MY LAST DUTY STATION USS TORTUGA (LSD-26)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tortuga_(LSD-26)
When I reported for duty to the USS TORTUGA in February of 1964, the ship was in dry dock at Hunter's Point in San Francisco. For the first few months, we lived on shabby barges until the ship had been completely overhauled and refurbished. Once we got underway, the morale raised considerably.
It was not the kind of duty I was accustomed to after serving 28 months in the luxuries we were afforded in a post-war Japan.
My transfer from the Naval Air branch of the USN was not at my request but decisions were made that my service was needed aboard this vessel bound for some real adventure in the Orient.
The Tortuga was in drydock at Hunter's Point ( a real hell-hole) in San Francisco when I reported for duty in February of 1964. We were bunked in an old supply building on the docks until, alas, the flat-bottomed LSD was ready to get underway for numerous OPERATIONS AND READINESS cruises up and down the west coast from San Francisco to San Diego and back again. Up and down, down and up, close to shore, far from shore, docking and loading ammo, training at GQ throughout the day and night for nearly six months.
The Channel Islands, off the California coast, were used for strategic purposes during our training. Gunnery practice was conducted for hours on end during these readiness cruises.
If anyone figured out why we were undergoing such extensive training, nobody mentioned the subject. Such operations were normal after a vessel underwent a complelte overhaul.
We were not privy to what the purpose of such cruises and training were all about. Recalling these training cruises with very little time for going ashore, I have bittersweet emotions and memories of my final duty station aboard one of the oldest ships of its kind still in operation, but refurbished and ready for some real adventure in the far east.
My station during GQ was on the bridge, with a good view of what was happening.
MY FAVORITE BAR IN YOKOHAMA WITH BEN HUR SHADES
The Ben Hur shades were all the rage in Japan in the early 60s. I had to spend what was the equivalent of $30 U.S. dollars to get my shades. For that amount, I could have spent three nights at Frank Lloyd Wright's famous hotel, THE IMPERIAL PALACE. ( I did spend a few nights there in 1961).
The Peanuts Club or Music Saloon was another story. It will always remain a fond memory. More about the Peanuts Club in other posts. Tags: Peanuts-Club Yokohama Japanese-Bars, etc.
I still have my shades and plan to take them with me when I return to Yokohama. I want to sit in a bar with these goofy glasses and buy all of the young women drinks. And I might do a few portraits too. Dream on, fool............
ONE OF THE BEST SETS OF THE OLD CALIFORNIA BEACH SCENE I have seen anywhere. A set of 23 beach photos taken by Lance Nix in 1964. When I want to go back in time, I go back to this set, time and again. Here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81918828@N00/sets/72157615416275548/with/3361759980/
SANTA MONICA 28 March 1964 by Lance & Cromwell
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