BAKERS. AMONG US WERE COOKS FROM THE MARINES,COASTGUARD,
ARMY AND AIR FORCE. OUR BASE WAS CALLED "COCO BEACH" BY MANY OF THE
ARMY EAGLE RANGERS, WHICH TWO COMPANIES AT A TIME CAME HERE FOR REST
AND RECREATION FOR 2 WEEKS AT A TIME.. WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL WHITE SAND AND
SKY BLUE BEACH.OUR BASE WAS ALL SAND EXCEPT FOR THE RAMPS LAID OUT FOR
ROADS. INSIDE MY MESS HALL WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WORLD AND
ATMOSPHERE. IT HAD LIGHT BROWN PANEL WALLS, WHITE PERFORATED TILE FOR
THE OVERHEAD, THICK RED PLUSH CARPETS AND CHANDALIERS HANGING FROM
THE OVER HEAD AND LAVENDER AND WHITE LAMPS ON THE WALLS. IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE MESS HALL WAS A LARGE CHEST FREEZER FILLED WITH 13 1/2 OZ. PORTER
HOUSE STEAKS. OUT SIDE I HAD A LONG LARGE BBQ GRILL BUILT BY THREE OF THE
50 REPUBLIC OF KOREA MARINES THAT WE HAD STATIONED HERE. WE HAD AN
ENDLESS AMOUNT OF CHARCHOAL THAT WE TRADED OUR GARBAGE FOR WITH A
PIG FARMER. THEY ALSO CLEANED OUR GARBAGE HOUSE. IF YOU WANTED A
PORTER HOUSE STEAK YOU WENT TO THE FREEZER AND GOT ONE AND TOOK IT
OUTSIDE TO THE BARBIE AND COOKED IT YOURSELF TO YOUR LIKING. I HAD A COOK
STANDING BY TO SHOW YOU HOW TO COOK IT.ON CHRISTMAS DAY I FED FOR 24
HOURS STRAIGHT WITH ALL MY COOKS ON DUTY THROUGHOUT THAT TIME IN 8
HOUR SHIFTS. THIS IS BECAUSE WE FED THE ENTIRE EAGLE RANGERS GROUP THAT
WAS FIGHTING AT THE FRONT AT THE SHAU VALLEY 20 MILES AWAY FROM OUR
BASE. THEY WERE PUT ON HELICOPTERS RIGHT OFF THE BATTLE LINE AND
BROUGHT TO OUR BASE ALL MUDDY AND EXHAUSTED. THEY MARCHED TO OUR
MESS HALL AND STACKED THEIR RIFLES OUT SIDE AND THEN STEPPED INTO THE
WORLD. THEY WERE VERY SURPRISED AND SOME WEPT IN HAPPINESS. THEY HAD A
FULL 2 HOURS TO DINE BEFORE BEING TAKEN BACK TO THE FRONT. SOME WOULD
NEVER SEE HOME AGAIN........THE FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION WHICH WAS VERY
STRONG IN VIETNAM. WE HAD A LOADED MENU WITH THREE ENTRIES OF BEEF PRIME
RIB, BAKED HAM AND ROAST TURKEY WITH ALL THE SIDES. I HAD A SOFT ICE CREAM
MACHINE WITH CONES IN THE MESS HALL. I HAD 30 YOUNG VIETNAMESE GIRLS WITH
LIGHT GREEN COLORED MINI SKIRTS SERVING THE TROOPS AS WELL AS CLEANING
THE TABLES. THE TROOPS COULD EAT ALL THEY WANTED. IF THEY WANTED A TASTE
OF HOME I HAD IN THE CORNER OF THE MESS HALL A SMALL SNACK BAR WITH 2
COOKS. PIZZA, CHILI DOGS, CHEESE BURGERS, TACOS,CHIMICHANGAS,GRILLED
CHEESE SANDWICHES AND FRENCH FRIES. THIS WENT OVER BIG. WHEN THEY GOT
READY TO BOARD THE HELOS BACK TO THE FRONT THEY WERE GIVEN A BAG OF
GOODIES WITH CANDY, GUM, CIGARS, CIGARETTES, WRITING TABLET, INK
PEN,TOOTH BRUSH AND TOOTH PASTE AND SHAVING CREAM AND SAFETY
RAZOR.THEY ALL THANKED US FOR THE GESTURE. WE COOKS WERE HAPPY TO
SERVE THEM AND FELT GOOD ABOUT OUR SELVES. SO SOME OF THE TROOPS HAD
THEIR CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH US THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT AND THE EARLY
 51

HOURS OF THE A.M. BUT NO SOLDIER WAS LEFT WITHOUT CHRISTMAS DINNER. IT
WAS THE LEAST WE COULD DO FOR THEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I GOT A PERSONAL
LETTER FROM THE COMMANDING GENERAL THANKING ME FROM THE BOTTOM OF
HIS HEART AND ON BEHALF OF HIS TROOPS FOR MAKING IT A DAY FOR THEM.

78.

HAVE ANY ONE OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE ON HERE EVER FIND A SIGNIFICENT AMOUINT
OF MONEY IN YOUR LIFE TIME? I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES. DURING THE DEPRESSION
YEARS ABOUT 1939 MY MOM SENT ME ON AN ERRAND TO THE SUPER MARKET A
COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY. AS I WAS STANDING IN THE CHECK OUT LINE I LOOKED
DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND SAW A WAD OF BILLS OF MONEY. I CASUALLY PICKED THE
WAD UP AND PUT IT INTO MY POCKET. WHEN I GOT HOME THERE WAS $87 IN THE
WAD OF MONEY. IN THEM DEPRESSION DAYS HONESTY WAS VERY SLIM IN THE WAY
OF FINDING MONEY. MY MOM AND DAD THOUGHT THAT WHO EVER CARRIED AND
HAD THAT KIND OF MONEY WAS DOING WELL COMPARED TO OTHERS THAT HAD A
HARD TIME COMING ABOUT MONEY. WE KEPT THE MONEY, WE HAD A NICE
CHRISTMAS WHICH WAS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY. ANOTHER TIME IN 1943 I FOUND A
ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL ON THE FLOOR OF THE NEW POST OFFICE. WE
REPORTED THE FINDING TO THE POLICE AND A MONTH LATER I GOT TO KEEP THE
MONEY AS NO ONE CLAIMED IT. IT WAS IN TWO NEWSPAPERS THE STORY AND MY
PICTURE.ANOTHER TIME ABOUT 1951 A SHIPMATE AND I WENT ON LIBERTY OR
SHORE LEAVE WHILE IN SAN DIEGO ABOARD A SHIP. WE HAD $7 BETWEEN US SO WE
BOUGHT A PINT OF WHISKEY AND WENT TO MISSION BEACH IN SAN DIEGO TO SEE
RALPH FLANAGAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA APPEARING THERE. WHEN WE GOT TO THE
DANCE PAVILION I HAD TO MAKE A HEAD CALL(BATH ROOM). SO I SAT ON ONE OF
THE STOOLS AND DID MY THING. I GLANCED DOWN AND SPOTTED SOME MONEY
BILLS ON THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY PICKED THEM UP AND HIGH TAILED OUT OF THERE
AND TOLD MY SHIPMATE THAT WE WERE LEAVING THE AREA. HE ASKED WHAT WAS
WRONG AND I TOLD HIM THAT I FOUND MONEY ON THE FLOOR. WE QUICKLY GOT THE
BUS AND HEADED FOR SAN DIEGO. I COUNTED THE MONEY AND THERE WAS $72.
NEEDLESS TO SAY MY BUDDY AND I HAD A GREAT WEEK END IN TIAJUANA, MEXICO
WHICH WAS 15 MILES AWAY. AND ANOTHER TIME I WAS STATIONED IN JAPAN ABOUT
1953 AND IT WAS PAY DAY AND I WAS OFF DUTY FOR THE DAY. SO I LEFT EARLY IN
THE MORNING TO GO TO THE LOCAL BARS IN THE AREA. I ENTERED ONE BAR NAMED
THE MERMAID AND IT WAS EMPTY OF CUSTOMERS. I WENT UP TO THE BAR AND
STOOD UP AND ORDERED A COLD ASAHI JAPANESE BEER. I LOOKED DOWN ON THE
FLOOR AND SPOTTED A WAD OF JAPANESE YEN MONEY. I PURPOSELY DROPPED A
BILL NEAR THE WAD AND STOOPED DOWN TO PICK IT UP ALONG WITH THE WAD OF
YEN. I DID NOT EVEN FINISH MY BEER AND GOT OUT OF THERE IN A HURRY. I WENT
INTO THIS BAR NAMED THE CANDLE AND WENT TO THE REST ROOM THERE TO
COUNT THE MONEY. THERE WAS $108 DOLLARS IN JAPANESE CURRENCY. I HAD A
GREAT TIME IN THE CITY OF TOKYO ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY. I WAS THE BIG SPENDER
FROM THE EAST. ANOTHER TIME WAS WHEN I STARTED MY FIRST DAY OF WORK AT
THE MEN'S CENTRAL JAIL IN DOWN TOWN LOS ANGELES IN 1971. I WAS IN THE
 52

LOCKER ROOM CHANGING TO MY COOK'S WHITES AND I SAW A $20 BILL ON THE
FLOOR.I KEPT IT IN MY LOCKER FOR A WEEK TO SEE IF ANY ONE ASKED IF THEY
FOUND A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL. NO ONE DID SO I SPENT THE MONEY. A FEW TIMES
MORE I FOUND A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL ON THE FLOOR. MOSTLY IN BARS. AND
OTHER SMALLER AMOUNTS ON THE SIDE WALK AND GUTTER.

79.

THOSE OF YOU HERE THAT LIVE IN THE HARBOR AREA OF THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR
OR USE TO PROBABLY KNOW OR HEARD ABOUT THE DRUM BARRACKS IN
WILMINGTON, CA. IT WAS AN ARMY BARRACKS FOR THE UNION ARMY DURING THE
CIVIL WAR. IT IS NOW A MUSEUM AND YOU PROBABLY HEARD STORIES OF IT BEING
HAUNTED. WELL IT IS AND I CAN VERIFY TO THAT. ONE EVENING I WENT TO THE
GRANADA THEATER ON AVALON BLVD. TO CATCH A MOVIE IN 1946. AFTER THE MOVIE I
WENT PAST THE DRUM BARRACKS AND THERE IN FRONT OF THE BARRACKS WAS A
FIGURE OF A MAN IN A UNION ARMY UNIFORM SMOKING A CIGARETTE AND SMILING
AT ME.HE WAS VISABLE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN HE DISAPPEARED FROM
SIGHT.I RAN FROM THERE LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL AND NEVER WENT PAST THERE AT
NIGHT. MANY SIGHTINGS WERE REPORTED OF UNUSUAL THINGS THERE. THE
BARRACKS IS STILL THERE NOW.

80.

THIS TOOK PLACE IN 1946 IN WILMINGTON, CA. I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND I WAS
ATTENDING PHINEAS BANNING HIGH SCHOOL THERE. SOME TIMES SOME OF THE GUYS
AND I WOULD DITCH SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE DAY. ON THIS CERTAIN DAY WE DECIDED
TO CATCH THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR AND GO TO LOS ANGELES TO SEE THE
BURLESQUE SHOW AT THE BURBANK THEATER ON 5TH AND MAIN ST. YOU HAD TO BE
18 YEARS OLD TO GET IN, BUT THE BOX OFFICE MAN WOULD LET US GET IN FOR 50
CENTS. ON THIS DAY THE HEADLINERS OF THE SHOW WAS BETTY ROWLAND THE BALL
OF FIRE,TEMPEST STORM,CANDY BARR AND LILI ST. CYR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
WOMAN IN THE WORLD AS SHE WAS HEADLINED AS. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE
SHOW TWO TALL GUYS WITH SUITS ON CAME IN WITH A FLASHLIGHT IN THEIR HANDS
AND SPOTTED ALL THREE OF US. THEY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS TRUANT OFFICERS
AND ASKED US TO GO WITH THEM OUT SIDE. THEY HAD US GET INTO A STATION
WAGON AND TOOK US TO A HIGH SCHOOL NAMED FORT HILL IN THE CITY. THEY TOOK
US TO AN EMPTY CLASS ROOM AND ON THE BLACK BOARD WAS A MESSAGE THAT SAID
"YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN WALKING THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES DURING SCHOOL
HOURS. YOU WILL BE DETAINED HERE UNTIL 3 P.M. YOUR PRINCIPAL OF YOUR SCHOOL
WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE NEXT DAY I WAS CALLED INTO THE BOY'S VICE PRINCIPAL AND
TOLD THAT I HAD TO BRING MY PARENT TO HIS OFFICE THE NEXT DAY.MY DAD WAS
FURIOUS WITH ME. SO HE AND I WENT TO THE BOY'S VICE PRINCIPAL THE NEXT DAY
AND THE VICE PRINCIPAL TOLD MY DAD THAT IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN I WOULD BE
EXPELLED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.MY DAD GROUNDED ME FOR A MONTH. I ALSO HAD TO
GO BEFORE THE VARSITY LETTER MEN CLUB AND RECEIVE A PAINFUL SWAT FROM
 53

THEM. I WAS SORE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. I THINK THEY GOT THEIR JOLLIES GIVING OUT
SWATS. SO I DID NOT GO TO THE BURLESQUE SHOW AGAIN UNTIL I WAS IN THE NAVY.

81.

THE YEAR WAS 1967 AND I WAS WITH MY SHIP ON A THREE WEEK VISIT TO HONG KONG
THE CHINESE ISLAND COLONY UNDER BRITISH RULE AT THE TIME.I WAS SITTING IN
THE SENIORS ROOM AT THE CHINA FLEET CLUB AN ENLISTED MEN'S CLUB AT THE
WATER FRONT OF HONG KONG.ALSO SITTING WITH ME AND HAVING A CHAT WAS THE
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CLUB.HE WAS A BRITISH NAVY
MAN. SOON A YOUNG MAN APPROACHED OUR TABLE AND THE CHIEF INTRODUCED HIM
TO ME AS THE SON OF A WEALTHY CATTLE BARON THAT HAD A HUGE CATTLE RANCH
BEHIND VICTORIA HILL IN A VALLEY.WE PURCHASED MEAT FROM HIS COMPANY. THE
YOUNG MAN INVITED THE CHIEF AND I TO A TRIP AT NIGHT TO NEARBY MACAU A
PORTUGUESE COLONY AND GAMBLING MECCA MORE BIGGER THAN LAS VEGAS. WE
WERE TO GO ON THE FAMILY 75 FOOT LUXURY CABIN CRUISER. OUR TRIP WAS TO BE IN
THE DARK THROUGH CHINESE COMMUNIST WATERS THAT WAS PATROLED BY GUN
BOATS. SO WE LEFT ABOUT 9 PM THAT NIGHT. THE BOAT WAS FABULOUS WITH A
LUXRY BALL ROOM AND FULLY EQUIPPED BAR AND SMALL KITCHEN AND STAFF OF A
BARTENDER AND WAITRESS AND COOK. WE WERE FED LOBSTER THERMADOR AND THE
SIDES AND LATER COCKTAILS. SOON WE MET UP WITH 2 GUN BOATS THAT HAD THEIR
SEARCH LIGHTS ON US AND WHEN THEY RECOGNIZED THE BOAT THEY BACKED OFF
AND TURNED OFF THEIR SEARCH LIGHTS AND LEFT. IN MACAU WE WENT TO THREE
CASINOS. THEY HAD MANY FLOOR GAMES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE IN LAS
VEGAS.OUR HOST GAVE THE CHIEF AND I FIFTY AMERICAN DOLLARS EACH SO THAT
WE COULD PLAY THE SLOT MACHINES.WE STAYED THERE ABOUT 4 HOURS. I WON $87
PLAYING THE SLOTS. WE THEN HEADED BACK TO HONG KONG AND HAD A LIGHT
SNACK AND COCKTAILS ON OUR WAY BACK. I THANKED MY HOST FOR THE
WONDERFUL TIME I HAD AND HE HAD THE CABIN CRUISER PULL ALONG SIDE MY SHIP
WHICH WAS ANCHORED ON THE STREAM IN THE HARBOR. THE CASINOS ACCEPTED
MONEY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

82.

ONE DAY AROUND A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE KOREAN WAR STARTED IN JUNE OF 1950
OUR TASK FORCE AND A TASK FORCE OF THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY WERE
CONDUCTING MANUEVERS AMONG OUR SELVES ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. WE ALL
WENT INTO SUBIC BAY FOR A VISIT THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS WELL AS THE CITY
OF OLONGAPO. THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 MEN IN ALL.ONE THIRD OF THE CREW
INCLUDING THE BRITISH NAVY WAS GRANTED SHORE LEAVE OR LIBERTY. THAT WAS
ABOUT 3333 MEN. THE CITY OF OLONGAPO AT THAT TIME HAD ONLY FIVE BARS IN THE
CITY THAT WERE ON LIMITS TO MILITARY PERSONNEL. THEY WERE THE GOLDEN GATE
BAR,THE WHITE HOUSE BAR, THE WASHINGTON ROOF GARDEN BAR. THE MERCHANT
MARINE BAR AND THE FLEET RESERVE BAR. NO WAY THAT THEY COULD HANDLE THAT
MANY SAILORS ON SHORE LEAVE. SO YOU HAD TO SHOW YOUR I.D. CARD AT THE DOOR
 54

AND IF YOU WERE NOT 26 YEARS OLD YOU COULD NOT ENTER.BOTH ENLISTED MEN'S
CLUB ON BOTH THE BASE AND GRANDE ISLAND SET UP LARGE TENTS AND TABLES AND
CHAIRS OUTSIDE.THE BASE E.M. CLUB FILIPINO BAND AND BOTH THE BANDS FROM OUR
SHIP THE AIR CRAFT CARRIER USS BOXER CV-21 AND THE BRITISH AIR CRAFT CARRIER
HMS TRIUMPH ENTERTAINED US. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING WAS THE 20 MINUTE
BATTLE OF THE DRUMS BETWEEN THE DRUMMERS OF THE THREE BANDS. NO DOUBT
TONY THE DRUMMER OF THE E.M. CLUB BAND WAS THE BEST OF THE THREE. HE WAS
SO FAST THAT YOU COULD HARDLY SEE HIS ARMS MOVE. HE WOULD GET UP AND RAP
THE WALLS WITH HIS ARMS AND TOSS HIS DRUM STICKS HIGH IN THE AIR AND CATCH
THEM.WE STAYED IN SUBIC BAY FOR 3 DAYS SO THAT ALL OF THE CREW GOT TO GO
ASHORE. ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE CREW GOT TO GO ASHORE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY AND THE SHIPS HAD TO GO TO SEA IMMEDIATELY. WE LEFT FOR MANILA
AND THE BRITISH WENT TO AUSTRALIA. NO PROBLEM IN MANILA, THERE WERE PLENTY
OF BARS IN THE CITY AND NEAR BY RIZAL CITY, SANGLEY POINT AND CAVITE AND ALL
HANDS GOT TO GO IN. OUR TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF ONE AIR CRAFT CARRIER, A
HEAVY CRUISER, 7 DESTROYERS, AN OIL TANKER AND A SUBMARINE AND THE BRITISH
HAD ONE AIR CRAFT CARRIER, 5 DESTROYERS, A HEAVY CRUISER AND AN OIL TANKER.
THEN IN JUNE THE KOREAN WAR STARTED AND THE LARGE MOUNTAIN NAMED MAGNA
POINT IN SUBIC BAY WAS RAZED AND LEVELED TO THE GROUND AND THE CUBIC POINT
NAVAL AIR STATION WAS BUILT AND ABOUT HUNDREDS OF BARS WERE BUILT IN THE
CITY OF OLONGAPO TO ACCOMADATE THE TROOPS AND NAVY SHIPS FROM 37
COUNTRIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS..THE PHILIPPINES WAS A FAVORITE OF ALL
NAVIES AS THEIR COST OF LIVING WAS LOW AND ALL PRICES WERE VERY CHEAP.
SHANGHAI AND TSINGTAO, CHINA WAS A FAVORITE ALSO BUT THEY CLOSED THEIR
PORTS TO US WHEN THE COMMUNISTS TOOK OVER THE COUNTRY IN LATE 1949. SO
JAPAN BECAME A FAVORITE ALSO. DURING THE KOREAN WAR U.S. NAVY SHIPS SPENT
90 DAYS AT A TIME OFF THE COAST OF KOREA AND 10 DAYS IN THE PORT OF
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN. WE HAD 3 MONTHS PAY ON THE BOOKS AND SPENT IT ALL WHILE
IN PORT. YOU NEVER KNEW IF YOU WERE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR LIFE IN ONE OF
THE TRIPS TO KOREA. WE WERE ALL LIKE BIG SPENDERS FROM THE EAST.

83.

