SwiftVets.com

[RStauch]

[dafrog]

Richard ... we had to be in-country for 6 months before a R&R was granted. I'm assuming that was the same for the Navy. Waiting for Kerry to come up with a "story" on his exploits. Batten down the hatches neighbor, looks like we're in for a blow. I'm up here in Port Charlotte. Mike...

[Paul]

"I have to wonder where Kerry spent his leave time; in some Commie Huck meeting house in "Da Jungle", where he was indoctrinated into Abu Sayyaf?"

Well said.

Purely an aside, but mention of "Da Jungle," if I'm reading it right, brings back memories of Shore Patrol in Olongapo. I tended to hang out in Barrio Baretto when on liberty.

And you're right. The euphamistacally labeled "s**t" river wasn't a scenic sight, but this is way distorted when presented as routine. Although, this description sounds typical of much of the marxist communist and anti-American propaganda.

So now Senator Kerry’s exaggerations and distortions contribute to the Marxist-Maoist CPP-NPA-DNF propaganda machine? And right at a time when their anti-American propaganda and their insurgent activities and guerilla and terrorist attacks in Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas and throughout the Philippines are increasing.

For those not familiar, CPP is the Marxist-Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines founded in 1968. It was founded by Jose Maria Sison in December 1968 as a breakaway from the Marxist-Leninist Partido Kommunista ng Pilipinas (PKP).

The Marxist-Leninist PKP had been founded in 1930 and with Soviet support waged the post-World War II Huk insurgency on Luzon from about ’46 through ’54 or so. HUK is a nickname for the Hukbong Magapalaya ng Bayan, HMB (the People's Liberation Army) that was the guerilla wing of the PKP.

The NPA is the New People’s Army that is the guerilla wing of the CPP formed by a body of hard-core old Huks in early 1969.

The NDF is the New Democratic Front which was founded in the 1976 (I believe) in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Jose Maria Sison is currently the CPP-NPA “chair” of the NDF.

It’s confusing, as usual where centrally-controlled leftist insurgencies and their proliferation of terms, acronyms and movements are concerned. However, the NDF-CPP-NPA are fundamentally one in the same. The CPP is the party organization in the Philippines. The NPA is the guerilla arm of the CPP. The NDF is the international mouthpiece for the CPP-NPA and also for other numerous Marxist communist insurgent movements.

Since 1968, following Marxist-Maoist doctrines of control from the country-side first, the CPP insurgency has spread beyond Luzon and organized in just about every major island and province in the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of the Philippines. Establishing bases in the mountains and mountainous regions was an early priority.

The CPP-NPA insurgency in the ‘70s was the reason for the martial law curfew in the Philippines that we were all familiar with for years.

In the 1980s, Americans began to be targeted and murdered in guerilla ambushes.

In the 1990s internal disputes and the new government in the Philippines led to a decline in their activities.

In the late ‘90s through to toady, they’ve increased their insurgent activities and their armed-guerilla assaults on government forces. The Republic of the Philippines has stated that the CPP-NPA has formed an alliance with the Islamic Abu Sayyaf MILF insurgency in Mindanao.

And now it sounds like Senator Kerry is adding his “bit” via his mercenary self-serving distortions.

Hey, there’s much that could be questioned over the years, but these kind of exaggerations do nothing to help anyone in doing so.

John Kerry is a disgrace and utterly lacking in character or decency. Personally, I can't muster one once of respect for the man as a man.
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Paul

[RStauch]

When "in country" during time of war, R&R has to be limited. In my case, from '73 to '75, after the Paris Peace Accords were signed, we believed the fighting, or our part in it, was done; until the last escape from Saigon, that is.

With two carriers in the South China Sea, we had a good chance of being in port 1 week out of 2 or 3. Whenever we were in port in the Philippines we usually had a 4-way duty rotation, so that we were on one day and off 3. That wasn't true in Hong Kong (twice), or in Mombassa, Kenya (when I became a shellback; we were at sea on the Indian Ocean over a month, that time; Christmas '74 we crossed the Equator). Always, in port, we had to make muster daily, just as we did at sea, but we could leave the base most of the time in port, afterwards. I couldn't stay out overnight in Hong Kong (too dangerous, and we were ordered to stay in groups), but I did stay out overnight in Mombassa (a shallow-water port, making the trip to the pier some miles up-river by whale boat, or civilian fishing boat).

When I did take leave (R&R), I didn't go home, since I didn't have much to go home to. Instead, I stayed in the Philippines. That's why I got the apartment. I had the whole neighborhood over quite often, since we were the only ones with a full-fledged kitchen. No indoor plumbing, though. We kept RubberMaid 55-gallon tubs for water, and I had a drain installed in the bathroom. A couple of those people have come to the States since then and we keep in touch, but most of the people I knew in the PI moved out after the bases were closed.

According to that Web site, The Kerry Page, Kerry never left the ship while in Da Nang. I have to wonder if he did when in Subic Bay? Could be, he was one of those "loners", who couldn't get along personally with anyone. That would explain a few things.

