[John Rogers]

A tad over 40 years ago I was stationed on the USS Bainbridge, CGN25 also called the Grey Ghost. Well that was near the end of my drinking and hard party days and as far as I know most of the guys that were on there with me are dead now or at least not on Pelican.

So anyways I was watching a Korean electric violin player and she reminded me of one night in Pusan or Busan Korea. We had been doing a bunch of at sea stuff and the guys who worked for me in #2 engine room were burnt out nearly so we finally got a week in Korea at the above mentioned port. My senior 1st class said to me......"hey chief, you know we have NEVER used our welfare and rec fund money in at least 6 or 8 years"! So I checked and it was enough to buy our own nuc cruiser, so on the first day at anchor I said see what sort of bar we can find and "rent" for the night, drinks included and maybe some girls too! He found one and the owner was very happy to rent to us, everything and even use his limo to pick us all up at the pier! So I put in the request, the division officer okayed it as did the chief engineer and away to the supply officer the request went! I got a huge check the next day and the following day the #1 plant chief covered for me as did his guys covered mine. We got there about 4PM or so as my memory is hazy any more. Gave him the check and he went to the bank so fast it was deposited in 15 minutes! One of my guys way late and I worried something had happened and in he walks with a huge couple trays of cold cuts, bread and salads and such? He said since it was a sanctioned division party we were allowed to have dinner!!!!

Well all went well as you can imagine and there were more bar girls than guys and lots of Korean beer and we had to hit the hotel (above the bat, free) before midnight as there was (might still be?) a midnight curfew and anyone on the street was considered a North Korean and shot on sight!!!! I managed to get back to the ship by noon the next day and I found out the engineer was so mad he tried to stop payment on the check.......but was tooooooo late. The morale in #2 hole went through the roof and the CO, T.A. thought it was pretty funny. If anyone has pulled a fast one feel free to add it here, make sure your better half knows about it though.
John