After my 14 days leave I was to report to US Naval Station Midway Island, I had my ticket for my first airplane ride in my paperwork. I went to The airport in San Diego, and boarded a flight for Honolulu Hawaii. Once in Hawaii I was transferred to Hickam AFB for a military contract flight to Midway. The flight from Diego to Hono was great, pretty stewardesses, nice seats, everything I expected. Then We saw the plane we would fly to Midway on. It looked like something out of Skyking. An old DC-3 from Northwest Orient Airlines, Propeller driven. And when they started the motors, the belched smoke and fire and shook real bad. We boarded our "luxury Flight" and were taxing to the runway when the pilot announced we had to turn around and go back to change aircraft because ours had engine problems. Very reassuring to all of us already nervous passengers. Well we got our other aircraft and made the flight to Midway safely. It was new Years Eve 1969-70.
Midway Island lies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, The main Island of 2 is Sand Island, approximately 1250 acres. Famous for a turning point in WWII, There is not much there. But it was home to a couple of thousand Sailors, Seabees, and US Air force personnel in 1968. Mostly it is home to thousands and thousands of Laysan Albatross, fondly referred to as "Gooney Birds". These Birds are very beautiful and graceful in flight, but when they land it is a comedy of errors. With most making a three point landing every time. Take off is better but requires a long run before getting airborne. They spend part of the year on Midway for breeding and the rest I am not sure where, but on the Island they are thick and they have the right of way. There are a few stories about these birds so remember them.
As I mentioned earlier I arrived on Midway on New Years Eve. After checking in at the transit barracks, I went to explore my new home. I walked down to an area where we had deep water piers, It was beautiful. The water around us was so blue, white sand and even where the largest ships docked to unload supplies, the water was so clear you could see the bottom of the ocean. A bunch of people were fishing there, and I noticed a lot of activity near the corner of the pier so I walked over to check it out. There you could see a small octopus on the bottom, and about 3 guys were trying to catch it. They would cast their bait out and drag it near or over the octopus but it would not react in any way.
I watched for a bit and then walked to the other side of the pier and saw a fishing line hanging there, I pulled it up and on the end was a dead eel. I took it over to the others, and we cut the body off and left just the head. I threw it out and dragged it past the octopus and the octopus moved, I threw it a second time and the octopus grabbed it. I started pulling, and the others assisted and we got the octopus up on the dock. I remember someone was filming this with an old movie camera, and have always wished I had a copy of it. We kept the octopus on shore for a few minutes, prodding it with sticks, and admiring my catch, then used boards to push It back into the ocean. When it hit the water It took off leaving a thick cloud of black ink behind it. Very exciting day for my first day to say the least.
The Enlisted Men's Club or "EM" Club on Midway was the center of our off duty life. That evening I ventured to the "EM" Club, as the drinking age on station was 18 for beer, and 21 for hard liquor. I still had my tropical white uniform on and I heard a couple of guys say "Hey Keys!" the insignia for Storekeeper was crossed keys, and asked them whats up. They told me they were from the supply department and we would probably be working around each other and invited me to have a beer with them. Soon there was a large group of "Keys" gathered and I was meeting my shipmates for the next year.
Midway was a refueling stop for Navy Ships back then, and that evening 4 Destroyers (AKA Tin Cans) docked for refueling and to celebrate the new year. Well on Midway we wore civilian clothes when off duty, so it was fairly simple to see who was Midway, and who was "Fleet" except for me cause I was still in uniform. The drinks flowed and at some point the Fleet sailors, got into a disagreement with some Sea Bees, and next thing everyone was fighting. Fleet against Midway sailors. I held my own and managed to escape before the MP's got there, but the next day when i passed the club it was a mess, broken chairs and tables. Man glad I didn't have to clean that up. I had my first real hangover and felt like crap!!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Leave and SK "A" School
While I was in Boot, I was offered a chance to go to any school the Navy offered, I choose Storekeeper School. I was going to learn Warehousing and to operate Forklifts, and things. Why I choose SK School is still a bit of a mystery, but I wanted to operate equipment like my dad and this was a start.