By all accounts, he never got to know the people where he was. I always engage people, curious how they live and how they think about things, but Kerry may not be so interested. He probably spent all his time away from the ship in the Officer's Club, shmoozing the higher-ups, or alone in his bunk making up stories for Mama.
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Richard Stauch
Ft. Myers, FL

[RStauch]

[Paul]

"According to that Web site, The Kerry Page, Kerry never left the ship while in Da Nang. I have to wonder if he did when in Subic Bay? Could be, he was one of those "loners", who couldn't get along personally with anyone. That would explain a few things."

This is an interesting thought. You may be right. I knew guys who spent two years in Yokosuka who never left the base. Personally, I can't relate. A buddy made in the transient barracks and myself were lost in Tokyo the first weekend, a few days after arriving.

The same for one guy I knew from boot camp stationed in Subic. He never left the base, which was easy for him since there was so much to do on that base -- snorkling, beaches, Grande Island, go carts, skeet shooting, bowling, . . . Hey, the gals in town knew more about the details of it all then I ever did

Personally, being from New Mexico, then Olongapo reminded me of Juarez but with lost more prostitutes (ie hostesses & the “independent” street walkers. . . ) and clubs. . . The kids in the boats in the river begging for coins while we crossed the bridge from the main gate into Olongapo definitely reminded me of the kids under the bridge between Juarez and El Paso doing the same, standing in the shallower Rio Grande holding baskets.

Anyway, this is an interesting thought about Kerry. You may be onto something. It would be interesting to know more of the details about him and his activities.
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Paul

[Paul]

"And, I got lost in the Jungle once, . . ."

Ok. I read it right. Thanks Richard. Good description of "Da Jungle." I had pals off both of the ships that I was on that visited Subic who hung out there too while on liberty; both the Okie Boat and the Horne.

It brings back memories. . . I forget the name of the bar on the corner turning into it but can still hear the gals calling out at us as while we were being marched into and through it, "Shore Patrol, I'm lonely tonight. . . " . . .

I'm not racist myself. I agree with you completely about the Socialist Left.

Obviously, I also agree with you completely about Senator Kerry.
Frankly, this is why I found it insulting that someone would think that I was trying to detract from Kerry's miserable actions during the Vietnam war. Not at all. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a hypothetical that those acts will impact today, but a demonstrable fact by one of his concrete actions after another ever since.
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Paul

[RStauch]

I knew a guy named Richard Brummett from Albuquerque. He was so heavy, when marching (in boot camp) he broke 4 bones in his right foot.

Yes, there were many "hostesses" in town, up Magsaysay Drive, and down Rizal Avenue. Most of them were prostitutes, but I knew some who wouldn't do that. They wanted you to buy them "Lovers' Drinks" and they would stay with you in the bar all night, but that was all. On the other hand, there were some who would service you right there under the table.

Yeah, like the man said, it was "wild and wooley." But it was more than simply a Disneyland for adults. It was a real town, with real citizens, many of whom I came to know and like. The main drag was a row of bars (with a few exceptions), but behind it was a residential district, like many in towns all over the world. Sure, it was what most Americans call a "slum", but to them it was lower-middle class. Their High-class cities are what we call Middle-class.

Kerry wouldn't feel comfortable there.
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Richard Stauch
Ft. Myers, FL

[Paul]

"Yeah, like the man said, it was "wild and wooley." But it was more than simply a Disneyland for adults. It was a real town, with real citizens, many of whom I came to know and like."

I agree with you perfectly on this too. I got a chuckle from seeing on the news that it was the gals from the bars around Clark who ended the workers strike in the ‘80s by assaulting the strikers because they were ruining their “business”, but what you write is true of the Olongapo and even truer of the Philippine Islands outside those metropolitan areas, including most of Luzon.

Hey, I knew a cook off of the Okie Boat who spent two years courting his future wife in Manila via bus trips on the "Victory Liner" (since he had the open gangway liberty card and multiple-day liberties of a cook). For almost two years he went through the standard courtship with all of the aunts and cousins on each date as chaperones. I went on a similar date with a gal in Manila who lived just down the street and inside the barricaded area of the Presidential Palace. A visit to a friend’s house in the province in Luzon was the experience of being in a house with dirt floors, but so immaculately clean that would shame many of my present-day American friends whose houses are shabby and dirty.

As to my pal (we became friends during my mess cook stint as a seaman), his wife from Manila was a medical technician so they not only dealt with the pain of navy approval for the marriage but government approval for her as well. I still remember after their marriage when the poor gal showed up in Yokosuka in the middle of November when it cold cold. She’d never been outside the Philippines before!

I’ve already said enough that I can’t BS my way out and claim ignorance. Let’s be honest, even with Jolos and then new Jolos and such in Olongapo, then Subic City was The Place for the real debauchery (back in the days when it was an R&R activity for some and not a "unit tactic").

