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Liberty Call in "OLD" San Juan.....
November 20, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

Liberty Call in "OLD" San Juan.....

So anyway, still on that float in the Caribbean in 1969 with Fox Company 2/2, we were on Liberty in San Juan, P.R. Well actually, most of us were in “old” San Juan enjoying life and liberty call. For those of you who didn’t get to make this float allow me to summarize what Old San Juan was like. My brother served in the Navy when I was in the Marines, we never talked about Old San Juan while home on leave. We just looked at each other and smiled until we looked foolish. Ok. Back to the story. Cpl. McDonald and I were standing at the bar spending our last dollar before having to return to the ship(aka the boat) USS Guadalcanal.

This gentleman approached us and ask if he might speak to us for a moment. He explained that there was a young lady upstairs who would choose one of us and the loser would get him. Will isn’t that speical! We looked at each other and smiled and told the gentleman to move on. I was pretty sure I would have won that contest and like I have often said— It’s a sad dog that won’t wig it’s own tail. But I just couldn’t stand putting my friend Cpl McDonald through that experience of being with this person and who knows what this “young lady” was really like—I mean—we still had our pride even without money.

Some odd things have come my way when I was on active duty in the Marines. I recall being on R&R in Japan in 1970, we were due to head back to V.N. and was trying not to leave anything behind. So, someone offered me a drink (which turned out to be 151 proof Rum), the next time I was aware of my surrounding; this little lady was walking up and down my back and I was laughing my fool head off. I have never again drunk rum. I can’t say I have never been walked but not volunteer.

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

Gene T. Deatley - May 31, 2020

Thats funny..

G. Willard - May 31, 2020

I was on a Carib in ’69, after Vietnam and before I went to D.I. school at P.I. Whatever could you be referring to about Old San Juan?? LMAO! Was that you I saw wobbling down the sidewalk, or were you standing still and I was wobbling? One of the girls said she was a schoolteacher from NYC. Couldn’t afford her “company” but she talked with us for a few minutes. She said she could make more money when the fleet was in than she could in a month teaching, then she would go back home. I don’t doubt your story one bit Marine. Tijuana same way.

David Flowers - May 31, 2020

In Sept-1971 I served with Kilo- 3/6 2nd Mar-Div . We were on a NATO cruise. We did an Operation with the British Marines & Turkish Army on the Island of Crete. I also served aboard LPH-7 USS-Guadacanal. While on liberty call, on the Island of Palma De Majorca ,,I enjoyed a Potent drink called a “Zombie”. As Marines..we fought hard…but we played hard. Needless to say…that was the 1st and last time I had a Zombie ! Semper Fidelis, For God, Country & Community, Dave USMC 1970- 1973 0311

Robert Wegener - May 31, 2020

In 1958 I was on a rifle team shooting at Camp Matthews, a buddy and I got drunk and bought a bottle of that 151 Rum, sitting on the curb in Lajolla drinking and eating pickled pigs feet, when a city cop pull up, put us in the car and drove us to the bass. Retire Marine he was. What a hang over!!!!!! I was sick for a week and every round that was shot My head exploded, and were talking 250 Marine shoot 50 rounds a day. I have never touch Rum again and I’m 80. R D Wegener USMC retired.

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