DURING THE DEPRESSION YEARS AND EARLY FORTIES WHENEVER THE CARNIVALS
CAME INTO TOWN A BUNCH OF US POOR KIDS WHICH WERE JUST ABOUT EVERYONE
LIVING IN THIS ERA WOULD GO TO WHERE THEY SET CAMP TO HELP SET UP ALL THE
VENDOR TENTS AND RIDES. FOR THIS WE WERE GIVEN 20 5 CENT FREE TICKETS FOR
THE RIDES WHICH WERE 5 CENTS A RIDE AND A HAMBURGER WITH A SOFT DRINK
AND A PIECE OF PIE. ONE MORNING DURING THE SUMMER AND SUMMER BREAK
FROM SCHOOL A FEW OF US KIDS WERE HANGING AROUND THE CARNIVAL WHICH
WAS AT CENTER STREET AND 5TH ST. IN SAN PEDRO, CA. THIS TALL GOOD LOOKING
GUY CAME WALKING WITH ANOTHER GUY AND MOTIONED FOR US TO GO TO THE
FOOD TENT WITH HIM AND THE OTHER GUY. HE TREATED US TO A PIECE OF PIE AND
A SOFT DRINK AND IF WE WANTED, WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF PIE AND
SOFT DRINK. THAT GENEROUS MAN WAS THE ACTOR CLARK GABLE WHO WAS
 55

MAKING A MOVIE ON THE WATER FRONT NEAR THE FERRY LANDING AT A PIER. SOME
OF US KIDS WENT DOWN TO THE PIER AND WATCHED CLARK ACT. THE SCENE WAS
IN RUSSIA AND SOME COSSACKS WERE TAKING CLARK PRISONER FROM A
SCHOONER DOCKED AT THE PIER. WE KIDS HAD OUR AUTOGRAPH BOOKS READY
AND WE GOT CLARK'S AUTOGRAPH. LATER IN YEARS I SAW CLARK AND HIS WIFE
CARROL LOMBARD AT THE DOG RACES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA AND ON THAT SAME
DAY I SAW ROY ROGERS AND HIS WIFE DALE EVANS. THIS WAS IN 1950.

84.

I HAD A VERY INTERESTING CAREER IN MY 23 YEARS IN THE NAVY.ESPECIALLY IN

ADVANCING IN GRADE. AT ONE TIME I ADVANCED FROM SEAMAN TO SECOND CLASS
PETTY OFFICER (E-3 TO E-5) IN 180 DAYS. I ADVANCED FROM E-3 TO E-4 AND 180
DAYS LATER I WAS ADVANCED TO E-5 AT A MERITORIUS MAST BY REAR ADMIRAL
EMMETT BONNER BY RECOMENDATION OF ADMIRAL FELIX STUMP COMMANDER OF
THE PACIFIC FLEET WHO WAS INFLUENCED BY CHIEF STEWARD NARCICIO BARAZA
HIS PERSONAL STEWARD AND COOK.I WAS THE FLIGHT GALLEY COOK AT THE NAVAL
BASE IN ATSUGI, JAPAN AND I DID AN EXCELLENT JOB MANY TIMES IN PREPARING
UNPREPARED MEATS AND OTHER REFRIGERATED ITEMS TO TAKE ABOARD THE
ADMIRALS PRIVATE PLANE THAT TOOK HIM BACK TO HAWAII.

85.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE JOBS YOU HAVE HELD IN YOUR LIFE TIME? I WORKED AT
VARIOUS JOBS FROM THE TIME I WAS NINE YEARS OLD TO THE TIME I WAS 65 YEARS
OLD. I STARTED AT 9 YEARS OLD SHINING SHOES WITH A SHOE SHINE BOX AT THE
OLD SMALL FERRY LANDING IN SAN PEDRO, CA. SELLING NEWSPAPERS ON THE
WATER FRONT AND THE NAVAL SHIPS THAT WERE TIED UP AT THE PIERS.CUTTING
LAWNS WITH A FRIEND. WORKING AT TWO BOWLING ALLEYS. WORKING AT 2 FISH
CANNERIES. MAKING PURSE SEINER FISHING NETS.WORKING AT THE WILMINGTON
BOWL AS A VENDOR OF PEANUTS, POP CORN AND COKES AND AS AN
USHER.PULLING NAILS OUT OF WOOD WHEN THE OLD ARMY BARRACKS WERE
DISMANTLED IN WILMINGTON AFTER WW2.WORKED IN 3 POOL HALLS RACKING POOL
BALLS. IN THE FRONT DESK AT A DRY CLEANERS. RUNNING 2 SHOE SHINE STANDS.
PICKING STRING BEANS AT THE FIELDS WHERE THE GREEN HILLS MEMORIAL PARK IS
NOW.WORKING AS A COOKS HELPER AT A FILIPINO RESTURANT.AND A 23 YEAR
CAREER IN THE NAVY IN THE FOOD SERVICE DIVISION. A 25 YEAR CAREER WORKING
IN THE FOOD SERVICE DIVISION AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS AT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN LOS ANGELES,CASTIAC,SANTA ANA
AND ORANGE.

86.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I SERVED 23 YEARS IN THE NAVAL SERVICE. SOME MAY
WONDER WHERE I SERVED.
 56

USNTC, SAN DIEGO, CA.

NAVAL FIRE FIGHTERS SCHOOL BASE PALOS VERDES, CA.

USS BOXER CV-21

NAF LITCHFIELD PARK,ARIZONA

USS PHILIPPINE SEA CV-47

NAS ATSUGI, JAPAN

ANTI-SUBMARINE SQD. VS-37 NORTH ISLAND, CA.

COMFLTACTS SASEBO, JAPAN

USS NORTON SOUND AVM-1, POINT HUENNEME, CA.

PORT SERVICES, YOKOSUKA, JAPAN

USS CHEVALIER DD-805 (TWO TIMES)

USS FLOYD B. PARKS DD-884

NAVAL STATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA,

USS EPPING FORREST MCS-7, SASEBO, JAPAN

NSAD TAN MY, VIETNAM

USS CHEVALIER DD-805. MY SECOND TOUR ON THIS DESTROYER. I RETIRED FROM

THIS SHIP IN 1970.

A CAREER WELL SERVED AND WITH HONOR....

87.

=======THE GREAT AIR RAID OF 1942==========

IT HAPPENED AT 2 AM IN THE HARBOR DISTRICT AND I WAS LIVING IN SAN PEDRO,

CA. WE WERE IN WORLD WAR 2 AT THE TIME. THE AIR RAID SIRENS WENT OFF AND
THE WHOLE HARBOR AREA WENT INTO A BLACK OUT STAGE. EVERYONE WOKE UP
AND DREW THEIR BLACK CURTAINS CLOSED ON THE WINDOWS OF THEIR HOMES.
SEARCH LIGHTS LIGHTED THE SKY FROM THE SEARCH LIGHTS ON THE GROUND AS
WELL AS FROM THE SHIPS IN THE HARBOR. ONE GROUND BATTERY IN CABRILLO
BEACH GOT ANXIOUS AND FIRED INTO THE SKY. THAT STARTED ALL THE OTHER
GUNS FROM THE GROUND AND NAVAL VESSELS TO SHOOT INTO THE SKY. THE
 57

SHOOTING WENT ON FOR ABOUT 7 MINUTES. THE WORD SPREAD THAT THERE WAS
JAPANESE AIR CRAFT OVER THE SKY.TRACER BULLETS COULD BE SEEN GOING INTO
THE SKY. WE ALL WATCHED AND WE WERE SCARED AS WE AWAITED THE
ANTICIPATED BOMBS FROM THE AIR CRAFT. THEY NEVER CAME. THIS WAS WAR
HYSTERIA AT IT'S WORST. IT TURNED OUT THAT 3 AIR CRAFT FROM OUR AIR BASE
NAMED REEVES FIELD ON TERMINAL ISLAND WERE COMING FROM A NIGHT TRAINING
RUN, LUCKY THAT THEY DID NOT GET HIT. THE ONLY TIME WE GOT HIT IN THE
HARBOR AREA WAS WHEN AN OIL TANKER OF OURS WAS TORPEDOED BY A
JAPANESE SUBMARINE OFF PT, FERMIN IN 1943. SHORTLY THERE AFTER THE
SUBMARINE WAS SUNK BY QUICK ACTION FROM DESTROYERS FROM THE NAVAL
BASE AT LONG BEACH USING THEIR DEPTH CHARGES. I SAW AFTER THE SPILLED OIL
OF THE SUBMARINE ON THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN FROM THE BLUFF AT THE END
OF SOUTH PACIFIC AVE. IN SAN PEDRO.

88.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS LEAVING A BURGER KING OUTLET AND THIS GUY IS STANDING
OUT IN FRONT WITH A PIECE OF CARDBOARD THAT SAID HELP A VIETNAM VETERAN.
THE GUY DID NOT LOOK OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN IN THE VIETNAM WAR. SO I
JUST IGNORED HIM AND PASSED HIM ON BY. HE HOLLERS AT ME AND SAYS, "WHAT,
YOU DO NOT LIKE VIETNAM VETERANS?" I JUST STOPPED AND LOOKED AT HIM AND
GAVE HIM A DISGUSTED LOOK AND SHAKED MY HEAD. I DID NOT TELL HIM MY PAST
MILITARY LIFE OF BEING IN BOTH THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS AND MY 23
YEARS IN THE MILITARY. I DID NOT WANT TO WASTE MY WORDS ON THIS LOW LIFE.
THESE KIND OF PERSONS WHO ARE HEALTHY ARE JUST TOO LAZY TO GO TO WORK.
SOME WILL SAY THERE ARE NO GOOD PAYING JOBS OUT THERE. THEY WANT TOP
PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE AT.

89.

WHAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT YOU WERE PLANNING TO BECOME IN YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU WAS YOUNG, BUT NEVER MATERIALIZED?

TO BECOME A PRIEST OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. IMAGINE IF IT BECAME A

REALITY. I WOULD BE ADDRESSED AS BISHOP CAMPBELL OR CARDINAL CAMPBELL
AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE EVEN POPE WILLIAM..............I CAN DREAM CAN'T I ?

90.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS TAKING A WALK DOWN SANTA FE AVE. IN LONG BEACH AND I
SAW SOMETHING THAT I HAD NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME. A MODIFIED FORD MODEL A
HOT ROD WITH THE TOP CHOPPED OFF. IMMEDIATELY MY THOUGHTS WENT BACK
TO 1946 WHILE ATTENDING BANNING HIGH SCHOOL IN WILMINGTON, CA. I HAD AUTO
SHOP AS AN ELECTIVE. I DECIDED TO BUILD A HOT ROD. I WENT TO THE NEARBY
AUTO JUNK YARD ON LOMITA BLVD. AND BOUGHT A 1930 MODEL A BODY FOR $15.00.
8 OF MY AUTO SHOP CLASS MATES AND I HAND CARRIED IT THE SHORT DISTANCE TO
 58

THE AUTO SHOP IN SCHOOL.I FIRST CHOPPED OFF THE TOP AND THEN SANDED THE
BODY DOWN WITH EMERY CLOTH. THEN I SPRAYED PAINTED THE BODY WITH 6
COATS OF LIGHT METALIC GREEN PAINT. I THEN INSTALLED A 1936 FORD 6 CYL.
ENGINE IN THE BODY WITH TWIN PIPES. I INSTALLED 2 SMITTY HOLLYWOOD
MUFFLERS ON THE PIPES FOR THAT DEEP TONE AND SOUND. I ADDED WHITE
SIDEWALL TIRES WITH DISC FLIPPER HUB CAPS. I THEN TOOK THE HOT ROD TO
TIAJUANA TO HAVE IMITATION LEOPARD SKIN SEAT COVERS INSTALLED AS WELL AS
DASH BOARD AND STEERING WHEEL COVER. I HAD A BOSS CAR AND ENVY OF
MANY.MY PRETTY GREEN EYED RED HEAD DOTTY O'BRIEN AND I WOULD GO
CRUISING ON SATURDAY NIGHTS IN WILMINGTON FROM B ST. TO SEPULVEDA ST. A
FEW TIMES AND THEN WE WOULD GO INTO SAN PEDRO TO CRUISE FROM O'FARREL
ST. TO 38TH ST. A FEW TIMES. THEN WE WOULD EITHER HEAD TO A DRIVE IN IN
EITHER SAN PEDRO, WILMINGTON OR LOMITA FOR BURGERS AND MILK
SHAKES.DOTTY WAS A PRETTY TALL GIRL THAT WAS A STAR TENNIS PLAYER ON THE
GIRLS TENNIS TEAM. SHE WAS SOUGHT AFTER BY MANY ATHLETES ESPECIALLY THE
VARSITY FOOT BALL TEAM AND ALSO A YOUNG SINGLE TEACHER THAT TAUGHT U.S.
HISTORY AT SCHOOL. BUT DOTTY STUCK WITH ME AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE
HER.ONE NIGHT WE WERE AT A DRIVE IN ON PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN
WILMINGTON AND A CAR DRIVES UP WITH 5 MEMBERS OF THE VARSITY FOOT BALL
TEAM AND THEY WERE PASSING A BOTTLE OF LIQUOR AMONG THEMSELVES. ONE OF
THEM SPOTTED US AND HE STAGGERED TOWARD US AND ASKED DOTTIE WHAT I
HAD THAT HE DIDN'T. DOTTIE CASUALLY LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID "HE HAS ME". THE
NEXT YEAR IN 1947 DOTTIE LEFT WILMINGTON WITH HER FAMILY TO THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON IN SEATTLE. DOTTY'S DAD WAS A LONG SHOREMAN AND ACCEPTED A
HIGHER POSITION ON THE DOCKS IN SEATTLE. SOON I ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AND I
WAS GONE FOR YEARS FROM THE HARBOR DISTRICT. I SOLD THE HOT ROD TO A
FRIEND 3 DAYS BEFORE I LEFT FOR BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO.

91.

++++++++++AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS++++++++++++

THIS SECTION IS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS
AND FOR RELIGIOUS COMMENTS AND PRAYERS.

SOME OFTEN THINK IF GOD IS TRUE AND WHY WE DO NOT SEE HIM......OF COURSE
HE IS TRUE......WE CAN FEEL HIM JUST LIKE THE WIND.......WE CAN NOT SEE THE
WIND, BUT WE KNOW IT IS THERE.

92.

THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE NOT BORN YET WHEN THE GREAT DEPRESSION WAS IN
PROGRESS IN THE 1930'S MAY HAVE HEARD OF IT. I LIVED THROUGH THE GREAT
DEPRESSION THAT LASTED FROM 1929 UNTIL 1940. THINGS WERE TOUGH MONEY
 59

WISE FOR OUR PARENTS. US KIDS DID NOT NOTICE IT MUCH AS OUR PARENTS DID
NOT LET ON.ALMOST EVERYONE BOUGHT THEIR CLOTHING AT THE GOOD WILL
STORE OR THE SALVATION ARMY.I WAS THE ONLY CHILD. THE ONLY THING WE
BOUGHT NEW WAS OUR SHOES. MY DAD DID NOT WANT US TO USE SHOES THAT
OTHER PEOPLE WORE BEFORE. NO ONE OWNED A REFRIGERATOR. EVERY ONE HAD
AN ICE BOX OF VARIOUS SIZES AND WOULD HAVE WEEKLY DELIVERIES BY THE ICE
MAN. NO ONE OWNED A CAR OR A TELEPHONE. JOBS WERE NEARLY NON-
EXISTENCE. THE ONES WHO HAD MONEY AND BOUGHT THINGS NEW WERE THE
LONGSHOREMEN AND FISHERMEN.MY DAD WOULD FIND ODD JOBS WORKING FOR
THE CITY SOME TIMES PLANTING SMALL TREES AND GOING TO WHITE POINT IN SAN
PEDRO WITH HIS 2 BROTHERS TO GATHER UP BLOOD WORMS IN THE MUD AT THE
SEA SHORE AND SELL THEM TO THE ANGLERS AT CABRILLO BEACH WHO FISHED
THERE. SOME HOW WE ALWAYS CAME UP WITH THE NINE DOLLARS A MOTH RENT
FOR OUR ONE BED ROOM HOUSE. I SLEPT IN THE FRONT ROOM ON A WALL BED.OUR
UTILITIES, GAS AND WATER AND ELECTRICITY WERE ABOUT 87 CENTS A MONTH.OUR
TOILET TISSUE WAS THE SEARS AND ROEBUCKS CATALOG THAT YOU WOULD HAVE
TO WASH OFF THE INK. WHEN YOU GOT A HOLE IN THE SOLE OF OUR SHOES YOU
BOUGHT A REPAIR KIT AT WOOLWORTH'S OR YOU STUCK CARD BOARD IN THE
SHOE.OUR LAUNDRY SOAP WAS HOME MADE FROM WASTE FAT AND LYE AND
COLORED PINK WITH A FOOD DYE. OUR WASHING MACHINE WAS MY MOM WHO USED
A TUB AND WASHBOARD TO DO THE LAUNDRY. NO ONE EVER BOUGHT CHOICE CUTS
OF BEEF LIKE T-BONES AND LOIN STEAKS OR PRIME RIB.WE ATE ROUND STEAK AND
SWISS STEAKS AND GROUND BEEF OR STEW MEAT. I NEVER ATE A CHOICE CUT
BEEF STEAK UNTIL I WAS IN THE NAVY. WE ATE A LOT OF SEA FOOD AND CHICKEN AT
HOME AND FLOUR TORTILLAS AND BEANS.MY COUSIN AN I WOULD GO TO THE
HARBOR WHERE THE 10 FISH MARKETS WERE WHERE THE PORTS O' CALL IS
LOCATED NOW AND FISH FOR MACKRELL WHEN THEY MADE THEIR RUN IN SCHOOLS
BETWEEN 2-4 PM AND FILL A WOODEN BOX WITH ABOUT 50 FISH AND THEN TAKE
THEM TO TONY BOLONEYS MEAT MARKET AND EXCHANGE THEM FOR A BIG PILE OF
DICED STEW MEAT. MY MOM AND GRANDMA WOULD MAKE VARIOUS DISHES WITH
THEM. THERE WAS A FEDERAL FOOD BANK UP THE STREET AND EVERY TUESDAY
WHICH WERE OUR DAY WE WENT THERE AND THEY WOULD FILL UP MY RED WAGON
WHICH HAD WOODEN PANELS ON THE SIDE WITH VARIOUS VEGGIES AND
FRUIT,SACKS OF CORNMEAL, QUICK QUAKER OATS CEREAL, FLOUR, RICE,PINTO
BEANS, DRY MILK, CHEESE, OLEOMARGARINE. TO GET THIS FREE FOOD MY DAD
WOULD HAVE TO BE A SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD ONE DAY A WEEK FOR FOUR
HOURS. I WOULD COLLECT BEER AND SODA BOTTLES AS WELL AS WINE BOTTLES
AND OLD CAR BATTERIES AND SELL THEM TO HELP THE HOUSE HOLD AND BUY MY
PENNY CANDY.JUST FIVE MILES AWAY WAS LONG AND I HAD ONLY BEEN THERE
THREE TIMES TO SEE THE EYE DOCTOR ON PINE AVE JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY
DOWN FROM OCEAN BLVD. WAS THE PIKE AMUSEMENT PARK.WE KIDS DID NOT EVEN
KNOW THAT IT EXISTED. OUR PARENTS WOULD NOT TELL US ABOUT IT AS THERE
WAS NO MONEY IN THE HOUSEHOLD TO GO THERE.I DID NOT GO THERE UNTIL 1939
WHEN THE GIRL PLAYMATE TWO HOUSES FROM MY HOUSE INVITED ME TO GO WITH
 60

HER MOM AND DAD WHO WAS A LONG SHOREMEN, I ASKED MY MOM AND SHE LET
ME GO. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT I COULD NOT SLEEP THINKING OF WHAT A
GREAT FUN PLACE IT WAS.I ALSO CAUGHT OTHER FISH AT THE HARBOR PIER SUCH
AS HALIBUT,POMPANO, HERRING,PERCH,FLOUNDER, BIG RED CRABS AND ON .MA
RARE TIME A LOBSTER.OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SOLD BABY CHICKS SUPPLIED
BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR ONE CENT EACH AND VEGETABLE SEEDS TO GROW
VEGGIES.Y GRANDMA WOULD BUY 20 CHICKS AT A TIME AND RAISE THEM IN A
CHICKEN COOP NEXT TO HER HOUSE.WHEN THEY GREW UP MY UNCLE WOULD
SLAUGHTER 2 OF THEM BY TWISTING THEIR NECKS.MY GRANDMA WOULD MAKE
VARIOUS DELICIOUS DISHES FROM THEM. I WOULD GO TO THE CORNER SUPER
MARKET AND THE PRODUCE MAN WOULD GIVE ME THE DISCARDED LEAVES OF THE
LETTUCE AND CABBAGE.EVERY WEDNESDAY A SHIP TIED UP AT THE A-1 GRAIN PIER
AND SILO AND POP CORN KERNNELS WERE LOADED INTO THEIR HOLD FROM THE
SILO. SOME OF THE GRAIN WOULD FALL TO THE GROUND. AFTER THE SHIP WAS FULL
I WENT AND GATHERED A NO, 10 BROWN BAG WITH THE KERNNELS AND FEED THEM
TO THE CHICKENS.THERE WAS A TOY LOAN UP THE STREET THAT LOANED YOU A
TOY TO KEEP FOR A WEEK. YOU TOOK THE TOY BACK AND THEY WOULD LOAN YOU
ANOTHER TOY. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE WAS A FREE MID MORNING LUNCH
THAT CONSISTED OF A 10 OZ. TIN CUP OF WHITE MILK OR CHOCOLATE MILK BOTH
CHILLED AND A HUG CORN MEAL MUFFIN AND THE NEXT DAY A HUGE OAT MEAL
COOKIE. SOME KIDS DID NOT HAVE BREAKFAST AT HOME AND HAD THE MID
MORNING LUNCH.THEN AT THE END OF 1939 WAR CLOUDS FORMED OVER EUROPE
AND GERMANY INVADED POLAND AND WE FORESEEN THAT IN THE FUTURE WE
WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE WAR. ALL THE DEFENSE PLANTS AND SHIP YARDS
OPENED UP AND HIRED PEOPLE. MY DAD GOT A JOB AS A RIVITER'S HELPER AT THE
BETHLEHELM SHIPYARD AND MONEY BECAME PLENTIFUL. NO MORE SECOND HAND
GOODS.AND I WAS TAKEN TO THE PIKE MANY TIMES. MY DAD BOUGHT A 1937 CHEVY
AND MY MOM GOT A WASHING MACHINE WITH THE RUBBER ROLLER WRINGERS AND I
GOT A WESTERN FLYER BICYCLE FROM THE WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY STORE. WE
ATE MORE BEEF AND PORK CHOPS AND SOMETIMES WENT TO A RESTURANT.