In September 1967 I graduated from Naval Training Center, Recruit Training Command, San Diego CA. I remember putting on those Dress Blues and waiting for My family to come pick me up. Saying good bye to those I had been through a rough 12 weeks with was hard, I still remember many of the guys. Cavey from Alaska, Deason from Saugus CA, Moffet from Minnesota, Andrews, the first Black friend I ever had. and the Twins. But in the Navy you say your goodbyes and move on to the next station.
I had 14 days of Boot Leave, I headed back to Holtville to see old friends and show off my Uniform. I visited with friends and family and prepared to return to Navy life. Holtville was just a small town, I really hadn't heard about "Hippies and Protesters" at this point, and everyone was Proud of me. A lot of my friends had been drafted or joined since I went to Boot camp. and the 2 weeks went fast.
In Late September I reported to Storekeeper Class "A" School at Naval Training Center Annex, 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego CA. Some of my Friends from Boot had also gotten Order to NTC Schools, and 4 of us met the weekend before reporting at my sister Pat's house in Santee near San Diego for a quick week end of fun. She loaned me her car and we went to the Beach and had a great time. Also drank a few beers while at the house. It was a great weekend
I had received a promotion when I graduated so i was now an E-2, Storekeeper Seamen Apprentice, or SKSA. School was basically like a trade school, 5 days a week with weekends off unless you had the duty. Also you had Liberty every evening unless you had the duty. I was your typical Sailor, ready to hit the beach every day after school but in the Navy "Hit the Beach" does not always mean sand and surf. LOL It is a term used to mean leave the base and go on Liberty. In this case the streets of San Diego. I was too young to drink but did manage to get into a couple of Bars, mostly though I went to the Titty Bars that only served "Near Beer" and you could get into at 18. They had dancers but always had at least "Pasties" covering their breast. It wasn't until Hawaii a year later I saw my first "Nude" Dancer. I did spend sometime in the local Adult Novelty shops watched some very X-Rated movies and even seen a couple of "Live Models" you would go into a room and be separated by glass and put quarters in the slot to raise the blind and the girl would dance for you. Needed lots of quarters though LMAO. week-ends would find me mostly at Pat & Sam's place, where sometimes I would take some friends and we would Play cards and Drink Beer. Jim Hunnicutt and Bill King were the usual gang.
Memories of SK "A" School with out a time line are, Guys smoking "Catnip" to try to get a buzz cause they couldn't get Weed. My first introduction to Drugs other than Alcohol A friend Named Bailey was the instigator, also dried Banana peels called "Mellow Yellow" I tried neither by the way.
I remember going to the mess hall seeing all the Ships and wondering if I would be on one of these. I did visit a ship though, a Friend from Boot was on a Tin Can at the Naval Station and I was invited aboard for supper and to visit him. Who knew that would be my longest tour of "Sea Duty" while I was in the Navy LOL
While there we had a visit from two recent graduates of SK "A" School that had gotten order to Vietnam, they had been to "SERE" School in Warner Springs and were bruised and tired looking.
I hoped that when my orders came in it would not be Vietnam. I was among the last to receive orders, and when the instructor, said "SKSA Dickey, US Naval Station Midway Island" I was relieved.
I had requested the USS New Jersey that was being reactivated but that's why they call it a dream sheet. Some of my friends laughed because Midway is a small island in the middle of the Pacific and I was going to spend a year with the Gooney Birds, but it turned out that Midway was beautiful and there was lots of Beach time. fishing swimming snorkeling and such. Jim Hunnicutt laughed also but then the instructor read "SKSA Hunnicutt US Naval Station Adak Alaska!" The laugh was on him I had sunny beaches in a tropical setting and he had a year in the deep freeze. Before Christmas I was given 14 more days leave for the holidays. I had been in the 7 months and already used 28 days of leave.
