WHEN IKE WAS PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON DC, 1960

WHEN IKE WAS PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON DC, 1960
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

MEMORIES OF MY FIRST LEAVE (VACATION) IN THE U.S. NAVY

One of my first leaves in the U.S. Navy was taking advantage of free Military Air Transportation Service. It was a month of flying in and out of Naval Air Stations from Norfolk, Virginia to Anacostia in Washington DC. Scheduling details and creating my own itinerary was simple and easy. When there wasn't a plane available, there were buses and new personal contacts and friends to get me to wherever I wanted to go next. Sharing the spirit of freedom and the genuine fun of the 60s with new friends I met guaranteed interesting times; there were, new and different scenes like parties in Greewich Village, drinking ale at one of New York's oldest ale houses in Battery Park, McSorley's ale house. There was a bit of brief romance stirred by the music of the Peppermint Lounge. Central Park was a treat. The Empire State Bldg, Central Park and the subways were fun for an 18 year old who had never been further east than Toledo. There was the highlight of my visit to Lakehurst, New Jersey where an old and almost retired CPO gave me a personal tour of the dirgibles, the old blimps that were being phased out.That was a time of pure fun and provided me with some of my best memories of my first year in the U.S. Navy.