93.

ONE FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN EUROPE WAS ROTA
SPAIN. OUR SHIP PULLED IN TO THE NAVAL BASE IN ROTA. I WAS OFF DUTY THAT DAY
AND IT WAS SUNDAY. SO I WENT TO THE ENLISTED MEN'S CLUB ON THE BASE FOR A
COLD BEER.I GOT INTO A CONVERSATION WITH THE SPANIARD BARTENDER THAT
WORKED THERE. WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE BULL FIGHTS THAT WERE MAJOR
ONES IN MADRID AND SEVILLE. I TOLD HIM I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE, BUT THE
TWO CITIES WERE TOO FAR AWAY. HE SAID THAT IN PORT OF SANTA MARIA WHICH
WAS 15 MILES AWAY HELD SMALL SCALE BULL FIGHTS IN A SMALL ARENA EVERY
SUNDAY AND THAT AT 3 PM THEY STARTED. IT WAS STILL MORNING SO I TOOK A BUS
LATER TO PORT OF SANTA MARIA. YES IT WAS A SMALL ARENA AND IT WAS PACKED
WITH SPECTATORS. THEY HELD 8 BULL FIGHTS.THE MATADORS WERE THIRD RATE
TORREROS BUT EXCITING. AFTER THE BULL FIGHTS I WENT UP THE BLOCK TO A
 61

CAFE TO GET A BITE TO EAT. I SAT DOWN AT ONE OF THE SMALL TABLES AND
GLANCED OVER TO A YOUNG COUPLE EATING WHAT SEEMED TO BE MEAT BALLS
WITH SPANISH RICE AND SOME SIDES.I COULD SMELL THE AROMA AND IT LOOKED
DELICIOUS. SO I TOLD THE WAITER THAT I WOULD HAVE WHAT THEY WERE HAVING.
SOON HE BROUGHT ME A PLATE WITH TWO LARGE MEAT BALLS AND THE SIDES. I
ORDERED A SPANISH BEER TO CHASE IT DOWN WITH. THE DISH WAS DELICIOUS AND
I ASKED THE WAITER WHAT THE MEAT BALLS CONSISTED OF. HE SAID THEY WERE
THE TESTICLES OF A BULL THAT WAS KILLED AT THE ARENA. I THOUGHT WELL THEY
TASTED GOOD AND I WOULD EAT THEM AGAIN.THE NEXT SUNDAY I HAD THE DUTY IN
THE MORNING. SO IN THE AFTERNOON I HEADED BACK TO PORT OF SANTA MARIA TO
WATCH THE BULL FIGHTS AGAIN. WHEN I LEFT THE ARENA I WENT TO THE SAME
CAFE AND ORDERED THE MEAT BALLS AGAIN. WHEN HE BROUGHT ME MY PLATE I
NOTICED THAT THE BALLS WERE A LOT SMALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONES I ATE. I
ASKED THE WAITER WHY THE BALL WERE A LOT SMALLER. HE LOOKED AT ME
SQUARE IN THE EYES WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND SAID "SENOR, SOMETIMES THE
BULL WINS".

94.

+++++++++++MEMORIAL DAY 2016+++++++

THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD STOP AND HONOR AMERICAN FALLEN HEROES OF OUR
MILITARY ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. NOT AS A GESTURE OF ENDORSING ANY NATION
AND IT'S CURRENT POLTICAL OR ECONOMIC POLICY. BUT HONOR OF OUR BRAVE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OTHERS. MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT
ABOUT PICNICS AND BALL GAMES, BUT NEITHER IS IT AN UNQUALIFIED
ENDORSEMENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT. THESE BRAVE SOLDIERS,
SAILORS, FLIERS AND MARINES DIED PROTECTING THEIR COUNTRY AND WHAT IT
STOOD FOR.THEY DIED DEFENDING A WAY OF LIFE THAT THEY FELT WAS WORTH
DYING FOR...........FAMILIES, CHILDREN, FREEDOM. MORALITY, VALUES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK INTO OUR SOULS TO
SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE BLOOD STAINED LEGACY THAT THEY LEFT
BEHIND. LET US HONOR THEM ON THIS SPECIAL DAY. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO
AND YOU WILL FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF.

95.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS ON THIS GROUP AND AROUND THE
WORLD. YOU ALL ARE PRICELESS AND LOVED VERY MUCH. YOU ARE ALL ONE OF A
KIND......THE BEST THERE IS. I LOVE YOU ALL. FOR THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD
LIKE A MOTHER. AND ESPECIALLY TO YOU MOM, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE. IT WAS
NICE TO HAVE HAD YOU FOR A VERY SHORT TIME.

96.

HI GROUP AND FRIENDS, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ONE
AND ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND WARMTH ON STAYING WITH ME ON
CAMPBELL’S CORNER GROUP AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE AND
 62

VIEW OUR COMMENTS. OUR GROUP IS GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND IS AT
166 MEMBERS AS OF NOW. WAY FAR MORE THAN MY EXPECTATIONS. I AM GRATIFIED
TO ASSOCIATE WITH SUCH GRAND PEOPLE LIKE YOU. I HOPE THIS GROUP
CONTINUES ON FOR A LONG TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
ALL AND TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ALWAYS.................BILL CAMPBELL.

97.

51 YEARS AGO ON MARCH 22, 1965. A COUPLE WAS JOINED IN HOLY MATRIMONY AT
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO, JAPAN. IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY
WITH MY WIFE AND GETTING OLD TOGETHER.

98.

THE TIME WAS 1950 AND MY SHIP THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER THE USS BOXER CV-21 AN
ESSEX TYPE CARRIER OF 884 FEET LONG AND A CREW OF 3500 WITH THE AIR GROUP
WAS ANCHORED OFF THE HARBOR IN MANILA IN THE PHILIPPINES.FOUR SHIPMATES
AND I WENT INTO NEARBY RIZAL CITY A FEW MILES FROM MANILA. WE WENT TO A
POPULAR BAR NAMED THE TEXAS PLAY HOUSE. AS WE SAT AND DRANK OUR ICED
COLD SAN MIGUEL BEERS AND GNAWED ON OUR LONG BUTTERED CORN COBS A
JEEP PULLED UP WITH A 50 CAL. MACHINE GUN MOUNTED ON IT AND IN IT WERE
THREE HUCKALAPOP SOLDIERS BETTER KNOWN AS "HUKS". THEY WERE A LEFT
WING GROUP THAT WAS TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT AND
CHANGE IT. ONE OF THEM WENT OVER AND BOUGHT ABOUT TEN SAN MIGUEL BEERS
AND PAID WITH IT WITH A ROLL OF PESOS THAT COULD CHOKE A HORSE. HE
BROUGHT ALL THE BEERS TO OUR TABLE AND SAID THEY WERE ON HIM. THESE
THREE MEN WERE ON A MISSION AND WERE GOING TO TRY AND BUTTER US UP.
THEY WANTED AMERICAN SERVICE MEN TO LEAVE THEIR UNITS AND JOIN THEM SO
WE COULD TRAIN THEM MILITARY WISE. THE DEAL WAS THAT THEY WOULD PAY US
ONE THOUSAND AMERICAN DOLLARS A MONTH.MOST OF US MADE ABOUT A
HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH IN MILITARY PAY. ALSO BOOZE AND WOMEN WERE
AVAILABLE FOR NO COST TO US. WE ALL DECLINED THEIR OFFER. WE HAD HEARD OF
SOME MEN DESERTING THEIR UNITS AND JOINING THEM. THEY WERE ALL CAUGHT
LATER AND SENT TO FT. LEAVENSWORTH STOCKADE OR THE NAVY PRISON AT
PORTSMOUTH FOR TWO YEARS AND REDUCED TO THE LOWEST RANK AND A
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE SERVICE. IN TIME OF WAR THEY COULD OF
BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH. A FEW YEARS LATER THE "HUKS" WERE NO MORE,
HAVING BEEN OVERTHROWN BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND MILITIA.

99.

WHEN THE NAVY SHIPS DEPLOY TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC FROM THE U.S.A. ONE OF
THE FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT FOR THE CREW IS THE PHILIPPINES. ESPECIALLY
SUBIC BAY NAVAL STATION AND THE CITY OF OLONGAPO. BUT MOSTLY ON THE OUT
SKIRTS OF OLONGAPO WHERE THERE IS A SMALL VILLAGE THAT HAS NOTHING BUT
SOUVENIER STORES IN IT.THE MOST FAVORITE SOUVENIER IS THE LAZY SUSAN
 63

MADE OF MONKEY POD WOOD AS MOST THINGS ARE MADE OF THERE IN THE
VILLAGE.AND THE POOL CUE STICKS THAT HAVE DECORATED ENGRAVED FIGURES
ON THE HANDLE AND A CASE TO PUT IT INTO.ANOTHER FAVORITE IS THE MIGHTY
WARRIOR WITH A SPEAR STATUE THAT HAS A BARREL AROUND THE FIGURE WHO IS
NUDE AND WHEN YOU LIFT UP THE BARREL IT POPS OUT BIG AND MIGHTY. THEY
ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS MADE OF STRAW AND HAND PAINTED PICTURES ON
CLOTH AND FRAMED. A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIZED DECORATED BASKETS AND MANY
MORE THINGS MADE OF MONKEY POD WOOD.ANOTHER FAVORITE WAS THE LONG
GIANT FORK, KNIFE AND SPOON MADE OF MONKEY POD WOOD. WERE THESE ITEMS
MADE IN THE VILLAGE?NO THEY WERE MADE IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE A TRIBE OF
PYGMY LIKE PEOPLE LIVED CALLED INGROTS.EVER SO OFTEN THEY CAME DOWN
WITH THEIR WARES AND EXCHANGED THEM WITH THE VILLAGE PEOPLE FOR
SPECIALLY BRED DOGS. THE INGROTS WERE DOG EATING PEOPLE. THEY WOULD
EXCHANGE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THEN HEAD BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS WITH
THE DOGS, AND RETURN LATER ON FOR ANOTHER HERD.

100.

SOME OF YOU HERE MIGHT HAVE SEEN OR HEARD OF THE "SPRUCE GOOSE" WHICH
ACTUALLY WAS NAMED THE MARS. IT WAS A GIANT SEA PLANE MADE OF PLY WOOD
THAT WOULD CARRY 350 MILITARY TROOPS. IT WAS MADE BY THE BILLIONAIRE
HOWARD HUGHES. THE PLANE WAS NEVER PUT INTO USE AS WORLD WAR 2 ENDED
JUST BEFORE IT'S COMPLETION. IN FACT IT TOOK ONLY ONE FLIGHT, A TEST FLIGHT
WITH HOWARD AT THE CONTROLS. IT TOOK PLACE ON THE SAN PEDRO AND LONG
BEACH HARBORS. IT HAD A 2 MILE RUN AT 50 FEET ALTITUTDE FROM WHERE THE
FISH CANNERIES WERE TO THE SEAL BEACH PIER. I GOT TO SEE THAT RUN IN 1946
FROM THE SEA SHORE ON THE NAVAL BASE ON TERMINAL ISLAND. THE NAVY LET THE
PUBLIC ONTO THE BASE TO SEE THIS HISTORIC EVENT. AND THAT WAS IT AS FAR AS
FLYING AGAIN FOR THE SPRUCE GOOSE. HOWARD HAD A LARGE BUBBLE HANGAR
BUILT ON THE LONG BEACH HARBOR AND PUT THE AIR PLANE IN IT FOR MANY YEARS.
THEN IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF PRESERVATION AND PUT ON DISPLAY IN A SILVER DOME
BY THE QUEEN MARY IN LONG BEACH. YEARS AFTER IT WAS SOLD TO AN OREGON
GROUP AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS NOW ON DISPLAY.

101.

AS SOME OF YOU KNOW I WAS BORN IN SAN PEDRO, CA. AND LIVED MY LAST 2 1/2
YEARS IN WILMINGTON, CA. BEFORE ENLISTING IN THE NAVY.DURING MY YOUTH I
WENT SWIMMING AT VARIOUS PLACES IN THE HARBOR AREA. I SWAM AT BRIGHTON
BEACH ON TERMINAL ISLAND BEFORE THE NAVY BASE WAS BUILT THERE IN 1942,
COLD CABRILLO BEACH,THE YMCA POOL, THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR, THE WEST BASIN
AT TODD SHIPYARD AND THE B.A.B BEACH WHICH IS WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT. AT
THE FOOT OF O'FARREL ST. AND HARBOR BLVD. WAS A TWO SQUARE BLOCK SMALL
VILLAGE NAMED THE BARRIO AND MOST OF THE TIME THE MEXICAN HOLLYWOOD. IT
HAD A SMALL GROCERY STORE. IT WAS A NICE PEACEFUL PLACE. BEYOND THERE
 64

TOWARD THE WATER FRONT WAS A LARGE VEGETABLE FIELD AND THEN THE RED CAR
PACIFIC ELECTRIC TRACKS AND THEN THE WHITE SAND BEACH WHICH WAS THE B.A.B.
THIS STOOD FOR BEST AMERICAN BEACH. SOME OF US CALLED IT BARE A$$ BEACH
EVEN THOUGH NO ONE SWAM NAKED ANYMORE WHICH WAS SO IN THE 1920'S. STORIES
WERE TOLD WHEN A BUNCH OF YOUNG GUYS WOULD DIVE OFF THE PIER IN THE BUFF.
AND WHEN THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC CAR WENT BY MOST OF THE PASSENGERS WOULD
ALL GO TO THE BEACH SIDE WINDOWS AND GET A GLANCE AT THE DIVING SWIMMERS.
THE BEACH WAS LOCATED ONE BLOCK FROM PIER 90 AT THE FOOT OF FIRST
STREET.THE BEACH WAS ABOUT 400 FEET LONG. A LOT OF WAVES WERE ALWAYS
PRESENT DUE TO THE HEAVY TRAFFIC OF TUG BOATS AND STEAM SHIPS GOING BY.
THERE WAS ALWAYS A BON FIRE GOING AS WOOD WAS PLENTIFUL FROM THE
DRIFTING WOOD ON THE HARBOR.FAMILIES ALWAYS CAME THERE FOR A NICE TIME.
THE BEACH WAS ALWAYS KEPT CLEAN. THE HEALTH DEPT. MADE PERIODIC VISITS TO
THE BEACH AND HAD PUT UP 2 LARGE TRASH CANS. A REST ROOM WAS AVAILABLE ON
THE NEARBY PIER. SOME LARGE PLANKS WOULD WASH UP ON SHORE AND WE WOULD
USE THEM AS PADDLE BOARDS.FROM THE NEARBY FIELD WE WOULD RAID IT AND
STEAL POTATOES AND CORN. WE WOULD PUT THEM OVER THE HOT EMBERS OF THE
BON FIRE. SOMEONE WOULD ALWAYS BRING SOME OLEOMARGARINE TO PUT ON THE
CORN AND TATERS. WHEN THE TIDE WAS DOWN THERE WAS AN INLET THAT WE WENT
TO GATHER UP CLAMS AND EAT THEM RAW OR THROW THEM IN THE BON FIRE. ON THE
CORNER OF FIRST STREET THERE WAS A CAFE AND I WOULD KNOCK ON THE BACK
DOOR AND ASK ONE OF THE COOKS IF HE HAD ANY FREE ONE DAY OLD DONUTS. MOST
OF THE TIME HE DID AND GAVE THEM TO ME FREE. I WAS THE ONE THAT ALWAYS
WENT BECAUSE THE CAFE STAFF LIKED ME AND GAVE ME THE DONUTS. YEARS LATER
THE MEXICAN HOLLYWOOD WAS RAZED AS WELL AS THE B.A.B. AND THE PIER AND
THE VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE WAS BUILT AS WELL AS THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL
WHICH BOTH STAND AT THE LOCATION AT THE PRESENT TIME. MANY MET THEIR
FUTURE WIFE AT THE B.A.B.. I HAD AN OLDER COUSIN WHO MET HIS FUTURE WIFE
THERE. I LEARNED TO SWIM AT THE B.A.B. WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD IN 1940 WITH THE
AID OF A HALF INFLATED TIRE INNER TUBE AROUND MY WAIST.

102.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE FROM SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA WHEN YOU REMEMBER
THE 8 BUS LINES IN THE TOWN WAY BACK WHEN MOBY DICK WAS STILL A SARDINE.
AND THE B.A.B. BEACH AT THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR AREA......THE MEXICAN
HOLLYWOOD(THE BARRIO)------THE 14 FISH CANNERIES ON TERMINAL ISLAND----THE
JAPANESE VILLAGE ON TERMINAL ISLAND---BRIGHTON BEACH ON TERMINAL ISLAND--
--THE NAVAL DISPLINARY BARRACKS WHERE THE FEDERAL PRISON NOW STANDS----
THE POLLYWOG POND ACROSS THE STREET FROM TODD SHIP YARD----THE FISH
MARKETS WHERE THE PORTS OF CALL IS NOW----THE WESTERN TERRACE AND
BANNING HOME GOVERNMENT PROJECTS----THE LARGE STRING BEAN FARM WHERE
THE GREEN HILLS MEMORIAL PARK IS NOW----THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RED CAR
DEPOT AT 5TH AND HARBOR BLVD. AND ALL THE WOMEN IN WHITE GOING OR
RETURNING FROM WORK AT THE FISH CANNERIES ON TERMINAL ISLAND----AND THE
 65

CITY BUSES WITH WOMEN IN WHITE AND SMELLING UP THE BUSES WITH THE ODOR
OF FISH-----THE FIVE MOVIE THEATERS, THE BARTON HILL, THE STRAND THEATER,
THE WARNER BROTHERS THEATER AND THE GLOBE THEATER AS WELL AS THE
CABRILLO THEATER. THE 5 MORTUARIES IN THE TOWN.....HALVERSONS-----
CLEVELANDS------MC NERNEYS---PALM AND MC CLEAN-------HARBOR FUNERAL
HOME.....THE MANY SHIPYARDS, TODD----CONSOLIDATED----WESTERN PIPE AND
STEEL---BETHLEHELM----CAL SHIP. THE AUTOMOBILE FERRY AT THE FOOT OF FIRST
STREET. THE FERRY NAMED THE ISLANDER THAT CARRIED BOTH PASSENGERS AND
AUTOS TO TERMINAL ISLAND---THE SMALL GREEN AND WHITE FERRY THAT CARRIED
PASSENGERS-----THE 7TH HEAVEN JAIL AT THE 7TH FLOOR OF THE CITY HALL.THE
YELLOW AMBULANCE THAT WAS DRIVEN BY A POLICE MAN AND RESPONDED TO
EMERGENCIES. THE FISHERMENS FIESTA AS WELL AS THE FISHING BOAT PARADE---
DI CARLOS BAKERY----SLIMS BURGER SHOP AT FIRST AND PACIFIC STREET. BATTLE
SHIP ROW ON THE HARBOR AS WELL AS AIR CRAFT CARRIERS, CRUISERS,
DESTROYERS AND LST'S. THE MANY SAILORS WALKING 6TH STREET WHEN SAN
PEDRO WAS A NAVY TOWN. WHEN THE ARMY HAD FORT MC ARTHUR. THE AIR FORCE
IS THERE NOW. THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT. RECREATION AND PRIVATE BEACH
AT PORTUGUESE BEND. THE BARRAGE BALOONS IN MANY AREAS DURING WW2 AND
THE GREAT AIR RAID OF 1942. THE GREAT DEPRESSION YEARS IN SAN PEDRO
DURING THE 1930'S. AND MANY MORE TO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. IF YOU
REMEMBER THESE THEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE FROM SAN PEDRO.

103.

DURING WORLD WAR 2 MANY SAVINGS BOND RALLYS WERE HELD ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FOR THE SALE OF BONDS TO HELP THE WAR EFFORT. THREE OF THESE
RALLYS WERE HELD IN THE HARBOR DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA AT SAN PEDRO.
WILMINGTON AND HARBOR CITY. IN SAN PEDRO AT THE CORNER OF 6TH AND
PACIFIC ST.,IN WILMINGTON AT THE CORNER OF AVALON BLVD. AND ANAHEIM ST.
WHERE THE THRIFTY DRUG STORE IS NOW AND IN HARBOR CITY ON THE CORNER OF
VERMONT AND PACIFIC COAST HWY WHERE THE KAISER PERMENENTE HOSPITAL IS
NOW. THERE WERE AT TIMES DISPLAYS OF A JAPANESE ZERO FIGHTER PLANE, A 2
MAN MIDGET JAPANESE SUBMARINE, A GERMAN MESSERSCHMIDT FIGHTER PLANE
AND A SHERMAN BIG ARMORED TANK. EACH TIME THERE WERE VARIOUS
CELEBRATIES SUCH AS CLARK GABLE., MONA FREEMAN,ROY ROGERS AND TRIGGER
HIS HORSE,TYRONE POWER, LINDA DARNELL. MARTHA RAYE, THE ANDREW SISTERS,
FRANCES LANGFORD, JOE LOUIS THE HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD,
GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON AND COLONEL JIMMIE DOOLITLE WHO LED THE FIRST
BOMBING OF TOKYO, JAPAN IN 1942. IF YOU BOUGHT A SAVINGS BOND OF ANY
DENOMINATION YOU GOT A SIGNED SMALL PHOTO OF THE CELEBRETIES AND A
HAND SHAKE AND GOT TO BOARD THE PLANES, SUBMARINE, ARMORED TANK. IN SAN
PEDRO LARRY DI CARLO THE SON OF THE FOUNDER OF THE DI CARLO BAKERY
BOUGHT A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND AND GOT A BIG LONG KISS FROM MONA
FREEMAN.THE RALLY BOND EVENT WAS A REAL BIG SUCCESS AND HELPED THE WAR
EFFORT.
 66

104.