In September 1967 I graduated from Naval Training Center, Recruit Training Command, San Diego CA. I remember putting on those Dress Blues and waiting for My family to come pick me up. Saying good bye to those I had been through a rough 12 weeks with was hard, I still remember many of the guys. Cavey from Alaska, Deason from Saugus CA, Moffet from Minnesota, Andrews, the first Black friend I ever had. and the Twins. But in the Navy you say your goodbyes and move on to the next station.
I had 14 days of Boot Leave, I headed back to Holtville to see old friends and show off my Uniform. I visited with friends and family and prepared to return to Navy life. Holtville was just a small town, I really hadn't heard about "Hippies and Protesters" at this point, and everyone was Proud of me. A lot of my friends had been drafted or joined since I went to Boot camp. and the 2 weeks went fast.
In Late September I reported to Storekeeper Class "A" School at Naval Training Center Annex, 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego CA. Some of my Friends from Boot had also gotten Order to NTC Schools, and 4 of us met the weekend before reporting at my sister Pat's house in Santee near San Diego for a quick week end of fun. She loaned me her car and we went to the Beach and had a great time. Also drank a few beers while at the house. It was a great weekend
I had received a promotion when I graduated so i was now an E-2, Storekeeper Seamen Apprentice, or SKSA. School was basically like a trade school, 5 days a week with weekends off unless you had the duty. Also you had Liberty every evening unless you had the duty. I was your typical Sailor, ready to hit the beach every day after school but in the Navy "Hit the Beach" does not always mean sand and surf. LOL It is a term used to mean leave the base and go on Liberty. In this case the streets of San Diego. I was too young to drink but did manage to get into a couple of Bars, mostly though I went to the Titty Bars that only served "Near Beer" and you could get into at 18. They had dancers but always had at least "Pasties" covering their breast. It wasn't until Hawaii a year later I saw my first "Nude" Dancer. I did spend sometime in the local Adult Novelty shops watched some very X-Rated movies and even seen a couple of "Live Models" you would go into a room and be separated by glass and put quarters in the slot to raise the blind and the girl would dance for you. Needed lots of quarters though LMAO. week-ends would find me mostly at Pat & Sam's place, where sometimes I would take some friends and we would Play cards and Drink Beer. Jim Hunnicutt and Bill King were the usual gang.
Memories of SK "A" School with out a time line are, Guys smoking "Catnip" to try to get a buzz cause they couldn't get Weed. My first introduction to Drugs other than Alcohol A friend Named Bailey was the instigator, also dried Banana peels called "Mellow Yellow" I tried neither by the way.
I remember going to the mess hall seeing all the Ships and wondering if I would be on one of these. I did visit a ship though, a Friend from Boot was on a Tin Can at the Naval Station and I was invited aboard for supper and to visit him. Who knew that would be my longest tour of "Sea Duty" while I was in the Navy LOL
While there we had a visit from two recent graduates of SK "A" School that had gotten order to Vietnam, they had been to "SERE" School in Warner Springs and were bruised and tired looking.
I hoped that when my orders came in it would not be Vietnam. I was among the last to receive orders, and when the instructor, said "SKSA Dickey, US Naval Station Midway Island" I was relieved.
I had requested the USS New Jersey that was being reactivated but that's why they call it a dream sheet. Some of my friends laughed because Midway is a small island in the middle of the Pacific and I was going to spend a year with the Gooney Birds, but it turned out that Midway was beautiful and there was lots of Beach time. fishing swimming snorkeling and such. Jim Hunnicutt laughed also but then the instructor read "SKSA Hunnicutt US Naval Station Adak Alaska!" The laugh was on him I had sunny beaches in a tropical setting and he had a year in the deep freeze. Before Christmas I was given 14 more days leave for the holidays. I had been in the 7 months and already used 28 days of leave.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)