I meet new people all the time now that Bob Martin let’s me post my missives on his web site. The people I’ve met so far all have been great and interesting people. But once in a while the real deal shows up. And this is how it happened:
Of course through Bob! Who had forwarded me an e-mail from a guy in Colorado whose wife is from the Philippines and requested we meet. By the tone of his e-mails I was pleased and looking forward for that to happen in the near future.
October 2011 Mayang and I walk in to Texas Joe’s in Subic and Gilbert Lee the manager brings me a beer and said; “A guy from Colorado bought you this one!” That took me aback for a second, and then the old gray matter put one and one together, and drank the ice cold SMB, and thought; “Mmmm what a classy guy!”
Upon returning home I contacted this gentleman and conveyed my heartfelt thanks to him. Then I found that he was in country and living in the Philippines right here in my neck of the woods. Beautiful downtown Olongapo City. We must get together for lunch!
So we met a few days later back at Texas Joe’s for lunch and adult beverages. We found that both of us were former Navy, and had been introduced to Olongapo back in the 1960’s. Where he had met his bride Mercy and have been together ever since. We both told each other some funny Sea Stories and got acquainted and I for one had no desire for the day to end, as I was enjoying myself to the tenth power. It was the good fellowship, and not just the cocktails and beer.
Now I must point out that as men, we can get along and have a good time but we both must see how our ladies get along with each other if this is ever going to flourish. Mayang and Mercy were sitting with us and yacking (Yabang-yabang in Tagalog) about life, and more than likely talking about the two guys they were married too, and the stuff we had done or hadn’t done . But on the way home Mayang looked over at me and said; “Ate Mercy is my new friend!
Over the next few months we started meeting at least once a week and we went to other restaurants and enjoyed ourselves, well at least I did! Then I introduced them to my Friend’s Don and Anita and Tommy and Lolet. Who had joined up once in a while to have a nice day out on the town with us?
So last week we had to say so long as Loren and Mercy were departing the Philippines to their other life in Colorado. Loren sent an e-mail to LiP and summed up his vacation and a few funny antidotes about his time here which Bob published. I hope you all read it and someday get to meet “Big P” and his Lady.
So to Loren and Mercy, thank you for being our friends, please come back soon, as you can, as you both will be missed!
Fair winds and following seas, Shipmate!
Next week is my trip to Manila; I’m looking so forward to that!
Looks like good times at Texas Joe’s, Paul!
Bob;
We’ve never had a bad time there!
But we will keep trying—how can anyone have a bad time with the good music, good food, good SMB, superior rum and coke, cowgirls to wait on you and sooth the eyes, and last but not least—-great friends!!!!!!!!!
Loren;
Wow you summed it up better than I ever could!
Good times and good food too, Paul? You just can’t go wrong!
Bob;
You know! That’s so very true. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a place more.
Paul,
Good friends are hard to come by. It seems lately that I have fewer and fewer as time rolls by. I just lost my best friend Leon two weeks ago.
Hudson;
I’m sorry for your loss, but you’re right as we age the friends seem to become less and less in ones life.
Paul,
Glad to see a good friendship story on here. I know you all had some good times. Hope for the best with Loren and Mercy! May they come back soon.
Steve;
It was good to be able to tell a good friendship story. I hope they come back next week!
Paul we made it back to Colorado 1500 hours the day before yesterday. Rested up now and it is Sunday night 2315 and I realized it is Monday morning in the PH and said to Merced I best check and see what Paul wrote. Made my day, thanks. Have fun in Manila; it took us seven hours to get to the airport last Tuesday. I think every road in Manila was at a crawl. We were in Hawaii before Samy & Luz got home to Olongapo after droping us off. Merced says hello to you and Mayang.
Loren & Merced;
We say HI back at you! Wish you were here now so we could share out trip to Manila with you. OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE for lunch?
Loren & Merced;
We say HI back at you! Wish you were here now, so we could share our trip to Manila with you. OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE for lunch?
Paul,
Glad to see you have another shipmate friend. Seems like a real down to earth guy. Still would like to meet up with you when i come in October, albeit coming from Quezon City now. Texas Joes looks like a great place to go to enjoy yourself with some cold ones and great food. Looking forward to your Manila Escapade. Take care and be safe going there. I guess you will be using a driver for the trip.
PapaDuck;
Going down today (Tuesday) to rent the van, Driver is family member, leaving at 0400 in the morning to be there at opening time. I’d still rather take a whoopin’ from a big man than go to Manila!
Senior,
Good friends are hard to come by especially when we get older. We tend to get more selective on who we share our time with. But it is always good to have friends that you enjoy being around in the Philippines. It makes the adjustment
just alittle more enjoyable.
In my expeirence in living in Japan and the Philippines most of those who choose to live their are of a higher caliber of people and tend to look out for each other.
Notice I said most not all.
See you in Oct maybe PapaDuck will join us that would be cool. We do the same job and both live in Fl. Give him my E-mail .
Enjoy Manila that’s the only place where my Asawa said she just closed her eyes and prayed. 🙂
Bruce;
You have a great outlook on life, I have to agree with you! I’d look forward to seeing both you guys in October!
Hi Senior, good friends are hard to find. Always best to keep the real ones who supports you through thick and thin. I have friends since boot camp that are still corresponding with me and keeping in touch. Being here near Washington DC, get tired of listening to politician who claimed so and so is a friend of theirs then do something opposite a few minutes later. That’s why their saying here is: If you want a friend in Washington DC, get a dog! (politicians).
On the other news, what in the Navy is happening? Commanding Officers will in the near future have a sobriety test aboard ships to test sailors coming back to the ship. No doubt Coast Guard will follow also. Hmmm, those good ol’ days-most of the crew will probably fail, but their reasoning is to test if sailors are drinking on the job. Ok quick Doc, hide those rubbing alcohol and check those cooking wine the commissary storeroom, (I wonder why the Duty Cook is always happy!)