THE YEAR WAS 1950 AND I WAS ABOARD MY AIRCRAFT CARRIER THE USS BOXER CV-
21 BOUND SOUTH TO THE EQUATOR AFTER JUST HAVING VISITED A COUPLE OF FAR
EAST COUNTRIES. WE WERE HEADED TO AUSTRALIA. THE WATER IN THIS AREA WAS
PURPLE COLORED. WE STOPPED AND ANCHORED AT THE EQUATOR BETWEEN
INDONESIA AND MALAYA FOR A DAY TO INITIATE THE 3300 OUT OF 3500 OF THE
CREW TO BECOME SHELL BACKS FROM POLLYWOGS. A DAY OF EXCITMENT WAS
HAD AND I WILL TELL THIS STORY AFTER. WE ARRIVED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA ON A
WARM NICE SUNNY DAY AND FOUR FIRE BOATS GREETED US WITH SPROUTING
WATER IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND ESCORTED US INTO THE HARBOR. THE PEOPLE OF
AUSTRALIA LOVED US BECAUSE WE KEPT THEIR COUNTRY FROM BEING OCCUPIED
BY THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN IN WORLD WAR 2. THERE WAS A MAN SHORTAGE IN THE
COUNTRY DUE TO THE MANY FATALITIES OF YOUNG MEN IN THE WAR. WE TIED UP
AT THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY BASE. LIBERTY WAS GRANTED TO ONE THIRD OF THE
CREW. I WAS ON THE LIBERTY PARTY AND I WAS 20 YEARS OLD. AT THE MAIN GATE
THERE WERE OVER 200 GIRLS WAITING TO GREET US AND DATE US. THE HOMLIEST
MAN ABOARD SHIP DID NOT HAVE TROUBLE FINDING A DATE. AS SOON AS I GOT OUT
OF THE GATE A PRETTY RED HAIRED GIRL APPROACHED ME AND WELCOMED ME TO
SYDNEY. SHE SAID HER NAME WAS RHONDA WILSON AND IF I WANTED TO BE HER
DATE. I SAID CERTAINLY. A HOOKER WOULD GO HUNGRY HERE IF SHE HAD TO PLY
HER TRADE HERE. WE FIRST WENT TO THE SEA SHORE AND I RENTED A 2 PERSON
KAYAK FOR AN HOUR. WE THEN WENT TO A MOVIE, AND FROM THERE TO A PUB TO
DRINK ICED COLD BULL DOG RED BEER IN A STEINER AND CHEATERS TO MUNCH ON
AND TO DANCE AND PLAY DARTS.ALL THE BARTENDERS CALLED US BY THE NAME OF
MATE.AFTER I ASKED RHONDA IF SHE WANTED TO GO SOME PLACE TO EAT.SHE SAID
NO. WE WERE FULL OF MUNCHING ON CHEATERS.WE THEN LEFT FOR A WALK UNDER
THE BRIGHT STARS AROUND THE CITY. SHE THEN WALKED ME TO THE MAIN GATE TO
GO BACK TO MY SHIP. I HAD LIBERTY TWO MORE TIMES AND I SPENT THEM WITH
RHONDA. ON THE LAST NIGHT SHE TOOK ME TO MEET HER PARENTS AND TWO
YOUNGER SISTERS. THEY WERE VERY NICE AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN
THE U.S.A.I RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA AGAIN IN 1956 TO MELBOURNE FOR THE 1956
SUMMER OLYMPICS. THIS TIME THERE WERE NO WOMEN AT THE MAIN GATE OF THE
AUSTRALIAN NAVY YARD. I DID NOT ATTEND THE OLYMPICS. AS MOST OF THE CREW
WE MADE THE ROUND OF PUBS AND LOOKED FOR DATES.AFTER I FOUND A NICE
PRETTY RED HEAD AGAIN NAMED DORTHY CALLAHAN. IT SEEMED THAT I WAS
ALWAYS HOOKING UP WITH A RED HEAD MOST OF THE TIME AND EVEN IN HIGH
SCHOOL. BUT IT TURNED OUT I MARRIED A BRUNETTE WHICH I HAVE BEEN MARRIED
FOR 51 YEARS. I NEVER RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA AGAIN.

105.

IN THE NAVY SOMETIMES THE SHIPS GET DEPLOYED AND SPEND MONTHS OUT AT
SEA WITHOUT HITTING PORT. SO THAT THE CREW DOES NOT GET BORED AND
MORALE AT A LOW, YOU TRY AND FEED THEM THE BEST TASTING FOOD. THE NAVY
 67

BUYS THE BEST HIGH GRADE FOOD AVAILABLE AND IT IS UP TO THE COOKS TO DO
THEIR UP MOST BEST IN PREPARING IT AND THAT MEANS FOLLOWING THE NAVY
RECIPES TO A TEE. THE FOOD HAS BEEN TESTED AT A FOOD LABORATORY IN
BAYONNE NEW JERSEY. IT DOES NOT BECOME A RECIPE IF THE FOOD BEING TESTED
DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD. WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE NAVY IN 1970, THE
NAVY HAD 434 RECIPES FOR THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE GENERAL MESS CAN USE
TO MAKE HIS MENUS. THIS WAS USUALLY THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER LIKE I WAS. A
CYCLE MENU WAS MADE FOR 3 MONTHS AT A TIME SO THE SAME MENU WOULD NOT
APPEAR ON THE SAME DAY IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. THE CHIEF HAD TO USE
IMAGINATION,COLOR, QUALITY, CONTRAST AND TASTE AND EYE APPEAL TO MAKE
HIS MENUS.MOST PEOPLE EAT WITH THEIR EYES. A PERSON DOES NOT NEED TO
COOK TO KNOW GOOD FOOD, HE CAN TASTE IT. THAT IS WHY A CHIEF IN CHARGE OF
THE MESS HOLD WEEKLY FOOD MENU CLASSES WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH
DIVISION OF THE SHIP OR SHORE STATION AND GO OVER THE LIKES AND DISLIKES
OF THE CREW ON FOOD BEING SERVED. A WELL FED CREW IS A HAPPY CREW. I LIKE
TO SAY MY CREW PUT OUT GOOD QUALITY FOOD AND WE GOT MANY COMPLIMENTS.
PUT OUT GOOD FOOD AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED IN TIME. AN AWARD NAMED THE
NEY AWARD GOES OUT EACH YEAR TO THE BEST MESS AND FEEDER ON BOARD
SHIP AND ON A SHORE STATION IN THE WHOLE U.S.NAVY. I AM PROUD TO SAY I WON
IT TWO TIMES. FIRST IN 1958 ABOARD THE USS NORTON SOUND AVM-1 AND THE
SECOND TIME IN 1967 ABOARD THE USS EPPING FORREST MCS-7. THE AWARD WAS
NOT JUST FOR THE BEST FOOD SERVED BUT FOR SANITATION, RECORD
KEEPING,PEST CONTROL AND FOR HAVING A GOOD TRAINING PROGRAM TO HELP
THE MEN UNDER YOU ADVANCE IN RANK.

106.

WHEN I WAS IN MALAYA IN THE CITY OF SINGAPORE THERE WAS A PLACE THAT HAD
PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS AND ADMIRERS. THIS WAS IN 1950. PEOPLE WOULD HIRE
THE MOURNERS TO MOURN AT WAKES AND FUNERALS.THEY WOULD ALL CRY AS THEY
SAT. THE MORE MOURNERS YOU WANTED TO HIRE THE MORE IT WOULD COST. THE
ADMIRERS WOULD SIT AT A SMALL TABLE IN FRONT OF YOU AND GIVE YOU ADMIRING
GLANCES FOR 15 MINUTES A SESSION. I KNEW OF SOME GUYS ABOARD MY SHIP THAT
HAD NEVER BEEN ADMIRED IN THEIR LIVES AND SPENT AS MUCH AS AN HOUR BEING
ADMIRED. THEY FELT GREAT AFTER. IT ONLY COST ONE SINGAPORE DOLLAR FOR
FIFTEEN MINUTES OF BEING ADMIRED, ABOUT 15 CENTS AMERICAN CURRENCY. THEY
WERE PROBABLY OVER CHARGING US, BUT TO US IT WAS VERY CHEAP.

107.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT WHAT THE READERS DIEGEST SAID YEARS AGO OF WHERE THE
MOST NOTORIUS AND TOUGHEST STREET IN THE UNITED STATES WAS. THE STREET
WAS NAMED BEACON STREET AND IT WAS IN SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA MY PLACE OF
BIRTH IN 1930. THE STREET WAS AT THE WATERFRONT OF THE SMALL TOWN LOCATED
AT THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR AREA. THE SECTION WAS JUST THREE BLOCKS LONG
 68

FROM 4TH STREET TO 7TH STREET. IT CONSISTED OF MANY BARS, HOTELS, BARBER
SHOPS, POOL HALLS AND CAFES.ON THE WEEKEND SAILORS, SOLDIERS,MERCHANT
SEAMEN,LONG SHOREMEN,SHIP YARD WORKERS, CANNERY WORKERS AND SCALERS
WOULD VISIT THE BARS THERE AND FIGHT OVER THE BAR FLIES THAT WERE MANY.
FIGHTS THERE EVERY DAY AND A FEW KILLINGS.THE MOST NOTORIUS BAR WAS
SHANGHAI RED'S BAR ON THE CORNER OF 5TH AND BEACON ST. SHANGHAI RED WAS A
LARGE OBESE MAN THAT SAID HE COULD LICK ANY MAN IN THE WORLD IN A STREET
FIGHT. I SEEN HIM TAKE DOWN MANY IN THE YEARS I WORKED ON BEACON ST. DURING
MY TEEN YEARS IN JR. HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.I WORKED IN THREE POOL
HALLS RACKING BALLS, A DRY CLEANERS, RUNNING A 2 SEAT SHOE SHINE STAND IN
FRONT OF A BARBER SHOP AND AS A COOK'S HELPER IN A FILIPINO CAFE NAMED THE
OUR CAFE.I KNEW EVERY HOOKER AND PIMP ON THE STREET. WHEN I WORKED IN THE
DRY CLEANERS AT THE FRONT DESK THE HOOKERS AND PIMPS WOULD BRING THEIR
DRESSES AND SUITS TO HAVE A SPECIAL QUICK DRY CLEANING JOB. I THINK EACH HAD
ONLY ONE DRESS AND SUIT. SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON DRUGS.WHEN I WAS
WORKING IN THE SHOE SHINE STAND I WITNESSED TWO KILLINGS. THE FIRST IN FRONT
OF MY STAND ONE FILIPINO MAN HAD ANOTHER PINNED UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER
OF A CAR AND REPEATEDLY STABBED THE MAN IN THE HEAD WITH A SWITCH BLADE
KNIFE. ANOTHER TIME A SECURITY GUARD SHOT AND KILLED A CUSTOMER AS HE
EXITED THE BAR WHICH WAS NEXT TO MY SHOE SHINE STAND. THE BAR WAS NAMED
THE BATAAN BAR. BOTH TIMES I HAD TO APPEAR IN SUPERIOR COURT AS A
WITNESS.NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE FROM UPPER SAN PEDRO CAME TO THIS SECTION OF
BEACON STREET. AND IF A WOMAN OR GIRL HAD TO PASS THROUGH THERE SHE DID
WITH CAUTION AND MOVED FAST THROUGH THERE.FINALLY IN THE MID 1960'S
BEACON STREET WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND AND NEW BUSINESS'S WERE
BUILT THERE. IT NOW LOOKS VERY NICE.

108.

HAS ANYONE ON HERE EVER SAW OR HEARD OF THE MUMMER'S NEW YEARS DAY
PARADE IN PHILADELPHIA,PA? IT STARTS AT 8AM IN THE MORNING AND FINISHES AT
4 PM IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. MY WIFE AND I LIVED JUST 2 SHORT BLOCKS FROM
THE PARADE SITE ON BROAD AVE. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CAME TO
SEE THIS MAGNIFICENT PARADE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND HUMAN INDIVIDUAL
PLUME DECORATED FLOATS. MOSTLY BANJOS AND STRING INSTRUMENTS WERE
USED. IT WAS A TOURNAMENT OF BANDS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA AND ACROSS
THE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE FROM NEW JERSEY. BANDS FROM EGG HARBOR, NEW
JERSEY AND OTHER SECTIONS AND THE LOU FIRPO BAND FROM OUR SECTION OF
TOWN WHICH WAS IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA IN THE ITALIAN GHETTO. AND OTHER
SECTIONS OF TOWN. THERE WAS THE FANCY DIVISION, THE COMEDY DIVISION AND
THE INSTRUMENT DIVISION AS WELL AS THE BEST INDIVIDUAL HUMAN FLOAT.AND
THERE WERE THE INDIVIDUAL MARCHING PEOPLE WHO STRUTTED WITH A SMALL
UMBRELLA TO THE MUMMER'S STRUT AND HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN SONG .
MOST WERE PRETTY HIGH ON LIQUOR. THIS DAY WAS THE ONLY DAY THAT YOU
COULD DRINK IN PUBLIC AND CARRY BOOZE WITH YOU IN PHILADELPHIA. THERE
 69

WERE ALL KINDS OF FOOD VENDERS ON THE STREET. MOSTLY PIZZA PIE VENDORS
AND HOAGGIE VENDERS. MY WIFE AND I WOULD TAKE OUR PLACES WITH OUR
FOLDING CHAIRS OUR THERMOS JUGS WITH HOT COFFEE AND HOT GREEN TEA AND
VARIOUS TYPES OF BURITTOS AND OUR SOFT DRINKS.I HAD A HALF PINT OF V.O.
SEAGRAMS WHISKEY. WE HAD OUR KNIT CAPS AND OUR OVER COATS AND MITTENS
AS THE SNOW WAS SHOVELED TO THE SIDE IN FRONT OF US.THERE WERE MONEY
PRIZES FOR THE GROUP. THE FIRPO BAND FROM OUR SECTION WON FIRST PRIZE
THAT DAY IN NEW YEARS OF 1966 IN THE FANCY DIVISION. AS SOON AS THE PARADE
IS OVER, THE GROUPS START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE MUMMER'S
PARADE AT THAT TIME WAS AN ALL MALE EVENT. IN 1964 ON DOWN MANY HAD BLACK
FACES PAINTED ON THEM. BUT THE NAACP PUT A STOP TO IT. NOW IT IS A COED
PARADE. IF MY WIFE AND I HAD TO GO, WELL WE WENT JUST 2 SHORT BLOCKS TO
OUR HOUSE. THERE WERE PORTABLE REST ROOMS AT INTERVAL PLACES BUT THEY
WERE ALWAYS FULL WITH PEOPLE LINED UP TO USE THEM. SO IF YOU EVER GET THE
CHANCE TO SEE THE MUMMER'S PARADE, DO SO. IT IS AN UNFORGETABLE
EXPERIENCE LIKE THE MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS WHICH HAS MUMMER'S TO
NAMED AFTER KING MUMMA.

109.

IT WAS THE YEAR 1950 IN ARIZONA IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. I WAS WITH THE
NAVY STATIONED AT THE NAVAL AIR FACILITY AT LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ. IN THE
OUTSKIRTS OF PHOENIX. A LOT OF THE GUYS FROM OUR BASE AND NEAR BY LUKE AIR
FORCE BASE LIKED TO GO TO A BAR IN TEMPE NEAR THE ARIZONA STATE COLLEGE. A
LOT OF COLLEGE GIRLS WENT THERE AND WE WOULD DATE THEM. THE POLICE LIKED
TO PARK ACROSS THE STREET TO TRY AND CATCH DRUNK DRIVERS. THEY WERE
TARGETING THE SERVICE MEN. ONE NIGHT A COLLEGE GIRL AND I LEFT THE BAR
WHICH WAS NAMED THE HILL TOP TO TRY AND GET TO A FAMOUS BAR NAMED THE
SHED 13 IN PHOENIX BEFORE THEY CLOSED.I HAD BEEN DRINKING AS WELL AS THE
GIRL BUT WE WERE NOT DRUNK. I WAS SPEEDING TO TRY AND GET THERE FAST.SOON I
SAW THE RED LIGHT OF A POLICE PATROL CAR. I PULLED OVER AND THE OFFICER
APPROACHED MY CAR. HE ASKED IF I HAD BEEN DRINKING AND THAT I WAS SPEEDING.
HE ASKED ME FOR MY REGISTRATION AND DRIVERS LICENSE. I SAID I HAD BEEN
DRINKING A LITTLE. HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO IMPOUND MY CAR AND TAKE
BOTH OF US TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS. I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE TOOK THE GIRL IN.
AT THIS TIME IN THE PHOENIX AREA THERE WAS A LOT OF ROAD ACCIDENTS AND
FATALITIES. THE MAYOR SAID THAT IF YOU GOT CAUGHT DRIVING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE YOU WERE GOING TO DO TIME IN JAIL AND THAT HE WOULD NOT ALLOW A
FINE.WELL THAT MONDAY I WENT BEFORE THE JUDGE AS WELL AS THE GIRL. HE LET
THE GIRL GO FREE AND SAID THE REASON SHE WAS BROUGHT IN WAS FOR HER OWN
PROTECTION AND NOT LEFT OUT IN THE COLD AND LONELY ROAD AT NIGHT.THE
JUDGE ASKED ME IF I KNEW ABOUT THE NEW LAW ON DRUNK DRIVING. I PLAYED
DUMB AND SAID NO. HE SAID WELL YOU SHOULD OF AND SENTENCED ME TO 75 DAYS
IN JAIL.SO I SPENT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS IN THE PHOENIX COUNTY JAIL.MY
GOOD SHIPMATE NAMED BUD MOTT FROM HEMPSTED, LONG ISLAND IN NEW YORK
 70

CAME TO VISIT ME OFTEN. AT 9 PM ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEARS EVE HE TIED A
QUART OF WHISKEY WITH A STRING AND THE TANK BOSS WHICH WAS NAMED CURLY
SENT THE STRING DOWN BEHIND SOME BUSHES FROM THE THIRD FLOOR AND
BROUGHT THE BOTTLE UP THROUGH THE BARS. FOUR OF US IN THE TANK BOSS'S CELL
HAD A GOOD TIME UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AFTER MY FIRST DAY IN THE JAIL THE
NAVY SHORE PATROL PAID ME A VISIT AND ASKED MY HOW I WAS TREATED. I SAID
O.K. BUT THAT THEY ONLY FED US 2 TIMES A DAY. AT 6 AM AND 6 PM. THEY TOLD THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON THE BASE AND HE SENT THE LEGAL OFFICER TO SEE THE CHIEF
OF POLICE. HE TOLD HIM THAT I WAS GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND THAT I WAS
SUPPOSE TO BE FED THREE MEALS A DAY. HE TOLD THE LEGAL OFFICE THAT THIS WAS
THE RULES AND THERE WOULD NOT BE AN EXCEPTION AND THAT IF HE WANTED FOR
ME TO BE FED AT NOON HE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THE MEAL. IF YOU WERE A
TRUSTIE YOU GOT THREE MEALS A DAY.SO EVERY DAY FOR NOON THE COOKS ON THE
BASE WOULD SEND WITH THE SHORE PATROL A BIG BOX LUNCH. I SHARED IT WITH THE
TANK BOSS WHO GAVE ME A SHAVE EVERY MORNING AND A HAIR CUT IF NEEDED.
AFTER 11 DAYS IN JAIL IN THE CITY I WAS TRANSFERD TO THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN
REGIONAL PARK AREA WHERE A CHICKEN FARM WAS THAT SUPPLIED THE EGGS TO
THE JAIL SYSTEM. WE HAD THREE MEALS A DAY THERE AND GOOD CHICKEN OFTEN.
THIS WAS AN HONOR FARM WITH NO GATES OR WALLS.IF YOU WANTED TO WALK
AWAY YOU COULD AND PAY THE PRICE LATER WHEN CAUGHT.ABOUT A FOURTH OF A
MILE WAS A COVERED PAVILLION WHERE PEOPLE HAD PICNICS AND DRANK BEER.
SOME TIMES ON WEEKENDS SOME OF MY SHIP MATES BROUGHT BEER THERE AND I
WOULD WALK THERE AND HAVE A COUPLE OF COOL ONES.WHEN I SERVED MY 75 DAYS
CONFINED I HAD TO GO BEFORE THE CAPTAIN AT CAPTAINS MAST TO FACE CHARGES
OF ABSENT WITH OUT LEAVE FROM THE BASE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS AWARE OF
THE POLICE TARGETING THE MILITARY AND SAID THAT HE FELT THAT I HAD BEEN
PUNISHED ENOUGH AND WAS GOING TO PUT DOWN THE 75 DAYS AS VACATION OR
LEAVE. I HAD 57 DAYS ON RECORD AND I WAS TO OWE 28 DAYS. I GOT ALL MY PAY FOR
THE 75 DAYS AND LEAVE FOOD RATION MONEY ALSO.I NEVER WAS CONFINED ANY
MORE.I GOT MY CAR OUT OF THE POUND.

110.

