The base football team won the European championship 56 or 57.The tournament was played in England. Our own J. V. Tanner (Charlie section) quarterbacked. Many players had college experience, but J. V. had high school experience only.

The Operation Building may have been under Air Force command or just shared by the Navy. Their snack bar in the lower level of Air Force side was available to us. Morning breaks were spent there for coffee, donuts, and latest issue of Stars and Stripes. Fried salami sandwiches on mid-watch.

Second day off required marching and drills to satisfy some clowns' idea of base defense in case of Russian attack. The program was called "Ground Defense Force." 3rd class and below got the dirty duty. I believe they referred to it in a very obscene manner.

The Marine platoon attached to operations were, in addition to "R" operations, were to be Marines in other activities as well. The CO was a Captain and took his command seriously. Several of us went to the rifle range to shoot with them, as they had to qualify each year. They lived up to the term, Marine. I'm glad I knew them.

Shortly after arriving in Bremerhaven, a Chief took the new guys to a short underground range. He had us fire M1, BAR and the Thompson 45. Single fire only though. Bummer.

Stood 8 on - 8 off during the Russian tank invasion of Hungary. Repeated the process when England - French sent a joint fleet to retake control of the Suez Canal from Egypt.

The mid-watch had many hot-foots applied. The match head between sole and upper leather when lit off would set a new record in shoe removal. If your frequency was up, you had best keep your feet moving to prevent a successful attempt on your foot.

Country and Western music was hugely popular with the Germans at that time and had become know as "Stick Buddy." My shipmates could never understand how I could be from Oklahoma and not like that style of music.

Cannot forget this one: "RUFF" was the only word that describes the texture of German toilet paper!!!!

Bremerhaven Streets were surfaced with a gray cobblestone. Much resurfacing work was conducted in 1956-1957 as the city was still under reconstruction. Bicycles were the common mode of transportation at that time.

Many evenings were spent on the Lessing Strasse hang-outs. Melody, Capehorn, Odean, Metropol, Elfie's, and Blue Angel. Oceana was a Merchant Marine spot, while black army enlisted ranks favored the RioRita. A short walk from the Army gate at the Marine Schule brought you to the Afribar. Otto's was right outside Army gate near the exchange.

Late nights, before the trip on the Army shuttle, 2400 hours was the last run. Bratwurst with the great hot mustard could always be found at a local street vendor before the trip back.

Marty supplied transportation in his '50 Ford. He purchased it from Larry Saling (ref D'Imperio 56-57 photos). Autos were recycled when someone rotated and did not want to take it to the next duty station.

He and I made a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and then a 2,500 mile trip across Germany, Austria to Venice then on to Rome. Back along the Mediterrian to French Rivera to Barcelonia, Paris and back to the base. We bought our gas, when possible, from military stations for 20 cents a gallon. Local prices were $1.25 - $1.50. Trip papers obtained before leaving had to be presented at each border crossing. We took Cokes and cigarettes for bribing border guards, but it was never necessary. It is probably a good thing we did not attempt to do so. We met up with the "X" Man on the Rivera. He was on a leave of absence from his job so he could travel all over Europe. He continued with us to Paris where we left him.