Have nice trip to Manila. Hooters is just behind the Mall of Asia.
Mars
Mars, wow 🙁 It’s a good thing I’m an old navy guy (well not that old) cause without all the good times I experienced, I probably would have bailed early and not retired. In the good old days, I remember beer machines in the barracks (Guam) and who would ever forget the lunchtime dancing girls at the NCO club in Subic? I bet the ship’s captain will still have his stateroom stocked. Enlisted clubs are becoming a thing of the past, and I believe Chiefs clubs are all but gone. I recently visited Columbus AFB in MS to get the asawa’s ID card updated, and they don’t even have a chow hall to eat at (closed down). Had to eat at Subway or McDonalds on the base. Let the good times roll!
Hi Randy, most ashore dining hall are now contract-operated. Started as idea for saving money but now more expensive and added sea-shore ratio is disarray–more sea duty just like Sonar tech and Radarman for MS/FS rating.
Remember in Little Creek, we can get off the ship at lunch time and have 3 beers at the satellite club with go-go girls. Really, nobody pays attention to the dancing girls, crew just concentrating on finishing their beer before 1300 hrs–to get back on board. ha ha.
Mars
How long ago was that? Lunch at the staff NCO club in Subic was easily 1 or 2 drinks then back to work. Everybody back then new their limits, and some didn’t drink at all. But you never drank too much…until 1600!
About ’72-’74. I was on Cutter Taney out of Amphibs Base lttle Creek, now that ship a museum in downtown Baltimore, she was present @ pearl harbor when the Japanese attack. She stayed in active duty for the CG until 1986.
Mars Z,
The days of the liquid lunch or over or parting till the sun shines is forever dead.
I remember when the Navy use to be fun. Not this micro managing gottcha attituded. My Navy is no more.
Hey Bruce, you’re right. It’s a new navy. I can remember watching the rats come out when the sun came up on old Bugis Street in Singapore. Enlisted leadership seems to have taken the fall since I was in, and from what I understand, the other branches as well. I see guys and gals today walking around uncovered (that’s no hats for you non-military types). That didn’t happen when I was a sailor. If I didn’t know better, political correctness and extreme competition for advancement (back stabbing) has destroyed what use to be all good about the service. I noticed the decline and it’s prevalence just prior to my retirement in ’93. When the Navy was no fun for me any longer I retired otherwise, I think would have stayed longer. Cheers!
Mars, Bruce and Randy;
I knew it was time to go when I was at Captains Mast in 1985 with my best sailor Jose down in Puerto Rico. It seems he was over served and took a battle nap on the table at the EM Club, (just resting his head while praying) I asked the XO and his base policeman if Jose went wild and destroyed things when he was awoken? He did not. Did he start a fight when you tried to put him in the car? He did not. I looked the XO in the eye and asked if when he was a young Junior Officer if a Chief had ever carried him up the brow on a ship? No answer! Then I asked why we were even there at mast at all, and could I get back to work? Charges dismissed! I retired in January the following year, it really was time to go.
Senior, Randy and Mars,
Does anyone know if the navy still gives allows it’s saliors there 2hr nooner?
I still hold to that habit to this day. Or am I just getting Old. 🙂
That went out with comshaw’ing Bruce! I don’t ever remember the 2 hr nooner…I always thought that was something I talked the wife into!
That’s used to be in lieu of using your lunch time off the ship as long as you are back @ the 1300 hrs quarters. Kinda personal time.
Mars
Mars Z
That it was and I used it well especially after a hard night if you know what I mean. 🙂
I visited one of the Royal Navy ship tied up in Mobile, AL in ’84 and the Chief’s Mess have an open bar. Not just beer but hard liquor also. Nobody abuses it. As far as I know, they still have it.
I think the Brits always had booze onboard. I heard it was rationed at sea, and probably a good thing knowing how those brits can drink.
Right you are, they sure could put away some beers. They are also allowed to wear shorts during summer. We invited them to the CPO initiation and they decline to accept the glass of beer, they want the pitcher, so we gave them each a pitcher of beer. When the the judge is giving fine to everybody, he told the bailiff to collect $100.00 each to anybody wearing shorts (aimed at the Brits), to which the RN guys took off their shorts to avoid the fine and stayed in their underwear during the whole proceedings–funny bunch of guys!
Funny, today I don’t think it would have gotten as far as the pitcher of beer being authorized. My initiation lasted 23 hours, no sleep, nothing to eat (normal food anyway), and real misery. These days, there are restrictions on drinking and I heard that some events are over in 3 hours. Different Navy!
http://www.webhistoryofengland.com/?p=677
This will tell you about booze in the Royal Navy guys lol.
Hmmm, maybe I was mistaken about the hard liquor when I visited the RN’s CPO mess. Maybe it was in-port they still drink hard stuff but maybe just beer. The US revolutionary Navy was also rationed alcohol until 1913 when the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels stopped the tradition, instead offered the idea of drinking strong coffee, with which the sailor called “a cup of Joe”.
I think they are continuing to blame the sailors for the prevalent of social and professional ails of the service like assault, domestic violence, suicide and physical fitness to the over consumption of the liquid brew. Is this over reaction, being professional or today’s sailor are getting soft? Heck, I was on a ship with no A/C and we sleep on hammock style racks. We did okay and beer sure tasted good on liberty!
Mars
My guys worked hard and I let them play hard and stood behind them. It made for good productivity and camaraderie and I liked it that way. Back in those days there were two ways you could punish a sailor. You could take away money or liberty. Liberty was by far the more valuable of the two.