THERE ARE MANY LEADERS IN THE MILITARY. SOME EXCELLENT. SOME GOOD AND
SOME NOT SO GOOD. YOU ONLY ARE A GOOD LEADER IF THE MEN UNDER YOU ARE
WILLING TO FOLLOW YOU. IN VIETNAM AT OUR BASE I WAS THE COMMISSARYMAN
CHIEF IN CHARGE OF THE GENERAL MESS. I HAD 57 COOKS AND BAKERS UNDER ME. I
LIKE TO THINK THAT I WAS AN EFFECTIVE LEADER. MY CAPTAIN THOUGHT SO AND
HAD THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AWARD ME THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH THE "V" COMBAT DEVICE FOR SERVICES RENDERED ON AND BEYOND DUTY. I
WAS A FAIR PERSON WITH MY MEN. THEY KNEW ME AND I KNEW THEM. I WAS
AGRESSIVE BUT NOT OPPRESSVE AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THEIR PERSONNAL LIFE
AND PROBLEMS. I HAD ONE OF THE BEST GROUP IN THE NAVY THAT I HAD THE
PLEASURE TO LEAD. THE DAY I LEFT MY ONE YEAR TOUR OF DUTY MY FOOD SERVICE
OFFICER WARRANT OFFICER JIM KELLY TOOK ME AND MY SUIT CASE TO THE CAUSE
 71

WAY RAMP TO CATCH A SWIFT BOAT FOR THE FOUR HOUR RUN TO DANANG OUR
HEADQUARTERS. SOON OUR KITCHEN TRUCK AND 2 JEEPS ARRIVED WITH ALL OF MY 57
COOKS. MY ACE GEORGE WIDEMAN FIRST CLASS PETTY OFFICER HAD THE MEN ALL
LINE UP AT ATTENTION. HE CAME FORWARD AND PRESENTED ME WITH A GOLD
ROLLEX WATCH FROM THE MEN AND A ONE FOOT HAND MADE FAREWELL CARD
SIGNED BY ALL MY MEN. IT READ .........."TO THE BEST CHIEF IN THE NAVY. WE WOULD
FOLLOW YOU TO HELL IF WE HAD TO" I COULD NOT CONTAIN MYSELF AND BROKE
DOWN AND CRIED.

111.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY IN OUR GROUP HAVE HEARD OF THE FLEET RESERVE
ASSOCIATION. IT IS AN ASSOCIATION OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED 20 OR
MORE YEARS IN THE NAVY, COAST GUARD OR MARINES AND THEN RETIRED FROM
ACTIVE DUTY.I BELONG TO BRANCH 117 IN GARDEN GROVE, CA. EVERY MONTH WE
GET A MAGAZINE FROM OUR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN IT
CONTAINS THE NAMES OF OUR SHIPMATES THAT HAVE DEPARTED. SOME TIMES I
RECOGNIZE A NAME. THE NAVY IS LIKE NO OTHER MILITARY GROUP. WE SOMETIMES
SPEND MONTHS OUT AT SEA AND LIVE 24/7 AMONG OURSELVES. WE BECOME FAMILY
AND BOND A FRIENDSHIP THAT SOME TIMES LASTS A LIFE TIME.I BONDED A LIFE
TIME FRIENDSHIP WITH 6 CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS THAT WERE SHIPMATES ON
VARIOUS NAVAL VESSELS. SADLY I LOST THE LAST ONE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO.THEY
ALL RECEIVED ORDERS TO SERVE ON THE STAFF OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER IN
THE CELESTIAL SKY OF ETERNAL SALVATION AND REST. THEY SAILED THROUGH
LIFE'S CRUISE, MEETING THEIR SHARE OF CALMS AND STORMS,ADVERSE TIDES AND
FAVORING WINDS. THEIR SHIP OF LIFE CAME TO IT'S FINAL ANCHORAGE. THE
ANCHOR FALLING INTO THE SEA AND NEVER TO RISE AGAIN IN A HARBOR STILL
UNCHARTED BY MORTAL MEN. WE WHO REMAIN DO NOT KNOW THE WATERS THERE,
BUT WE DO KNOW THE COURSE TO STEER AND WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SHIPMATES,
SETTING THEIR COURSE BY THOSE BEACONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN US, HAVE
FOUND THAT HARBOR SAFELY.WE HERE AWAIT OUR OWN DEPARTURE AND VOYAGE
TO THAT SAME HARBOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION. THERE ARE MANY WORDS THAT
COULD BE USED AT THIS TIME TO DESCRIBE THE GOOD AND OUTSTANDING
QUALITIES OF THE ONES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE. BUT WE OF THE FLEET RESERVE
ASSOCIATION SUM IT UP IN ONE WORD..............SHIPMATE............THAT WORD WHEN
SPOKEN BY NAVAL, COAST GUARD AND MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL EMBODIES ALL
THAT CAN BE SAID OF ANY PERSON. WE WHO REMAIN TO CARRY ON DO NOT THINK
OF OUR SHIPMATES AS GONE FROM US, BUT RATHER THAT OUR SHIPMATES HAVE
BEEN TRANSFERD TO ANOTHER CELESTIAL SHIP OR STATION WHERE WE HOPE TO
BE SHIP MATES AGAIN,

"GOD OUR FATHER, IN THESE MOMENTS OF COMMEMORATION WE TURN TO YOU

FOR THE TRUTH WHICH COMES FROM FAITH ALONE, FOR THE COURAGE WHICH
COMES FROM HOPE ALONE, AND THE GENEROSITY WHICH COMES FROM LOVE
ALONE"
 72

++++++++++IN MEMORIUM+++++++++++

THOMAS FORD SDC, USN, RET.

WILTON ARNOLD SHC, USN, RET.

DON ODORE SHC USN, RET.

HERMAN WIDEN MSC, USN RET.

CHARLES GEISERT BMC. USN. RET

DESTER ROSA ENC, USN, RET.

UNTIL NEXT TIME GUYS......UNTIL NEXT TIME

112.

THE TIME WAS 1949 AN MY SHIP THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER THE USS BOXER CV-21 WAS AT
HUNTER'S POINT SHIP YARD IN SAN FRANCISCO IN DRY DOCK GETTING OVER HAULED. I
HAD THE DAY OFF SO I WENT INTO SAN FRANCISCO THE CITY FOR A STROLL AND TO
SIGHT SEE. I WAS WALKING DOWN MARKET STREET WHEN NATURE CALLED AND I HAD
TO GO. THE NEAREST PLACE WAS THE GREY HOUND BUS STATION AT THE NEXT BLOCK.
I WENT INTO THEIR REST ROOM AND IT WAS DESERTED. I WENT INTO A STALL AND SAT
AND THE ROLL WAS EMPTY. I WAITED A WHILE FOR SOME ONE TO COME IN AND HAND
ME A ROLL OF TOILET TISSUE FROM ONE OF THE STALLS. NO ONE CAME SO I HAD TO
GET MY WALLET AND TAKE OUT FIVE ONE DOLLAR BILLS AND CLEAN MYSELF WITH
THEM. FIVE BUCKS WAS A LOT OF MONEY IN 1949. MY PAY WAS 88 BUCKS A MONTH
THEN. NO I DID NOT WASH THE BILLS. I FLUSHED THEM DOWN THE TOILET. FROM THAT
DAY ON UNTIL NOW I ALWAYS CARRY A SMALL PACK OF KLEENEX TISSUES IN
MYPOCKET JUST IN CASE.I KNEW A GUY IN JAPAN AT THE NAVAL BASE THERE THAT
ALWAYS CARRIED A CORN COB THAT HAD BEEN SUN DRIED JUST IN CASE.
 73

113.

THE YEAR WAS 1967 AND THE PLACE WAS ABOARD MY SHIP THE USS EPPING FORREST
MCS-7 A MINE COUNTER MEASURE SHIP IN THE SHIMONOSEKI STRAITS IN THE SEA OF
JAPAN. WE WERE HAVING JOINT MANUEVERS WITH THE AUSTRALIAN MINE
FORCES.OUR SHIP HAD A CREW OF 375 PERSONNEL AND WE CARRIED 10 MSL 5 MAN
SMALL MINE SWEEPERS VALUED AT ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR EACH. IN
VIETNAM THEY WOULD GO UP THE SHALLOW DELTAS AND RIVERS IN VIETNAM WHERE
A LARGE MINE SWEEPER COULD NOT. THEY WOULD SPREAD OUT A MAGNETIC LINE
WITH SMALL WOODEN FLOATS AND BLOW UP ANY MINES FLOATING ON THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER.WELL ONE NIGHT WE HIT A BIG HURRICANE AND WE GOT BOUNCED
AROUND HEAVILY. OUR GYROSCOPE COMPASS WENT HAY WIRE AND SPUN AROUND
LIKE CRAZY. WE COULD NOT SEND OUT AN S.O.S.MOST OF THE CREW WERE SEA SICK
AND LAID IN THEIR FART SACKS. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE A BOTTLE OF ETHER
BROKE ON THE DECK OF SICK BAY AND SENT FUMES AROUND THE SHIP THAT MADE
THE CREW MORE NAUSEATED.MY COOKS WERE ALL SICK AND IN THEIR BUNKS.THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICER TOLD ME TO JUST OPEN UP SOME LARGE NO. 10 CANS OF CHILI
BEANS AND HEAT THEM UP AND PUT THEM ON THE STEAM LINE WITH SODA CRACKERS
AND IF ANY BODY WANTED TO EAT, THEY COULD HELP THEMSELVES. WE HAD JUICE
AND MILK DESPENSERS ON THE MESS DECK.THEN THE WORST HAPPENED. ABOUT FOUR
FEET OF OUR AFT WELL DECK WALL BROKE OFF AND WATER GUSHED IN WHERE OUR 10
MSL BOATS WERE HOUSED. ONE OF THE BOATS GOT LOOSE AND SLAMMED INTO
ANOTHER BOAT AND STARTED A CHAIN REACTION. SOON THE BOATS DESTROYED
EACH OTHER. ONE MILLION DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN. AT ABOUT 5 AM AS THE SUN
ROSE THE HURRICANE STOPPED.I WENT TO THE AFT DECK TO SEE THE DAMAGE TO THE
BOATS AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER WAS THERE OBSERVING THE DAMAGE. HE SAID
THE MESS LOOKED LIKE CLAM CHOWDER AND IF TWO MORE FEET OF THE AFT WALL
BROKE OFF WE WOULD ALL BE HISTORY AND SINK.HE SAID THAT HE DOUBTED IF WE
COULD SURVIVE BEING IN THE RAGING SEA. NEAR BY WAS THE MIYAZAKI JAPANESE
NAVAL BASE. WE PULLED IN THERE FOR A THREE DAY REST. WE WENT TO THE SERVICE
CLUBS THERE AND INTO THE CITY. WE THEN LIMPED HOME WITH OUR SHIP TO OUR
HOME PORT IN SASEBO, JAPAN.OUR FAMILIES HAD ALL BEEN NOTIFIED OF OUR PERIL
AND TOLD THAT WE WERE ALL SAFE. OUR FAMILIES WERE ALL AT THE DOCK WITH THE
BASE BAND WHEN WE PULLED IN TO PORT.FOR 2 WEEKS THE DEBRIS OF THE BOATS
WAS HAND CARRIED OFF THE SHIP BY 50 JAPANESE CIVILIAN MEN AND WOMEN. THE
AFT WELL DECK WALL WAS REPAIRED AND 10 NEW MSL BOATS WERE BROUGHT
ABOARD. WE THEN HEADED BACK TO DUTY OUT AT SEA AND TO VIETNAM.

114.

THE TIME IS JUNE 1950 AND THE PLACE IS THE HARBOR IN INCHON, SOUTH KOREA.MY
SHIP THE AIR CRAFT CARRIER USS BOXER CV-21 HAS BEEN ANCHORED IN THE HARBOR
FOR 3 DAYS AND IT IS JUST 5 DAYS AWAY FROM THE START OF THE KOREAN WAR OR
CONFLICT. WE HAVE BEEN BUSY CLEANING AND TYDING UP THE SHIP BECAUSE OF THE
VISIT TODAY OF SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT SYGMAN RHEE AND MADAM RHEE WHO
 74

WAS BORN IN HAWAII AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET AND STAFF. I WAS A SEAMAN
AND I WAS DESIGNATED AS ONE OF THE SIDE BOYS TO GREET THE PRESIDENT ABOARD.
I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE GANGWAY THAT WENT DOWN TO THE WATERLINE WHERE
THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT WAS TO COME ALONG SIDE.THE MORNING WAS VERY
WINDY AND THERE WERE WHITE CAPS ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER MEANING THE
WIND WAS 35 MILES PER HOUR STRONG OR MORE.I WENT DOWN TO MY POST AND I
SAW THE BOAT COMING ALONG SIDE THE PLATFORM OF THE GANG WAY.THE FIRST TO
STEP ON THE PLATFORM WAS MADAM RHEE A LOVELY LADY WHO SMILED AT ME AS I
HELPED HER OUT OF THE BOAT. NEXT CAME THE PRESIDENT WHO ALSO SMILED AT ME
AND I GAVE HIM A SMART MILITARY SALUTE.MEAN WHILE THE WIND HAD GOT MORE
STRONGER. NEXT CAME THE VICE-PRESIDENT WHO WAS DWARF LIKE AND A
QUADRAPALIGIC WHO WALKED WITH TWO CANES. AS I HELPED HIM TO THE PLATFORM
A GUSH OF WIND CAME AND KNOCKED US BOTH DOWN AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT
ALMOST WENT INTO THE WATER BUT I HELD ONTO HIS HAND AND SOME OF THE STAFF
PICKED US UP. THE PRESIDENT HUGGED ME AND SHOOK MY HAND IN
GRATITUDE.LATER IN THE DAY AFTER THE PRESIDENT LEFT I WAS SUMMONED TO THE
ADMIRAL'S CABIN BY A MARINE ORDERLY. IN HIS CABIN WAS THE ADMIRAL,MY
CAPTAIN, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MY DIVISION OFFICER AND MY LEADING CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER. I WAS PRESENTED WITH A LETTER OF COMMENDATION MENTIONING
WHAT I HAD DONE AND THANKING ME. THIS WENT INTO MY PERSONNEL RECORD AS A
PERMANENT DOCUMENT AND LATER HELPED ME ADVANCE IN RANK. ALL PRESENT IN
THE CABIN SHAKED MY HAND AND PATTED MY SHOULDER. FIVE DAYS LATER WE
WERE AT WAR WITH THE COMMUNIST NORTH KOREANS AND LATER THE CHINESE. WE
WERE THE ONLY NAVAL SHIP TO BE IN A KOREAN PORT AT THE TIME OF THE OUT
BREAK.

115.

IN 1957 I WAS STATIONED WITH THE NAVY AT THE AIR BASE IN NORTH ISLAND
ACROSS THE SAN DIEGO BAY FROM SAN DIEGO.I DID NOT LIVE ON BASE. I RENTED A
STUDIO APARTMENT IN NEARBY LA JOLLA BY THE SEA.ONE NIGHT ABOUT 10 PM I
WAS COMING FROM DOWN TOWN SAN DIEGO AFTER HAVING VISITED SEVERAL BARS
THERE. AS I PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE STUDIO APT. I NOTICED
MOVEMENT IN MY STUDIO ON THE 2ND FLOOR. SOME ONE WAS IN THERE AND
CARRYING A FLASH LIGHT. I WENT TO THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND GOT MY 22 CAL.
HAND GUN THAT I HAD REGISTERED WITH THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPT. I MADE MY
WAY TO THE STUDIO. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED AND I CAREFULLY WENT IN WITH
THE WEAPON IN MY HAND. IN THERE WAS A GUY GETTING READY TO STEAL MY
PORTABLE T.V. I TOLD HIM TO FREEZE AND I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON. HE FROZE AND
LOOKED AT ME. I TOLD HIM TO PUT MY T.V. DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND TO PUT BOTH
HANDS ON TOP OF HIS HEAD. HE PLEADED FOR ME TO LET HIM GO AND SAID HE WAS
A TWO TIME LOSER AND WOULD HAVE TO GO TO PRISON FOR LIFE........SO HE
SAID.......I TOLD HIM TO LIE ON THE FLOOR FACE DOWN AND TO STRETCH HIS ARMS
OUT FROM HIS BODY. I THEN WENT THROUGH HIS POCKETS AND I FOUND A WAD OF
BILLS. LATER I FOUND IT TO BE $380. I PUT THE MONEY IN MY POCKET AND KEPT IT
 75

AND TOLD THE GUY TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE AND THAT I DID NOT EVER WANT
TO SEE HIM AROUND HERE AGAIN. HE WAS GRATEFUL AND THANKED ME. I NEVER
SAW HIM AGAIN.

116.

THE YEAR WAS 1949 IN SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS 19 YEARS OLD AND MY SHIP WAS IN
DRY DOCK GETTING SCRAPED AND PAINTED AT THE BOTTOM HULL OF THE SHIP.I
WAS OFF DUTY AND GRANTED LIBERTY ASHORE.SO I WENT INTO THE CITY. I WAS
TOO YOUNG TO GO INTO THE BARS WHERE THEY CHECKED I.D. CARDS. THERE WERE
THREE PLACES IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT THEY DID NOT CHECK MY I.D. CARD.I GUESS
WITH MY PRE- MATURE GREY HAIR I PASSED FOR 21 YEARS OLD.THE THREE PLACES
THAT SERVED ME WAS THE FORBIDEN CITY NIGHT CLUB IN CHINA TOWN AND
FINOCHIO'S AND MONA'S BARS. THE LATER TWO WERE BOTH GAY BARS, FINOCHIO'S
WAS MALE AND MONA'S WAS FEMALE.ONE DAY I SAT AT THE BAR AT FINOCHIO'S AND
THIS GUY THAT LOOKED LIKE AN EX-BOXER WITH A BROKEN NOSE AND BEAT UP
FACE APPROACHED ME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD GO TO HIS HOTEL ROOM WITH
HIM AND HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH A 2X4 PIECE OF WOOD. FOR THIS HE SAID HE
WOULD GIVE ME TEN DOLLARS. I DECLINED THE OFFER AND HE WENT
AWAY.ANOTHER TIME THIS SHORT VERY THIN GUY CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED ME IF
I WOULD GO WITH HIM TO HIS MOBILE HOME NEAR BY AT A TRAILER PARK. HE SAID
THAT HE WOULD GET IN THE NUDE AND LIE FACE DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND HE
WOULD HAND ME A WASTE PAPER BASKET FULL OF PING PONG BALLS AND I WAS TO
HIT HIM ON HIS BACK WITH A SINGLE PING PONG BALL AT A TIME AND WHEN HE GAVE
ME THE WORD I WAS TO EMPTY THE REMAINING BALLS ON HIS BACK AT THE SAME
TIME FOR HIS FINAL JOY.. FOR THIS HE OFFERED ME TEN DOLLARS ALSO. THIS TOO I
DECLINED. THERE WERE A LOT OF STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND IN
SAN FRANCISCO.

117.

THE TIME WAS 1953 IN EARLY AUGUST JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE KOREAN WAR
CAME TO AN END. MY SHIP THE USS PHILIPPINE SEA CV-47 AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
WAS OPERATING SOME MILES OFF THE SHORE OF INCHON, SOUTH KOREA
LAUNCHING AIR ATTACKS ON THE BRIDGES AND AMMUNITION DUMPS AS WELL AS
THE RAILROADS IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS ABOUT 2 AM IN THE EARLY MORNING AND
GENERAL QUARTERS ALARMS SOUNDED OFF NOTIFYING US FOR US TO GET TO OUR
BATTLE STATIONS ON THE DOUBLE OR IF NOT SOONER.WE THAT WERE IN BED PUT
OUR CLOTHES ON AND RAN TO OUR BATTLE STATIONS.MY BATTLE STATION WAS AT
ONE OF THE MANY FOAM GENERATOR STATIONS THROUGH OUT THE SHIP AS A
PHONE TALKER. THE FOAM GENERATING TANKS WERE FILLED WITH HORSE BLOOD
THAT WHEN MIXED WITH WATER GENERATED FOAM TO FIGHT OIL AND GASOLINE
FIRES ABOARD SHIP. WHEN EVER DAMAGE CONTROL CENTER NEED THE LIQUID
FROM MY STATION THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW OVER THE PHONE. I WOULD THEN
TURN ON THE VALVE. THE HORSE BLOOD WOULD MIX WITH THE WATER AND COME
 76

OUT THROUGH NAVY PICK UP UNIT NOZZLES AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS WOULD FIGHT
THE BLAZE. SOON OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER CAME ON THE PUBLIC ADDRESS
SYSTEM AND TOLD THE CREW THAT ENEMY BOOGIES WERE OVER HEAD OF OUR
TASK FORCE OF MAN O' WAR VESSELS.OUR TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF THREE AIR
CRAFT CARRIERS, 3 HEAVY CRUISERS, 21 DESTROYERS, 3 SUBMARINES AND 2 OIL
TANKERS. HE SAID IF THEY GOT TO CLOSE TO OUR TASK FORCE WE WOULD SHOOT
THEM DOWN FROM THE SKY.WELL ONE 3 MAN OBSERVATION AIRCRAFT DID JUST
THAT AND WAS KNOCKED DOWN TO THE SEA BY OUR SHIPS.OUR SHIP WAS
DESIGNATED TO SEE IF ANY SURVIVORS WERE ABOARD THE ILL STRICKEN PLANE.
WE SENT OUT A MOTOR WHALE BOAT WITH 3 MEN ABOARD TO CHECK OUT THE
SITUATION.WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY FOUND 3 DEAD BODIES ABOARD. THE
PILOT MUST OF BEEN BARELY ALIVE TO LAND THE PLANE ON THE WATER. THE
BODIES WERE TAKEN DOWN TO THE INFIRMARY AND LAID OUT ON EXAMINING
TABLES. THE THREE MEN HAD BROWN HAIR AND BLUE EYES AND A MOUTH FULL OF
SILVER TEETH. THESE MEN WERE RUSSIANS. NOW RUSSIA WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE
DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE WAR.THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO JUST SUPPORT AND ARM
THE COMMUNIST CHINESE AND NORTH KOREANS. WE WRAPPED THE BODIES IN
CHEESE CLOTH AND PUT THEM IN ONE OF OUR MEAT FREEZERS IN THE COLD
STORAGE DECK UNTIL WE GOT TO HAWAII AT PEARL HARBOR AND HAND THEM OVER
TO THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY THERE. WHEN WE GOT TO HAWAII THERE WAS A STATION
WAGON WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY AND THEY TOOK THE
BODIES AWAY. THIS INCIDENT WAS NEVER REPORTED TO THE NEWS MEDIA HERE IN
THE STATES AND THE PEOPLE HERE NEVER HEARD OF IT. I GUESS THIS CLOSE TO A
CEASE FIRE WE DID NOT WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT WITH AN INTERNATIONAL
INCIDENT.

