Long Beach was lot's of fun for me. My dad was a Television executive in New York and he would make frequent trips to Hollywood for business. Dad new L.A. really well and there was always something going on. The studio's used to shoot alot of TV shows and movies at Long Beach Naval ship yard and terminal island. They even did one about Vietnam just outside our barracks because one of the buildings on the base resembled the U.S. embassy in Saigon. The film crew let us watch the filming and gave us food and beer.I also remember the drag strip next to the northern side of the base. On Saturays we went to watch the cars race for free if we wore our uniforms. They even let us in to the Long Beach Grand Prix. That was lot's of fun but the guy who I was with, Mark Bruener, was drunk out of his mind and I remember leaving the race early because he couldn't even walk. The cops gave us a ride over the Terminal island bridge as long as I promised to escort Bruener back to the barracks. That guy was always in hot water with the command. There was this other red headed kid from B division who was always on restiction and lent me his AMC Gremlin when ever I needed it as long as I filled the gas tank(Rick something). The best beach was Huntington beach (beautiful California girls) and waves. Sometimes we went to cherry beach and shoreline(Old Pike) to hang out but the cops always came.Back in 1980 the drinking age was 18 in New York and the Bars closed at 4:00am, but in California the drinking age was 21 and the Bars closed at 2:00am. I was 19 and had to figure out a way to get good false ID. One day I lost my Navy ID and since the ship was going through this overhaul they sent me to a place on base to get another. Before I went I bribed one of the Yeoman with $50.00 to falsify my birthdate on my ID. He did and I was off to the races. The best Rock n Roll Bar/club in southern California was the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach on PCH. Driving around in that Gremlin and being able to see the greatest shows real cheap was the ultimate adventure for me. Long Beach was kid of gritty back then. I also remember being in Long beach for an entire month with no sunshine, just this marine layer that refused to burn off. One day I had duty abord the ship while in the yards and the next morning I came out onto the fantail and the sun was shining and I could see San Pedro. I did'nt even know it existed . I thought they moved the ship in the middle of the night and nobody told me! I was also very lucky on the 4th of July to get to see the Beach Boy's,Three Dog Night,Wulfman Jack, and a few other Bands at the Queen Mary for a free concert. The next day I conned my way onto the Queen Mary for an air show and fireworks with my girlfriends from Irvine. I even ran into a few ships officers from the Jouett on board the Queen Mary and they couldn't understand how I had better seats then them. My girlfriends mother was best friends with Admiral Stembel. I even attended a ships christening(front row!) with all the Navy Brass and the Sec. of Defense Casper Wienberger at Ingalls Ship yard and met them all at the galla ball after the ship was launched.(some DDG, can't remember the name.)Some how word got back to the MPA Ltjg Todd. I remember he was so pissed off at me for not telling him that I was connected. After that, life was a little easier for me. I havn't been back to Long Beach since the ship finished its overhaul and returned back to San Diego.... where the real fun got started!
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