Like I said, except for the periodic bar hopping for the bands, I spent most of my time in Barrio Baretto – not "without," so to speak, but not the extremes of Magsaysay and Rizal Drive in Olongapo or the dives in Subic City. A lot more laid back and some decent beaches.

Oh, good to see a fellow Shellback! I crossed on a dip below the line while enroute to Singapore. In my case, I was "assisting" in the initiation of wogs into the "solemn mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep" (ie. beating them) while enroute to Mombassa for my first time
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Paul

[xsquid]

@RStauch. I spent a lot of time in the philippines in 75, Especially after the evacuation. I hauled tons of cooked rice and sea rats to them at grande island. I hauled them in a mike 8 boat during evac also. I went back in 78,79 and 83. Four trips. I spent months there every time. I stayed most of the time in subic, usually got a place out in town, but also spent a lot of time in barrio bareto and made it to manila, angles city (clark), and even started out for baguio 3 or 4 times but never made it off of magsaysay. I got my arm operated on in 83 and stayed at cubi point. Rode the bus from subic to clark back and forth for duty one day every 4 as my duty (e-6). The other 3 I was lost on liberty. Every time I see "an officer and a gentelman" and catch the mariposa club at the beginning the memories comes flooding back. I drank many ice cold san miguel in that place. Ah, the stories that nobody that nobody except those that have been there believe, lol.
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11 years US navy.

[War Dog]

I've been to the Philippines four times. My first time I was a 'Cherry Boy' when I flew into Clark AFB in December of 71, on my way over to Korat Thailand. I had four days till my flight, and me and a fellow Zoomie (I was a USAF Security Police Patrol/Sentry Dog Handler) caught a cab (Jutnie?) to downtown Angel City to a local hotel. We knew nothing about the customs, or bargining for prices before you agreed to anything.

Anyway, we had three wild days and nights whoring and drinking, and on the morning of our fourth day when it was time to check out and go back to the base to catch our flight, our bill was a lot more than we had in our pockets. So, we had to leave our luggage, and go on base, and get a months advance pay so that we could pay our hotel bill, and get our luggage back. I learned a valuable lesson from that, and I never forgot it. But those were three great days, let me tell you.

My second time was in 1983 in the USN. I was an ET2 on the USS John A. Moore (FFG-19), and we were going through the straights headed for Manila. We were with the USS New Jersey battle group, and it was about midnight, and a light was spotted off the port side. When we got closer and investigated it, there was an overturned fishing boat, and seven guys hanging on to it. We rescued them, and took them to Manila. We were to stay three days in Manila, but had to leave a day early because of a typhoon headed for there. But, those were two great days also, but I was married at the time, and stayed away from the 'ladies'.

Several days later after riding out that typhoon, what a *****, let me tell you! We pulled into Subic for three days. Again, a good time was had by all.

Four months later on our way from Guam to South Korea, we were again side tracked by another typhoon, and went throught the same straights we had gone through four months before, but in the daytime. A fishing boat flagged us down, and it was the same seven guys we had rescued four months before. They had a new fishing boat, and they had taken plywood and made it look like our ship from the waterline up, and named it the USS John A. Moore (FFG-19). What a wierd chance thing running into the same guys we had rescued.

Anyway, the ship pulled into Subic, and three of us left the ship. I was transferring to a new command, the USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49 Precom), and two guys who were getting out. The morning we were pulling in, we asked when we were going to get paid, and we were told, that we would be paid in Subic. We asked when we would be going home, and we were told, that someone in Subic would arrange that. We asked where were we to go on the base, and the PN's gave us a phone number, and said to call it when we got on the pier.

The ship pulled in, over went the lines and the brow, and we got off. Up went the brow and the lines, and they left. The three of us just stood there on the pier, and wondered what we did next. We called the number, and was directed to the transit barracks. We caught a cab there, and let me tell you, it looked like an internment camp. High fences, a gate, guards, guard towers, concertina wire, etc. We had to muster four times a day, man it was the pits. The other two guys left two days later, I stayed for two and a half weeks.

Do you know how hard it was to be good in the Philippines for two and a half weeks? I went downtown one night, and then stayed on base. I had my meals in either the chow hall or the Petty Officers Club. But even at the club, I had to make up a sign saying, "NO, I do not want any company!", "No, I do not want to buy you a drink", and so on, as there were hookers even in the clubs on base. But being married, and faithful to my wife, I did not want to give in to temptation, and run the risk of catching something to take home.

I was sure glad when I got my flight out of there, but overall, I have a lot of fond memories of the Philippines. One thing I found is that if you treated the people like you wanted to be treated, and as friends, you could go even into the bad parts of town, and have a good time.

Ah, those were the years!

War Woof!
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"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[sore loser]

[sore loser]

[xsquid]

In 83 (when I went tad to cubi) I was on a spruance class tin can the O'brien (DD-975).

[sore loser]