118.

===TRAGEDY STRIKES SAN PEDRO IN 1943===

THE YEAR WAS 1943 DURING THE SCHOOL SPRING BREAK.AT THE FAR NORTHERN
EASTERN PART OF SAN PEDRO WHERE PALOS VERDES ST. ENDS NEAR SETTLE
STREET THERE STOOD THE TWO STORY COURTEMANCHE MANSION ON A BLUFF
OVER LOOKING THE HARBOR AND TODD SHIP YARD.LIVING IN THE MANSION WAS
MRS. COURTEMANCHE AND HER 2 CHILDREN.SHE HAD AN OLDER SON THAT LIVED IN
WILMINGTON WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.HER HUSBAND MR. COURTEMANCHE
HAD DIED 2 YEARS BEFORE.HER DAUGHTER WAS NAMED DORTHY AND HER SON
NAMED PETE.DORTHY WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND HAD STARTED KIDNERGARTEN WITH
ME.WE ALSO WENT TO DANA JR. HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER. SHE WAS A VERY
POPULAR AND WELL LIKED YOUNG GIRL.ON THIS CERTAIN DAY THE WORD GOT
AROUND THAT DORTHY HAD MET FOUL PLAY IN THE HANDS OF ANOTHER IN THE
LIVING ROOM OF HER HOME. SHE HAD BEEN STABBED SEVERAL TIMES WITH A KNIFE
AND HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A TIRE IRON. HER OLDER BROTHER WHO LIVED IN
WILMINGTON DISCOVERED THE BODY OF HIS SISTER.THE CORONOR STATED THAT
HER HYMEN WAS STILL ENTACT SO SEXUAL ASSAULT WAS RULED OUT.THE
ACCUSED SEVERAL DAYS LATER WAS A 15 YEAR OLD BOY NAMED JOHN PLANNAGAN
WHO LIVED NEAR BY. HIS FATHER WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE HARBOR FIRE DEPT.HE
WAS REPORTED BY HIS FATHER WHO HE TOLD OF THE INCIDENT. EVEN THOUGH HE
 77

TOLD HIS FATHER HE DENIED IT TO THE END TO THE AUTHORITIES. A LONG TRIAL
WAS HELD IN SAN PEDRO. AND THE MOTHER OF DORTHY SAID THAT THE TWO HAD
BEEN ARGUING IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE AND SHE
CHASED THE BOY AWAY.A LOT OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE POINTED TOWARD THE BOY
WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE. THE BOY'S YOUNGER BROTHER NAMED PETE
PLANNAGAN WAS A SCHOOL MATE OF MINE. THE KNIFE WAS NEVER FOUND. I
BELONGED TO A CIVIL DEFENSE YOUTH GROUP OF BOYS AND GIRLS THAT WERE
NAMED D.A.PS. WHICH STOOD FOR DEPUTY AUXILIARY POLICE WHICH WAS PART OF
THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT. THE POLICE CHIEF HAD ABOUT 30 OF US SEARCH
THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE CRIME SCENE TO LOOK FOR THE KNIFE AS WELL
AS DOWN BELOW AT THE POLYWOG POND. WE CAME EMPTY HANDED.SO THROUGH
OUT THE TRIAL THE BOY DENIED THE CRIME ALTHOUGH ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTED
TOWARD HIM.HE WAS FOUND GUILTY BY A JURY AND SENT TO A YOUTH AUTHORITY
DETENTION CAMP BECAUSE OF HIS AGE. WHEN HE GOT OLDER HE WAS SENT TO
SAN QUENTIN PRISON WHERE HE WAS RELEASED SOME TIME IN THE 1980'S.......

119.

THE TIME WAS ABOUT 1943 IN SAN PEDRO, CA. I LIVED ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS UP
FROM THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR.I USE TO GO PIER FISHING A LOT AT THE PIER
WHERE THE PORTS O' CALL NOW STANDS. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 FISH MARKETS
ON THE PIER AS WELL AS THE FISHING PURSE SEINER FLEET. WELL ON THIS DAY I
THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE A STROLL TO THE PIER AND SEE WHAT THE ANGLERS
WERE CATCHING THERE. I STAYED THERE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN I LEFT
BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE THE NEW POST OFFICE ON BEACON ST, AND 8TH ST.
TODAY WAS THE GRAND OPENING AND THEY WERE SERVING REFRESHMENTS IN
THE MAIN LOBBY. I ENTERED THE LOBBY AND STROLLED DOWN THE HALL WAY. IN
FRONT OF ME ON THE FLOOR WAS WHAT SEEMED TO BE A 100 ALBERS DRY CEREAL
COUPON. I CASUALLY PICKED IT UP AND PUT IT IN MY TROUSER POCKET AND
FORGOT ABOUT IT. THE NEXT MORNING MY MOM WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY AND AS
USUAL WENT THROUGH MY TROUSER POCKETS TO SEE THAT THEY WERE EMPTY.
SHE FOUND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A COUPON. SHE CALLED ME INTO THE HOUSE
AND SHE ASKED ME WHERE I GOT IT FROM. I TOLD HER I FOUND IT ON THE FLOOR OF
THE NEW POST OFFICE. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL. I HAD
NEVER SAW A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL. AS HONEST AS MY MOM WAS SHE SAID
THAT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY TO THE POLICE STATION AT CITY HALL
ON BEACON ST. WHEN WE GOT THERE THE DESK SGT. ASKED US IF HE COULD HELP
US. MY MOM TOLD HIM WHAT I HAD FOUND. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK US INTO LT.
EVANS THE CHIEF OF DETECTIVES. HE BROUGHT IN TWO NEWS PAPER REPORTERS
INTO HIS OFFICE. ONE WAS FROM THE SAN PEDRO NEWS PILOT AND THE OTHER
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. HE HAD ME SIT ON HIS DECK AND HE TOOK OUT A
ROLL OF BILLS AND HAD ME HOLD IT AND TOLD ME TO LOOK AT THE ROLL WITH A
SMILE AND WIDE EYES. THE REPORTERS STARTED SHOOTING PHOTOS OF ME. HE
DID NOT HAVE ME HOLD THE I00 DOLLAR BILL SO THAT SOME ONE THAT DID NOT
LOSE THE MONEY WOULD TRY TO CLAIM IT. THE NEXT DAY THE PAPERS HAD MY
 78

PICTURE IN THE FRONT PAGE WITH A STORY ATTATCHED. IT SAID HARBOR AREA BOY
FINDS ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN NEW POST OFFICE. AND SAID IF NO ONE CLAIMED
THE MONEY IN 30 DAYS, THE MONEY WOULD BE MINE. WELL NO ONE CLAIMED THE
MONEY SO IT WAS MINE TO KEEP. MY MOM BOUGHT A USED MODERN WASHING
MACHINE. SHE WAS USING A WASH TUB AND WASHING BOARD. I REPLACED MY OLD
BIKE WITH A NEW ONE AND THERE WAS MONEY LEFT OVER FOR A FEW TRIPS TO THE
LONG BEACH PIKE.

120.

I WAS STATIONED IN COUNTRY IN VIETNAM FROM 1968-69 AT A SMALL ISLAND NAMED

TAN MY. AT THE TIME PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON ATTENDED A WORLD
CONFERENCE MEETING IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES WITH OTHER WORLD LEADERS.HE
WAS OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF OUR ARMED FORCES. HE SAID THAT HE COULD
NOT COME TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD WITHOUT VISITING HIS TROOPS IN
VIETNAM. HIS SON IN LAW PAT NUGENT WHO WAS MARRIED TO HIS YOUNGEST
DAUGHTER LUCIE WAS STATIONED IN CAM RAHN BAY AIR FORCE BASE HERE IN
VIETNAM. IT WAS THE SAFEST PLACE IN VIETNAM TO BE STATIONED AT. THE
PRESIDENT ARRIVED WITH HIS STAFF AT OUR BASE WITH THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
OF THE NAVY DELBERT BLACK, THE ONLY E-10 IN THE NAVY.WHEN THEY ARRIVED
THEY WERE TAKEN TO OUR NEW CHIEF PETTY OFFICER'S CLUB BECAUSE IT WAS
LARGER THAN THE OFFICERS CLUB.THE PARTY SAT DOWN WITH ALL THE OFFICERS
AND CHIEFS OF OUR BASE FOR BEER AND COCKTAILS AND TEASERS. ONE CHIEF
FROM OUR GROUP HOLLERED OUT AT ME TO SING FOR THE PRESIDENT. I WAS A
PRETTY GOOD SINGER AND MANY SAID THAT ROBERT GOULET SOUNDED LIKE ME.
WE HAD A SMALL STAGE IN OUR CLUB WITH AN AMPLIFIER AND MICROPHONE. I HAD
A TAPE WITH BACK GROUND MUSIC. I SANG THREE SONGS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
MEMORIES--YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE AND THE UNREACHABLE STAR. WHEN I WAS
THROUGH THE PRESIDENT GOT UP AND APPLAUSED. LATER I ASKED ONE OF HIS
STAFF OFFICERS WHAT TYPE OF FOOD DID THE PRESIDENT LIKE. HE SAID THAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS FROM TEXAS AND LIKED TEX-MEX FOOD AND THAT HIS FAVORITE
WAS GREEN CHILE PERDENALES. WELL I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE 2 CASES OF
WHOLE GREEN CHILE ORTEGA IN MY CANNED GOODS STORE ROOM. I WAS THE
CHIEF IN CHARGE OF THE GENERAL MESS AND MESS HALL ON THE BASE.WE HAD A
SMALL PANTRY IN OUR CLUB WITH A STOVE AND OVEN. I PREPARED GREEN CHILI
PERDENALES, SPANISH RICE ALA VALENCIANA, REFRIED PINTO BEANS WITH PLENTY
OF MONTEREY JACK CHEESE,SALSA, AND SMALL FLOUR TORTILLAS.HE WAS
SURPRISED AND ASTONISHED WHEN HE SAW THE LAY OUT. HE SAID HE DID NOT
EXPECT TO SEE THIS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.HE ENJOYED HIS MEAL VERY
MUCH AND PULLED MY LEG AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO BE PART OF HIS KITCHEN
STAFF AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I JUST LAUGHED. HE TOOK A TOUR OF THE BASE AND
TALKED TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR BASE.THEN IT WAS BACK TO OUR CLUB. IT
STARTED TO GET LATE AND THE PRESIDENT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS V.I.P.
QUARTERS WAS READY FOR HIM TO RETIRE. HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO
SPEND THE NIGHT NEARBY AT THE THREE STORY DELUXE HOTEL ON A FLOATING
 79

BARGE AT HIS WIFE'S CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHO WAS FIRST LADY, LADY BIRD
JOHNSON. THAT HOTEL LOOKED LIKE THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL IN NEW YORK,
ALL PLUSH WITH A LARGE BALL ROOM AND BAR.THE OFFICERS AND CHIEFS OF OUR
BASE GOT INVITED THERE MANY TIMES.THE NEXT DAY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS
GROUP LEFT FOR CUA VIET A NORTHERN DETATCHMENT BY THE DMZ. THIS
PRESIDENT WAS A DOWN TO EARTH JOVIAL MAN THAT LIKED TO TELL JOKES

121.

THE TIME WAS 1953 IN AUGUST ABOUT ONE WEEK AFTER THE KOREAN WAR ENDED
WITH AN ARMASTICE. I GOT TRANSFERED FROM MY SHIP IN HAWAII TO GO TO MY
NEW DUTY STATION IN ATSUGI, JAPAN, AN AIR BASE. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER I
GOT THERE I JOINED THE BASE BOXING TEAM. I WAS NOT A VERY GOOD BOXER. I
WON 2 BOUTS AND LOST SEVEN.MY HEART WAS NOT INTO IT. WE HAD BOXING
MATCHES WITH SOME OF THE MILITARY BASES IN THE JAPAN AREA, OKINAWA AND
SOUTH KOREA.THIS DAY WE WERE TO BOX THE BOXING TEAM FROM THE ARMY BASE
IN ASCOT CITY, SOUTH KOREA. THIS WAS AT OUR BASE IN THE BASE GYM WHICH
HELD 2000 PEOPLE IN IT. THERE WERE TO BE AN ADMIRAL AND A GENERAL IN
ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS OTHER OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE ENLISTED
MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. I WAS IN THE DRESSING ROOM WITH MY SECOND AND I
WAS SHADOW BOXING GETTING WARMED UP FOR MY COMING BOUT. SOON ONE OF
THE OFFICIAL POKED HIS HEAD IN THE DRESSING ROOM AND SAID THAT I WAS NEXT
ON THE CARD. I QUICKLY GRABBED MY BOXING ROBE AND MY SECOND AND I MADE
OUR WAY TO THE RING. I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I WAS TO BOX ONE OF THE BEST
WELTER WEIGHTS IN THE FAR EAST. I MADE MYSELF INTO THE RING AND STARTED
JUMPING AROUND SPARING. I WAS GREETED WITH APPLAUSE FROM THE HOME BASE
CROWD. SOON MY OPPONET MADE HIS WAY INTO THE RING AND STARTED SPARING
AND JUMPING ALSO. THE REFEREE MOTIONED US TO THE CENTER OF THE RING AND
GAVE US OUR INSTRUCTIONS TO NOT TO USE RABBIT PUNCHES AND HIT BELOW THE
BELT AND TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS AT ALL TIMES. I WENT BACK TO MY CORNER AND
TOOK OFF MY ROBE. THERE WAS ALOUD LAUGHTER AND ROAR FROM THE CROWD. I
DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS COMMOTION. MY SECOND TOLD ME THAT I FORGOT TO
PUT ON MY BOXING TRUNKS.DURING MY NERVOUSNOUS IN THE DRESSING ROOM I
FORGOT TO PUT ON MY BOXING TRUNKS. THE CROWD CONTINUED TO LAUGH. HERE
I AM IN ONLY MY JOCK STRAP AND NO WHERE TO HIDE. THE REFEREE TOLD ME TO
GO BACK TO THE DRESSING ROOM TO PUT MY BOXING TRUNKS ON. THERE WAS NO
WAY IN HELL THAT I WAS GOING BACK INTO THE RING. I WAS SO EMBARASSED AND I
FOREFITED THE BOUT TO MY OPONNET. AND THAT ENDED MY SHORT CAREER IN
THE ART OF PUGILISM. I CAN SAY I WAS NEVER KNOCKED OUT.

122.

========THE NOTORIUS RICKASAWS OF OLD HONG KONG=====

THE YEAR WAS 1950 IN OLD HONG KONG.IT WAS UNDER BRITISH RULE THEN. WE
PULLED INTO HONG KONG HARBOR ABOUT 8 AM ON A COLD AND FOGGY MORNING.
WE ANCHORED ON THE STREAM ABOUT 2 MILES OFF SHORE. LIBERTY WAS GRANTED
 80

TO ONE THIRD OF THE CREW WHICH NUMBERED 3500. I WAS ABOARD THE AIR CRAFT
CARRIER USS BOXER CV-21. I WAS ON THE SHORE LEAVE PARTY. I TOOK A MOTOR
LAUNCH FROM THE SHIP TO THE HONG KONG PIER. I SPENT THE DAY BY MYSELF
IN THE CITY SIGHT SEEING AND MAKING THE ROUNDS OF THE BARS. I TOOK
PICTURES WITH MY RIKKON JAPANESE CAMERA THAT I BOUGHT IN JAPAN A FEW
DAYS BEFORE WHILE VISITING YOKOSUKA. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A RICKASAW IS
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW.AT THAT TIME IT WAS A MEANS OF
TRANSPORTATION DRIVEN BY MAN POWER. IT HAD A TWO SEAT CAB THAT WAS
OPEN AIRED WITH TWO LARGE WHEELS ON THE SIDE AND TWO LONG POLES
EXTENDING FROM THE CAB WITH A BAR SEPARATING THE TWO POLES ABOUT TWO
FEET APART.BEHIND THE POLE WAS THE OPERATOR WHO RAN PULLING THE CAB.
MOST OF THE OPERATORS WERE CROOKED AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A DRUNK
SAILOR BY TELLING HIM THAT HE WOULD TAKE THEM FREE OF CHARGE BACK TO THE
HONG KONG PIER. AFTER THE SAILOR BOARDED THE CAB THE OPERATOR WOULD
HEAD INTO A DARK ALLEY AND FLIP THE CAB BACK THEREBY SENDING THE
DRUNKEN SAILOR TO THE GROUND AND STUNNED. THEN THE CROOKED OPERATOR
WOULD TAKE HIS WALLET AND ANY MONEY IN HIS POCKETS AS WELL AS HIS SHOES
AND PEA COAT AND DRIVE AWAY INTO THE NIGHT.ANOTHER THING THE OPERATORS
DID WAS WEAR A SWEAT TOWEL AROUND THEIR NECK AND WHEN THEY SPOTTED A
SAILOR WALKING THE STREET THEY WOULD APPROACH HIM AND TAKE THE TOWEL
AND HOLD IT IN THEIR HAND HIDING THEIR HAND AND TAP THE SAILOR WHERE HIS
OUT SIDE JUMPER POCKET AND TAKE ANY BILLS THAT HE MIGHT BE CARRYING
THERE AND AT THE SAME TIME TELL THE SAILOR IF HE WANTED A RICKASAW. ONE
DID IT TO ME ONE TIME AND I WENT ASHORE THE NEXT DAY AFTER BORROWING
FROM A SHIPMATE HIS ITALIAN STILLETO SPRING STRING BLADE DAGGER WITH AN
EIGHT INCH BLADE AND EIGHT INCH DOG BONE HANDLE THAT WAS DYED BLACK.I
WENT TO THE SPOT WHERE I WAS AT THE NIGHT BEFORE AND WAITED UNTIL I SAW
THE OPERATOR THAT STOLE MY MONEY. I SPOTTED HIM AND ACTED LIKE I WAS
DRUNK. I PUT A FEW HONG KONG DOLLARS IN MY JUMPER POCKET. SURE ENOUGH
HE CAME UP TO ME WITH THE SAME ROUTINE. AS SOON AS HE GOT A HOLD OF MY
MONEY I GRABBED HIS ARM AND TOOK OUT THE DAGGER AND LET IT SPRING OPEN
IN HIS FACE. HE WAS TERRIFIED AND SCREAMED AND BROKE AWAY FROM ME AND
RAN DOWN THE STREET. I TOOK HIS RICKASAW DOWN TWO BLOCKS TO THE WATER
FRONT AND THREW HIS RICKSAW INTO THE OCEAN WHERE IT SANK. I QUICKLY
RETURNED TO MY SHIP AND WE LEFT THREE DAYS LATER.I RETURNED BACK TO
HONG KONG IN 1963 AND THERE WERE NO MORE RICKASAWS OR PEDI CABS. MAYBE
A HANDFUL THAT TOOK YOU ON SIGHTS AROUND THE CITY LIKE THE HORSE
CARRIAGES IN CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY.THERE WERE MANY TAXIS AND
BUSSES NOW.

123.
LATELY HERE IN LONG BEACH I HAVE SEEN THE KIDS OF BROKEN HOMES AND THE
DEVASTATING RESULTS. THEY PLAY WITH OTHER KIDS BUT THEIR FACES SHOW
THAT THEY ARE NOT HAPPY. I CAN RELATE TO THEM BECAUSE I AM A PRODUCT OF A
BROKEN HOME. MY PARENTS BROKE UP WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS IN 1941.I STAYED
WITH MY MOTHER WHO WAS ALWAYS SICK AND IN AND OUT OF HOSPITALS. EVEN
THOUGH MY MOM AND DAD WERE SEPARATED MY DAD SUPPORTED US. THEY NEVER
DIVORCED. MY MOM DIED IN 1945 AT AGE 31 YEARS OLD. I THEN WENT TO LIVE WITH
MY DAD UNTIL I WENT INTO THE NAVY.UP UNTIL THEY SEPARATED I LOVED SCHOOL
AND ALWAYS HAD HIGH GRADES. AFTER THE SEPARATION MY GRADES WENT DOWN
 81

AND I HAD NO INTEREST IN SCHOOL. BUT I STILL COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL. THE
SEPARATION WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND. I WAS THE ONLY CHILD. I COULD NOT
CONCENTRATE BECAUSE OF THIS AND MY MOM'S ILLNESS. SO IT IS THE KIDS THAT
SUFFER THE MOST IN THIS SITUATION AND IT DEEPLY HURTS THEM INSIDE.THEY
DESERVE A BETTER LIFE. SO THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU SEPARATE AND DIVORCE
FROM YOUR SPOUSE. IN SOME CASES DIVORCE AND SEPARATION IS THE ONLY
SORRY AND SAD SOLUTION.SO I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND LONG MARRIAGE.MY
PARENTS WERE GOOD PEOPLE. IT IS JUST THAT THEY GOT MARRIED TOO YOUNG.
MY DAD WAS 19 YEARS OLD AND MY MOM 16 YEARS OLD WITH ME IN THE OVEN 5
MONTHS.

124.
VISITING HOTEL STREET IN DOWN TOWN HONOLULU IN HAWAII IS A NICE
EXPERIENCE VISITING THE MANY BARS THERE.BUT THIS WAS NOT SO IN 1963 WHEN
IT WAS KNOWN AS THE NOTORIUS HOTEL STREET. MY SHIP THE AIR CRAFT CARRIER
THE USS PHILIPPINE SEA CV-47 PULLED INTO HAWAII IN THE SUMMER OF 1963. WE
PULLED INTO FORD ISLAND INTO PEARL HARBOR AND TIED UP IN FRONT OF THE
SUNKEN BATTLE SHIP THE USS ARIZONA. FROM THE FLIGHT DECK OF OUR SHIP YOU
CAN SEE THE BRIDGE AND OIL STILL SEEPING FROM THE SUNKEN SHIP, THIS WAS
BEFORE A MEMORIAL WAS BUILT OVER THE SUNKEN SHIP. I WAS THE NIGHT COOK
ABOARD SHIP AND "OBIE" O'BRIEN WAS THE NIGHT LAUNDRYMAN BELOW OUR
KITCHEN OR GALLEY. IN THE MORNING WAS PAYDAY FOR THE CREW. OBIE AND I GOT
SOME SHUT EYE DURING THE NIGHT AND WE TOOK A BATH IN ONE OF OUR HUGE
SIDE WASHING MACHINES. AFTER PAY DAY THAT MORNING WE GOT INTO OUR
TROPICAL DRESS WHITE UNIFORM AND GOT THE BUS TO DOWN TOWN HONOLULU
TO MAKE THE ROUNDS OF THE BARS THERE. WE WENT INTO THE FIRST BAR THAT
WE CAME TO WHICH WAS NAMED 2 JACKS. THE PLACE WAS EMPTY AT THIS TIME OF
THE MORNING WITH JUST THE BARTENDER AND BAR MAID.OBIE AND I WERE KNOWN
TO HOLD OUR LIQUOR AND NOT STAGGER ABOUT. WE BOTH ORDERED VODKA
SCREW DRIVERS. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH OUR DRINK WE FOUND OURSELVES
ON THE FLOOR AND CRAWLING ABOUT. WE COULD NOT SPEAK, BUT OUR MINDS
WERE CLEAR. OUR BODIES WOULD NOT COOPERATE WITH OUR MINDS. WE HAD
BEEN GIVEN A .MICKEY FINN SPIKED DRINK BY THE BARTENDER. THE BARTENDER
AND BAR MAID WENT THROUGH OUR POCKETS AND TOOK ALL OF OUR MONEY AND
THEN THEY CALLED THE HAWAIIAN ARMED SERVICES POLICE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED
THEY TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK. THEY LOADED US INTO THE
PADDY WAGON AND TOOK US TO THEIR HEAD QUARTERS. ON THE WAY THERE WE
BOTH VOMITED ON OUR SELVES. WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY TOOK US IN THE BACK
AND WASHED US DOWN WITH A HOSE AND THEN TOOK US BACK TO OUR SHIP. WHEN
THEY TOOK US TO THE QUARTER DECK AND HANDED US TO THE OFFICER OF THE
DAY AND TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK. HE TOLD THE MILITARY
POLICE THAT WE HAD LEFT THE SHIP A WHILE AGO.THE MESSENGER TOOK US BOTH
TO SICK BAY UNTIL THE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG WORE OUT. THEN WE TOLD THE
LEGAL OFFICER OUR STORY. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD INVESTIGATE THE MATTER.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH KOREA HE INFORMED US
THAT THE BAR HAD MANY COMPLAINTS.SO THE BAR WAS PLACED OFF LIMITS TO ALL
MILITARY PERSONNEL.SOON THE BAR CLOSED AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THE
AREA MILITARY COMMANDER INFORMED ALL THE BARS THAT THEY NEEDED TO
CLEAN UP THEIR ACT OR HE WAS GOING TO PLACE THEM ALL OFF LIMITS. ALL THE
 82

BARS COMPLIED WITH THIS AND HOTEL STREET BECAME A NICE PLACE TO GO TO
AND HAVE FUN.

125.
WARNING-----WARNING---------WARNING
THE STORY YOU ARE ABOUT SEE HAS OFF COLOR TOPICS IN IT AND MAY OFFEND
SOME.THE STORY HAS TO BE TOLD IN THIS FORM TO GET THE FULL MEANING OF THE
STORY. THIS IS THE ONLY STORY THAT I WILL WRITE WHICH IS OFF COLOR. SO
PLEASE DO NOT READ NO FURTHER IF YOU WILL BE OFFENDED.
THE TIME WAS 1957 AND I WAS STATIONED WITH MY AIR SQUADRON VS-37 ON NORTH
ISLAND IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA. I WAS OFF DUTY SO I WENT INTO SAN DIEGO TO DO
THE ROUNDS OF THE BARS.JUST OF 4TH ST. AND BROADWAY ST. WAS THE BAR
NAMED THE BARBETTE WHICH I WENT TO A LOT. I SAT DOWN AT THE BAR ON ONE OF
THE STOOLS AND ORDERED TWO BEERS. THE FIRST ONE I CHUGGED IT DOWN
QUICKLY. AFTER 7 BEERS I HAD TO GO TO THE JOHN AND RELIEVE MYSELF.I PUT MY
CHANGE IN MY OUTER DRESS BLUE JUMPER POCKET. I WENT UP TO ONE OF THE
URINATORS AND DONE MY THING. SOON I HEARD A HIGH VOICE THAT SAID "HI
SAILOR". I LOOKED AROUND AND SAW NO ONE. "DOWN HERE SAILOR", "DOWN HERE".
I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A MIDGET WITH AN EMPTY COKE BOTTLE CRATE IN HIS
HAND.HE SAID IF I WOULD HELP HIM ONTO THE CRATE AT ONE OF THE URINATORS.
HE SAID HE WAS TOO LITTLE TO GET ON THE CRATE. SO I LIFTED HIM ONTO THE
CRATE. HE TURNED TO ME AND SAID THAT I HAD A NICE ONE. I THOUGHT, OH, NO A
GAY MIDGET. HE ASKED ME IF HE COULD HOLD IT. I SAID NO WAY. HE LOOKED AT ME
WITH HIS SAD EYES AND SAID, PLEASE JUST ONCE. I WAS ALREADY TWO SHADES TO
THE WIND WITH THE BEER I DRANK. SO I LET HIM HOLD IT. HE GOT A HOLD OF IT AND
HE SAID "NOW GIVE ME YOUR MONEY OR I'LL JUMP." I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE
HIM THE MONEY IN MY OUTER POCKET OF MY BLUE JUMPER. HE JUMPED OFF THE
CRATE AND RAN OUT INTO THE NIGHT. I DID NOT CHASE HIM.I TOLD THE BARTENDER
WHAT HAPPENED AND HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED FOR HIM TO CALL THE POLICE. I
SAID NO BECAUSE I WAS TO EMBARASSED OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I NEVER AGAIN
PUT ANY MONEY IN MY FRONT OUTER POCKET OF MY JUMPER. I KEPT IT IN EITHER
THE INSIDE POCKET OF THE JUMPER OR IN MY WALLET.NAVY BLUE UNIFORM
TROUSERS ONLY HAVE 13 BUTTONS ON THEM AND NO POCKETS FOR THOSE
SAILORS BELOW CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. SO THIS IS MY STORY ABOUT WHEN I GOT
ROBBED BY A MIDGET.

126.
MOST OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE HERE MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE U.S. NAVY'S
VERSION OF THE 23 RD PSALM OF DAVID, OR DID NOT KNOW IT EVEN EXISTED.

THE LORD IS MY CAPTAIN.

I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE STEERETH ME IN DEEP CHANNELS.
HE KEEPETH MY LOG.
HE GUIDETH ME BY THE STAR OF
HOLINESS FOR HIS NAME SAKE.
 83

YEA, THOUGH I SAIL MID THE THUNDERS

AND TEMPEST OF LIFE, I SHALL DREAD NO DANGER.
FOR THOU ARE WITH ME.
THY LOVE AND THY CARE THEY SHELTER ME.
THOU PREPAREST A HARBOR BEFORE ME
IN THE HOME LAND OF ETERNITY.
THOU ANNOINTEST THE WAVES WITH OIL.
MY SHIP RIDETH CALMLY.
SURELY SUN LIGHT AND STAR LIGHT SHALL
FOLLOW ME ON THIS VOYAGE I TAKE.
AND I SHALL REST IN THE PORT
OF MY GOD FOREVER.

127.
THIS STORY IS ABOUT AN UNFORGETFUL CHARACTER NAMED T.C. JONES. HIS FIRST
TWO NAMES WERE THETHILLIAN CORNELIUS. I CAN SEE WHY HE USED THE TWO
INITIALS. THE MAN WAS BLACK AND 30 YEARS OLD. THIS WAS IN 1950. HE HAD
SERVED IN WW2 AND WAS RECENTLY CALLED BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE
KOREAN WAR STARTED IN JUNE 1950. HE WAS A HEAVY STOUT MAN ABOUT 6 FEET 3
INCHES IN HEIGHT. HE WAS A TEDDY BEAR AND A JOVIAL ONE AT THAT. HE LOVED
SENTIMENTAL MUSIC AND LOVED DORIS DAY AND MARTA TILTON. HE WAS A SEAMAN
AND WORKED AS A COOK WITH ME AND THE OTHER COOKS. I SAID HE WAS A TEDDY
BEAR. WELL HE WAS UNTIL ONE NIGHT. THE DESSERT SECURITY PATROL HAD KILLED
A RATTLE SNAKE ON OUR BASE IN THE DESERT. ONE OF THE COOKS NAMED RAY
BRYANT ASKED THE PATROL MAN IF HE COULD KEEP THE SNAKE. THE PATROLMAN
GAVE HIM THE SNAKE. WELL BRYANT WANTED TO PLAY A PRACTICAL JOKE ON T.C.
JONES WHO WAS IN PHOENIX ON LIBERTY. WE WERE ON AN AIR FACILITY IN LITCH
FIELD PARK, AZ. NEAR PHOENIX. BRYANT PUT THE RATTLE SNAKE UNDER THE
COVERS IN JONE'S BED. ABOUT 1 AM T.C. JONES CAME BACK FROM LIBERTY AND
WENT TO BED. SOON HE SCREAMED AND JUMPED OUT OF BED. HE RAN OUT INTO
THE PARKING LOT TO HIS CAR AND GOT HIS 32 CAL. PISTOL. HE TURNED ON THE
LIGHTS IN OUR LIVING QUARTERS AND CAME STRAIGHT TO MY COT. HE PUT THE
BARREL OF THE GUN TO MY HEAD AND SAID "CAMPBELL YOU SON OF A BITCH IT WAS
YOU THAT PUT THE SNAKE IN MY RACK AND I AM GOING TO BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF"
THERE WAS FIRE IN HIS EYES AND I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THAT HE WAS GOING TO
KILL ME. I SAID NO IT WAS NOT ME, IT WAS RAY BRYANT. BRYANT JUMPED OUT OF
HIS BED AND DASHED OUT INTO THE NIGHT IN HIS SHORTS.HE WAS NOT SEEN UNTIL
10 DAYS LATER. JONES SENT OUT THE WORD TO HIM IN TOWN THAT HE FORGAVE
HIM AND TO COME BACK TO THE BASE BECAUSE HE WAS A.W.O.L. SO BRYANT CAME
BACK TO THE BASE. HE HAD TO GO BEFORE THE CAPTAIN AT CAPTAIN'S MAST FOR
BEING ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. AS PUNISHMENT THE CAPTAIN AWARDED HIM 30
DAYS TO THE CONFINEMENT OF THE BASE AND A $50 FINE. A DEAD RATTLE SNAKE IS
STILL DANGEROUS AS HIS FANGS AND VENON ARE STILL ACTIVE IF COMING IN
CONTACT WITH THEM. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME WE EVER SAW T.C. JONES MAD.
 84

128.
THE TIME WAS AUGUST 1956 AND I JUST GOT BACK FROM A 3 YEAR STAY IN JAPAN
AT A NAVAL BASE. I WAS AT MY NEW DUTY STATION ON NORTH ISLAND IN THE SAN
DIEGO AREA. I NEEDED A NEW SET OF WHEELS TO GET ME AROUND. SO I WENT INTO
SAN DIEGO IN SEARCH OF A USED CAR LOT. I LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND WHAT I
WANTED. IT WAS AN ENGLISH CAR. IT WAS A 1952 MORRIS MINOR CAR. IT WAS A
CONVERTIBLE WITH A BLACK AND RED CHECKERED TOP AND BLACK IN COLOR.IT
HAD A SMALL 4 CYLINDER ENGINE.I DROVE IT A LOT AROUND THE SAN DIEGO AREA
AS WELL AS TIAJUANA AND ENSENADA, MEXICO AND AS WELL AS TO SAN PEDRO
AND WILMINGTON. ONE AFTER NOON FOUR OF US COOKS WERE OFF DUTY AND SAT
AND PLAYED PINOCHLE. ONE OF THE COOKS SAID THAT HE CAN'T STOP THINKING OF
THE DOLLAR LOBSTER DINNER WITH THE SIDES AT THE BAHIA NIGHT CLUB IN
ENSENADA. I SAID WHY DON'T WE GO THERE NOW. WE ALL AGREED AND SHOWERED
AND GOT INTO OUR CIVILIAN THREADS AND HEADED SOUTH TO ENSENADA. WE
MADE THE 65 KILOMETER RUN TO THE CITY. WE ARRIVED THERE AND HAD THE
LOBSTER DINNER WITH CARDINAL BEER TO WASH IT DOWN. THEY HAD A PRETTY
GOOD SHOW REVUE OF DANCING GIRLS AND COMEDIANS. WE THEN WENT TO MAKE
THE ROUNDS OF THE BARS THAT WERE AROUND THE AREA. ABOUT 3 AM IN THE
MORNING WE HEADED BACK TO SAN DIEGO AND TO OUR NAVAL BASE. ABOUT 15
KILOMETERS OUT OF ENSENADA MY ENGINE STARTED TO GET HOT. I STOPPED THE
CAR AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. IF I HAD
LOOKED UNDER THE RADIATOR WHEN WE STARTED FOR SAN DIEGO I COULD HAVE
PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR. AS LONG AS THE MOTOR IS RUNNING YOU LOSE VERY
LITTLE WATER. AND OUT HERE IN THE STICKS THERE WAS NO CAR GARAGES OR GAS
STATIONS. SO I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON AND POURED SOME BEER THAT I HAD
IN THE TRUNK AND ALL FOUR OF US URINATED IN THE RADIATOR. THAT GOT US
BACK TO OUR NAVAL BASE. AS WE WERE GOING WE COULD SMELL THE STRONG
ODOR OF URINE AND BEER. THE NEXT AFTERNOON I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HOBBY
CAR SHOP ON THE BASE AND EMPTIED AND FLUSHED OUT THE RADIATOR. I THEN
ARC WELDED THE HOLE IN THE RADIATOR AND FILLED IT WITH WATER AND COOLANT
AS WELL AS WATER PUMP LUBRICANT. I WAS SET TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN.

129.
WHILE I WAS STATIONED IN VIETNAM FROM 1968-69 AT TAN MY, VIETNAM WE HAD
OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAD TO CONTEND WITH. NOT JUST THE VIET CONG AND
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY. WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THE FRIENDLY
VIETNAMESE ARVAN ARMY AND THE CIVILIANS IN THE NEAR BY VILLAGES THE
FRIENDLY ARVANS WERE ALWAYS HARASSING US IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
NOTABLY SHOOTING AT OUR SMALL CRAFT GOING UP THE HUE RIVER BY SNIPERS
UP IN THE TREES ALONG THE SHORE. THEY WOULD SHOOT ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT
OF OUR BOATS. THE CIVILIAN PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS TAPPING OUR OIL PIPE LINE
AND TAKING OIL HOME TO USE OR TO SELL. THE 116 DEGREE HEAT DAILY WAS
UNCOMFORTABLE AS WELL AS THE 40 DAY RAIN IN THE MONSOON SEASON. THE
WATER THAT WE DRANK AND BATHED WITH WAS AWFUL AND TERRIBLE TASTING. WE
KEPT THE WATER IN LARGE FABRIC BLADDERS AND IT WAS TREATED WITH
IODINE,POTSSIUM PERMAGANTE, CHLORINE AND HYPOCHLORIDE AND WAS YELLOW
IN COLOR.WHEN WE GOT HIT WITH ROCKETS OR MORTARS WE HAD TO GO INTO OUR
FIRE PITS AND YOU PRAYED THAT THERE WAS NOT A KING COBRA SNAKE IN IT. THE
BIG MOSQUITOS THAT CAME AROUND AT NIGHT. YOU HAD TO HAVE A MOSQUITO NET
 85

AROUND YOUR BED AND HAD TO SPRAY THE AREA WITH MOSQUITO REPELLENT.AND
THE BIG RATS THAT CAME FROM THE GRAVE YARD NEAR BY AND THERE WAS THE
PUNJEE BOARDS THAT WERE LAYED OUT IN THE NEAR BY JUNGLE WITH SPIKES
STICKING OUT OF THEM SO YOU COULD STEP ON THEM. WE LAID THEM OUT ALSO
BUT WE WERE NOT AS GENEROUS AS THE VIET CONG WHO APPLIED VEGETABLE
POISON TO THE SPIKES. AND THERE WAS THE FEARED BAMBOO CURTAIN THAT HAD
BAMBOO SPIKES ON IT AND IF YOU TRIPPED THE WIRE ON THE GROUND IT SPRUNG
OUT AND SLAMMED YOU AGAINST THE TREES WITH THE SPIKES IN YOUR BODY. AND
THERE WAS THE GREEN BAMBOO VIPER IN THE JUNGLE. WE CALLED IT THE TWO-
STEP SNAKE BECAUSE IF ONE BIT YOU TOOK TWO STEPS AND YOU WERE
HISTORY.......YES, NAM WAS A HELL HOLE AND I HATED THE PLACE. THAT IS WHY
WHEN I LEAVE THIS PLANET THAT WE HERE CALL EARTH I KNOW I AM GOING TO
HEAVEN BECAUSE I DID MY TIME IN HELL.................VIETNAM----1968-69.

130.
THE TIME WAS IN 1957 AND THE PLACE WAS THE COLD AND LONELY DESERT ON
HIGHWAY 15 SOME MILES OUT OF LAS VEGAS. NV. AT 2 AM IN THE EARLY MORNING.
MY SHIPMATE NAMED TONY DELANO FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y. AND I WERE RETURNING
FROM 3 DAYS OF FUN IN LAS VEGAS AND RETURNING TO OUR AIR BASE ON NORTH
ISLAND IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA.THERE WERE TWO OTHER CARS. ON BACK OF US.
WE SOON CAME UPON WHAT SEEMED TO BE A CAR OVER THE SIDE NEXT TO THE
HIGHWAY. ALL THREE CARS STOPPED TO SEE IF WE COULD RENDER ASSISTANCE.
TONY AND I WERE THE FIRST TO APPROACH THE CAR. THE CAR WAS ON IT'S SIDE
WITH THE LIGHTS STILL ON. A YOUNG AIR FORCE AIRMAN IN UNIFORM WAS IN THE
CAR AND MOANING. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AS WELL AS THE LIGHTS. TONY AND
I CAREFULLY LIFTED THE YOUNG MAN OUT OF THE CAR AND LAID HIM ON THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD. I COVERED HIM WITH MY NAVY PEA COAT, WE WERE BOTH IN
UNIFORM. ONE OF THE CARS BEHIND US WAS A 1956 GREEN CORVETTE WITH A
PORTABLE TELEPHONE UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE OWNER CALLED THE HIGH
WAY PATROL AND TOLD THEM TO BRING AN AMBULANCE. I WENT TO THE INJURED
AIRMAN AND HE WAS STILL MOANING. I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS PROBABLY NOT
GOING TO SURVIVE HIS INJURIES. HE WHISPERED TO ME THAT HE WANTED A PRIEST.
OUT HERE IN THE ISOLATED DESERT AT 2 AM IN THE EARLY MORNING THAT WAS NOT
POSSIBLE. SO I BEGAN TO ADMINISTER THE LAST RITES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH TO HIM IN LATIN. WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD I WAS AN ALTAR BOY FOR MY
PARISH AND I OFTEN ACCOMPANIED THE PARISH PRIESTS ON FUNERALS IN THE
HARBOR AREA AND I PRETTY WELL KNEW THE PROCEDURE OF THE LAST RITES. IT
WAS MY INTENTION TO ENTER THE PRIEST HOOD IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT NEVER
MATERIALIZED. SOON THE HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED WITH AN AMBULANCE AND
TOOK THE YOUNG AIRMAN TO THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL I NEVER DID FIND OUT IF
THE YOUNG MAN SURVIVED HIS INJURIES, DID I DO WRONG IN GIVING THE LAST
RITES TO THIS YOUNG MAN? HERE WE ARE IN THE FAR AWAY REMOTE DESERT IN NO
MAN'S LAND AT 2 AM IN THE MORNING AND A DYING MAN WANTS TO MAKE PEACE
WITH HIS GOD. I THINK NOT AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN WHICH I DID YEARS LATER IN
VIETNAM WHICH IS A STORY FOR LATER.

131.
THE TIME WAS 1950 AND I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND THE PLACE WAS IN THE PHOENIX,
ARIZONA AREA.A FEW MILES AWAY FROM PHOENIX WAS MY NAVAL BASE AT LITCH
 86

FIELD PARK RIGHT NEXT TO AVONDALE AND GOOD YEAR. I USE TO GO OFTEN INTO
MESA, AZ. NEAR PHOENIX. TO A COUNTRY WESTERN MUSIC DINE AND DANCE NIGHT
CLUB NAMED CARL'S DINE AND DANCE. I GOT TO BE GOOD FRIENDS WITH A YOUNG
AND UP AND COMING SUPER STAR THAT SANG THERE. AND WAS HE TO BECOME A
SUPER STAR LATER ON. HE WAS FROM NEAR BY GLENDALE, AZ. WE BOTH WENT ON
A DOUBLE DATE A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH TWO WOMEN FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE
BASE AT WILLIAMS FIELD IN ARIZONA. THEY WERE ATTENDING THE NEAR BY STATE
UNIVERSITY AT ARIZONA IN NEAR BY TEMPE, AZ. WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR
STUDIES THERE THEY WILL BE COMISSIONED AIR FORCE OFFICERS.WE TOOK THEM
TO THE THREE OPEN AIR DANCING PAVILLIONS IN PHOENIX THAT HAD A LIVE
COUNTRY MUSIC BAND IN EACH PLACE. THEY SOLD BEER AND SOFT DRINKS AND
FAST FOOD SNACKS. THE DRINKING AGE IN ARIZONA WAS 20 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME. THE PAVILLIONS WERE THE RIVER SIDE, THE PLANTATION AND THE WILLOW
BREEZE. WE THEN TOOK THEM TO THE LARGE BAR NAMED THE SHED 13 AT THE
OTHER END OF THE CITY. IT WAS A HUGE PLACE WITH 2 BANDS GOING ON AT THE
SAME TIME. THE PLACE WAS A COUNTRY MUSIC ONE. THEY SERVED BEER, SOFT
DRINKS AND COCKTAILS. SOON MY GOOD FRIEND'S 7 WEEK TENURE WAS OVER AT
CARL'S AND HE WENT ON ASSIGNMENT TO WACO, TEXAS AT ANOTHER NIGHT CLUB
THERE. WHO WAS MY FRIEND? NO OTHER THAN THE LATE AND GREAT MARTY
ROBBINS OF THE FAMOUS SONG "EL PASO" WHICH WAS HIS BIGGEST HIT. WE LOST
MARTY TOO SOON AND HE PASSED AWAY ON THE OPERATING TABLE DUE TO
COMPLICATIONS OF OPEN HEART SURGERY. HE MADE A MOVIE WITH CLINT
EASTWOOD NAMED "HONKY TONK MAN" BUT DIED BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED. HIS
TWIN SISTER RACHEL ATTENDED ALL OF HIS PERFORMANCES AT CARL'S DINE AND
DANCE. MARTY IS NO LONGER WITH US, BUT HIS SONGS AND MUSIC WILL BE WITH
US FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

132.
THE YEAR WAS 1959 AND I WAS STATIONED ON THE GUIDED MISSLE TESTING SHIP
THE USS NORTON SOUND AVM-1 STATIONED AT THE SEA BEE BASE IN PORT
HUENNEME, CA. IT WAS A FRIDAY AND END OF THE WORKING WEEK. A SHIP MATE
NAMED RICK HAD A FATHER THAT WAS A MOVIE PRODUCER IN HOLLYWOOD AND
ASKED ME THAT MORNING IF I WANTED TO GO ON A BLIND DATE WITH HIM AND HIS
GIRL FRIEND WHO WAS A MODEL AND ASPIRING ACTRESS. I SAID YES. AT 4 PM WE
KNOCKED OFF WORK AND WENT TO SHOWER AND THEN PUT ON OUR DRESS BLUES.
AT THE LOCKER CLUB OUT SIDE OF THE MAIN GATE WE CHANGED INTO OUR CIVILIAN
CLOTHES. WE HEADED FOR THOUSAND OAKS WHERE HIS GIRL FRIEND HAD A
CONDO. THE TWO GIRLS MET US AT THE DOOR. MY BLIND DATE LOOKED VERY
FAMILIAR, BUT I COULD NOT PLACE HER. WE HEADED FOR REDONDO BEACH WHERE
WE WENT TO THIS LARGE JAPANESE RESTURANT AT THE START OF THE REDONDO
PIER. WE SAT ON MATS ON THE FLOOR AND WE ALL ORDERED THE SAME THING
WHICH WAS BEEF SUKI YAKI, STEAMED RICE, TEMPURA AND EGG DROP SOUP. THE
CHEF COOKED THE SUKI YAKI AT OUR TABLE. WE WERE ENTERTAINED BY A
JAPANESE WOMAN IN A KIMONO THAT PLAYED THE 3 STRING GOTO GUITAR. AFTER
WE ATE WE HAD COCKTAILS. WE THEN HEADED FOR HOLLYWOOD TO THE PANTAGES
THEATER FOR A MOVIE. AFTER THE MOVIE WE HEADED FOR THE SANTA MONICA
PIER FOR A WALK ON THE MOON LIGHTED SEA SHORE. THEN WE WENT TO NEAR BY
VENICE TO THE FAMOUS HOLE IN THE WALL CAFE THAT SERVED THEIR FAMOUS MILE
LONG CHILI DOGS. WE HAD THIS WITH A SOFT DRINK. WE THEN TOOK THE GIRLS
HOME TO THE DOOR OF THE CONDO. WE SAID OUR GOODBYES AND MY DATE SAID
 87

THAT SHE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AND GAVE ME A LIGHT KISS ON THE CHEEK. ON
THE WAY BACK TO OUR SHIP I THANKED RICK FOR INVITING ME ON THE DATE. I TOLD
HIM THAT MY DATE LOOKED VERY FAMILIAR. HE SAID THAT SHE WAS AN ACTRESS
THAT WENT BY THE STAGE NAME OF PIPER LAURIE. TWO DAYS LATER I LEFT THE
SHIP FOR A 2 YEAR TOUR OF DUTY IN JAPAN.

133.
I WAS STATIONED AT OUR NAVAL BASE IN TAN MY, VIETNAM. DURING MY STAY
THERE IN 1968-69. IT WAS A SMALL ISLAND WHERE WE HAD A FUEL DEPOT WITH 35
TANKS OF OIL, DEASEL OIL, GASOLINE, JP-500 AIRPLANE GASOLINE. I WAS THE CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE MESS HALL AND GENERAL MESS. I SUPERVISED
A STAFF OF 57 COOKS AND BAKERS. THAT WAS NOT MY ONLY JOB THERE. ONE DAY
THE CHIEF MASTER AT ARMS(CHIEF OF POLICE) HAD TO GO ON A ONE MONTH
EMERGENCY LEAVE BACK TO THE STATES. THE CAPTAIN OF OUR BASE ASSIGNED
ME THE COLLATERAL DUTIES OF CHIEF MASTER AT ARMS OF OUR BASE UNTIL THE
CMA RETURNED. I HAD A POLICE FORCE OF 8 MEN. I WAS KEPT BUSY BUSTING
PERSONNEL WITH ABUSING NARCOTICS.IF WE HAD A SUSPECT WE HAD TO FIRST
HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE CAPTAIN TO SEARCH THE INDIVIDUAL AND HIS
LOCKER ALSO. WE USE TO FIND VARIOUS NARCOTICS, AND MOSTLY MARIJUANA,
ROACH CLIPS, OPIUM PIPES AND DRUG MEMORBILIA. WE WOULD SAVE A SMALL
AMOUNT OF WHAT EVER WE FOUND AND I AND ONE OF MY POLICE WOULD INITIAL IT
FOR EVIDENCE. THE REST WE WOULD SUBMERGE IN A 50 GALLON CAN HALF FULL OF
CREASOT LIQUID. EVERY MONDAY AN AGENT OF THE CENTRAL INVESTIGATING
DEPT. WOULD COME AND TAKE THE EVIDENCE BACK TO HEAD QUARTERS IN
DANANG. EVERY WEDNESDAY 2 POLICE AND MYSELF WOULD TAKE THE DRUG
ABUSERS FOR A COURT MARTIAL IN DANANG. THE COURT WAS VERY LENIENT AND
WOULD GIVE A SLAP ON THE WRIST TO THE ACCUSED AND SEND HIM BACK TO HIS
UNIT. THERE WERE 550,500 TROOPS IN VIETNAM AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE TOOK
DRUGS.YOU COULD NOT IMPRISON THEM ALL. WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MAN
POWER TO DEFEND OURSELVES.I WOULD RATHER HAVE A DRUG USER FIGHT NEXT
TO ME THAN A GUY VERY DRUNK WITH ALCOHOL THAT COULD HARDLY STAND UP
AND MIGHT ACCIDENTLY SHOOT ONE OF US. IN NAM YOU EITHER HAD TO USE
DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. IF YOU TOOK NONE YOU WOULD PROBABLY CRACK UP OVER
THE PRESSURE OF WAR AND END UP A BASKET CASE AND TAKEN BACK TO THE
STATES. THERE WERE 8 CHIEFS ON BOARD OUR BASE. 7 OF US DRANK BEER OR
HARD LIQUOR. ONE CHIEF DID NOT DRINK OR TAKE DRUGS. AFTER 2 MONTHS HE
WAS FOUND IN HIS ROOM AT HIS DESK AND GIGLING AND A STRANGE LOOK IN HIS
EYES. THE PRESSURE GOT TO HIM AND HE WAS SENT BACK TO THE STATES. WE
CONFISCATED OPIUM,HEROIN, ROCK COCAINE,LSD,MORPHINE,METHADONE,
CODINE,PEYOTE,GANGA, BLACK MOTTO, MARIJUANA, RED DEVILS, YELLOW JACKETS,
BLUE HEAVENS, DEXAGRINE, BENZAGRINE AND OTHER THIRD WORLD JUNK THAT WE
HERE IN THE STATES NEVER HEAR ABOUT OR SEEN. THESE DRUGS WERE SUPPLIED
TO OUR TROOPS BY THE VIET CONG AND USED THE MONEY COLLECTED TO BUY
ARMS AND AMMUNITION TO BE USED AGAINST US AND KILL US.

134.
IN 1956 WHILE WITH MY AIR SQUADRON AT WHIDBY ISLAND IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON I HAD A 1955 RED CORVETTE AND A RED HEAD NAMED GEORGETTE,
SHE WAS FRENCH CANADIAN FROM VANCOUVER, CANADA, SHE LOVED MY
 88

CORVETTE AND USE TO DRIVE IT ALL AROUND THE WIDBEY ISLAND AREA. WELL ONE
DAY I LOST MY CORVETTE BECAUSE THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS WERE TO STEEP AND
I COULD NOT KEEP UP THE PAYMENTS. SO IT WAS REPOSESSED. SO I LOST MY RED
CORVETTE AND AT THE SAME TIME MY RED HEAD NAMED GEORGETTE. UP TO THIS
TIME IT IS MY BELIEF THAT SHE WENT WITH ME ONLY BECAUSE OF MY CORVETTE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

135.
=======OLD SINGAPORE IN 1950=======
THE TIME WAS FEBRUARY 1950 AND I WAS ABOARD THE AIR CRAFT CARRIER U.S.S.
BOXER CV-21 AND WE HAD JUST LEFT YOKOSUKA, JAPAN AND HEADING FOR THE
EQUATOR AND AUSTRALIA. BUT FIRST WE PAID THE CITY OF SINGAPORE IN MALAYA
A 5 DAY VISIT. LATER MALAYA WAS RE-NAMED THE COUNTRY OF SINGAPORE AFTER
ENGLAND GAVE THE COUNTRY BACK TO THE PEOPLE. ABOUT 8 AM ON A FOGGY
COLD MORNING WE ENTERED THE HARBOR THERE.LIBERTY WAS GRANTED TO ONE
THIRD OF THE CREW. I WAS ON THE LIBERTY PARTY. WE BOARDED THE SEVERAL
MOTOR LAUNCHES THAT WERE TO TAKE US ASHORE. ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM
WHERE WE ANCHORED, WE CAN SEE THE LONG BLUE AND WHITE CLIFFORD PIER IN
THE DISTANCE. AS SOON AS WE TIED UP AT THE PIER I HEADED FOR THE NEARBY
GRAND PRINCE HOTEL AND COCKTAIL LOUNGE. I ORDERED A TALL GLASS OF A
SINGAPORE SLING COCKTAIL. IT COST ONE SINGAPORE DOLLAR OR ABOUT 15 CENTS
AMERICAN CURRENCY. THE GOING RATE WAS 7 SINGAPORE DOLLARS TO ONE U.S.
DOLLAR. THE PLACE WAS FILLED WITH ENGLISH ARMY AND NAVY MILITARY
OFFICERS.AN ENLISTED MAN IN THE BRITISH MILITARY COULD NOT AFFORD THE
PRICES THERE.I AS A SEAMAN PROBABLY GOT PAID MORE THAN MOST OF THE
OFFICERS THERE.AFTER HAVING 3 SINGAPORE SLINGS I HEADED FOR THE INDIA
SECTOR OF THE CITY. SINGAPORE WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS. MALAYAN,
INDIAN AND CHINESE. AS I WALKED UP THE BOULEVARD I NOTICED A LARGE GROUP
OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SITTING AT THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD WAS AN INDIAN SWAMI WITH A FLUTE IN HIS HAND AND A LARGE BASKET IN
FRONT OF HIM. HE BEGAN TO PLAY HIS FLUTE AND HE SWAYED THE INSTRUMENT
FROM SIDE TO SIDE. SOON A LARGE KING COBRA SNAKE CAME OUT OF THE BASKET.
THE REPTILE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN RYTHEM TO THE FLUTE.A SNAKE
CANNOT HEAR BUT SENSES WITH IT'S FORKED TONGUE. A YOUNG BRITISH SOLDIER
STANDING NEAR BY SAID THE SNAKE HAD BEEN DE-FANGED AND HAD TO BE FEED
RODENTS BY THE SWAMI TO STAY ALIVE. ALL PIT VIPERS LIKE THE COBRA AND
RATTLE SNAKE AND OTHER VENONOUS REPTILES DEPEND ON THEIR POISON TO
CAPTURE THEIR FOOD. UNLIKE THE NON-POISON REPTILES WHICH USE THEIR
BODIES TO CONSTRICT THEIR PREY. A PIT VIPER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO USE IT'S
BODY TO CONSTRICT.SOON THE COBRA WENT BACK DOWN INTO THE BASKET. I PUT
A ONE SINGAPORE DOLLAR IN A SMALL BOX IN FRONT OF THE SWAMI. I THEN
HEADED TO THE MAIN PART OF THE CITY TO THE NEW WORLD AMUSEMENT PARK
THAT WAS SOME LIKE CONEY ISLAND IN BROOKLYN AND THE PIKE IN LONG BEACH.
THEY HAD MANY OPEN AIR RESTURANTS WITH MANY SEA FOOD DISHES. I ORDERED
8 INCH PRAWNS THAT HAD BEEN BOILED IN BEER AND BAY LEAVES AND DIPPED IN A
FRENCH WHITE SAUCE.ALSO RAW OYSTERS IN A SHELL AND STEAMED RICE, AN
EXOTIC FRESH FRUIT BOWL AND A RED TOWER LARGE BOTTLE OF BRITISH BEER.
ALL THIS FOR THREE SINGAPORE DOLLARS OR FIFTY CENTS AMERICAN CURRENCY.
IT WAS GETTING LATE SO I HEADED BACK TO THE PIER FOR THE TRIP BACK TO THE
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SHIP. A VENDOR WAS SELLING THREE FOOT LONG FLASH LIGHTS THAT HELD A SLEW
OF BATTERIES FOR 3 SINGAPORE DOLLARS EACH. IT COULD GO 1 MILE INTO THE
SKY. I BOUGHT TEN OF THEM AND TOOK THEM BACK TO THE SHIP. I SOLD THEM IN
SAN DIEGO FOR 5 DOLLARS APIECE. AFTER 5 DAYS IN SINGAPORE WE HEADED
SOUTH FOR THE EQUATOR AND AUSTRALIA.

136.
HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY TO EVERYONE. TODAY WE HONOR OUR LIVING AND FALLEN
VETERANS THAT GAVE THE SUPREME SACRAFICE AND FULL MEASURE OF
DEVOTION. WE SHOULD HONOR THEM EVERYDAY. IF THE DAY COMES THAT WE
FORGET OUR VETERANS, THAT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THIS
GREAT NATION AS WE KNOW IT NOW. GOD BLESS ALL OUR VETERANS AND
ESPECIALLY THE FALLEN WHO LIVE IN PEACE IN THAT CELESTIAL KINGDOM IN THE
SKY. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL IT'S CITIZENS. FOR WE ARE SECOND TO NONE.
SOME THIRD WORLD NATIONS DO NOT THINK SO. THEY MAY BE RIGHT, BUT IN MY
HEART I KNOW WE ARE.

137.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO PRAISE AND HONOR AND THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT HOLD THE TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD. I AM REFERING TO THE MILITARY
WIFE. WHEN HER SPOUSE IS DEPLOYED SHE HAS TO BE BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER
TO THE KIDS. TAKE CARE OF THE CHECK BOOK AND MAKE ALL THE PAYMENTS FOR
UTILITIES AND SUCH. BE A CAR MECHANIC, PLUMBER, GARDNER, BABY SITTER,
COOK, LAUNDRY WOMAN, NURSE MAID, STAYING UP LATE WITH A SICK CHILD, DO ALL
THE ERRANDS AND SHOPPING, KEEP ALL DENTAL AND DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,
DEAL OUT DISCIPLINE TO THE CHILDREN. TAKE THE SMALL CHILDREN TO SCHOOL,
BATH THEM AND FEED THEM AND TUCK THEM TO BED.AND COUNTLESS OTHER
THINGS THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED. ALSO HAVING THE THOUGHT 24 HOURS A DAY
THAT HER SPOUSE IS NOT EVER COMMING HOME. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE
EPISODES ARMY WIVE'S ON T.V. YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I HOLD MY
WIFE KAY ON HIGH ESTEEM AND PROUD OF HER AS A NAVY WIFE. WHEN MY FIRST
BORN ALEX WAS BORN SHE HAD A TOUGH TIME WEEKS BEFORE HE WAS BORN, I
WAS IN VIETNAM AND SHE WAS IN JAPAN. HE WAS 22 DAYS LATE IN BEING BORN. SHE
WAS DEPRESSED AND CRIED ALOT. THE DOCTOR'S SAID THAT IF MY SON WAS NOT
BORN AT A CERTAIN TIME SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A C-SECTION BIRTH AT THE
NAVAL HOSPITAL IN YOKOSUKA, JAPAN WHICH WAS 1000 MILES AWAY FROM
SASEBO, JAPAN. SHE KEPT CRYING THAT SHE WANTED ME THERE FOR THE BIRTH.
SO THE DOCTORS RECOMMENDED HUMANITARIAN LEAVE FOR MY ME TO GO TO
JAPAN. I WAS GRANTED 10 DAYS LEAVE. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME IF MY SON WAS NOT
BORN BY THE 13TH OF JANUARY, MY WIFE AND I WOULD BE GOING BY MED-VAC ON A
HELICOPTER TO YOKOSUKA, JAPAN. ON THE 12TH OF JANUARY MY SON WAS BORN A
NATURAL BIRTH AT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL IN SASEBO. THREE DAYS LATER I WENT
BACK TO VIETNAM. MY MOTHER IN LAW STAYED WITH MY WIFE UNTIL I RETURNED
FROM VIETNAM 5 MONTHS LATER. WHEN MY SECOND SON STEVE WAS BORN I WAS
OFF THE COAST OF VUNGTAU, VIETNAM ABOARD A DESTROYER. MY DAD
ACCOMPANIED MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL IN LONG BEACH. MY DAD TOOK MY 18
MONTH OLD FIRST SON ALEX TO LIVE WITH HIM AT HIS HOUSE AND MY WIFE TOOK
CARE OF STEVE UNTIL I RETURNED FROM VIETNAM 6 WEEKS LATER. SO I SALUTE
ALL MILITARY WIVES, FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE OF A KIND........AND THAT IS GREAT.
 90

138.
ON JULY 3RD IN 1948 A 17 YEAR OLD YOUNG MAN EMBARKED ON A VOYAGE OF LIFE
AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT LIFE HAD IN STORE FOR HIM AHEAD, HE PROUDLY
ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY WHICH WAS TO BECOME HIS HOME AND PARENTS. HE
SERVED PROUDLY FOR 23 YEARS AND WAS ENGAGED IN BOTH THE KOREAN WAR AS
WELL AS THE VIETNAM. HE DID NOT ONLY HAVE A GREAT JOB, BUT A GREAT
ADVENTURE. HIS SHIPS VISITED 37 COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE AND SERVED ON 16
VARIOUS SHORE INSTALLATIONS AS WELL AS SHIPS. HE SPENT AND LIVED IN JAPAN
FOR 10 YEARS AT FOUR DIFFERENT COMMANDS THERE. LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD TO
HIM. THANKS TO HIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN THAT CELESTIAL SHIP IN THE
HEAVENS UP ABOVE. HE HAS LIVED ONE OF THE GREATEST LIFE EVER LIVED. HE HAS
ONE OF THE GREATEST FAMILY THAT A PERSON CAN EVER HAVE, AND TO THEM I
GIVE MY GREATEST GRATITUDE FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE.............BILL CAMPBELL