Gitmo, 1968-1969
I arrived here from Norfolk in January of 1968 and departed in August of 1969. I was a commissaryman 3rd class petty officer (cook) at Bay Hill Galley. When working the steam kettles I often had a wet towel around my neck to help stay cool. I lived in a separate barracks across from the galley for all the cooks called the “cook shack.” We had a small patio behind the barracks where we sat in the evenings and told stories and sang country music. Being a cook had some advantages as we could go…
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I also lived in the barracks on Bay Hill from August 1960 until March 1962. Yes, We had the greatest mess hall that you ever saw. I respect all of the guys who were there with me, but all of us single sailors were anxious to get off of THE ROCK. When you are 19 years old and are deprived of female companionship, things are tough. We were allowed weekend trips to Jamaica when space was available on ships that were in GTMO for FTG, but when we earned $120-150 bucks per month, we didn't have a lot of money to afford hotels in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. It has been 51 years since I left GTMO, but I am heavily involved in the GUANTANAMO BAY ASSOCIATION. I hope that some of you folks decide to join the association. Go to www.gitmobay.org for details.
I was at GTMO from Feb'64 to Feb '65, NSD, started with the cargo handling group, and after unloading, and loading everything imaginable, completed practical factors for SK, took the exam and made SK3. Transferred to topside at NSD, until my time was up, and transferred to Atlantic Fleet, Destroyers, Ellison DD864, then Conway, DD 507. While at GTMO made many friends, some on the tugs, ship repair department, PWC, and Marine site. I remember Bay Hill Barracks, and Barral Club, where the night before pay day, beer and booze was half price. You could get more than you really needed for pocket change. I did get a part time job with Burns and Roe, building the desalination plant in my off hours and weekends. That was great experience, and whetted my appetite for the profession that I followed for close to 50 years.
Later on as Bay Hill filled up with sailors, NSD guys were transferred to Admin Hill, and assigned quarters with mostly screened wall rooms with pull down blinds to keep the rain storms out. Each building had 2 or 3 petty officers living there and they kept the non rated men in line. My building had BM2 Leo Tillett, who eventually retired and joined the merchant marine. He was lost off of a tanker ( I believe ) close to Somalia on the horn of Africa. The group in my building, as I recall, George Cerretta, Gary Lennert, Donald Blount, Kosiba, Preush, Thompson, and more, but old age and the years have taken their toll. I was 18 years old when assigned to GTMO, and learned a lot, grew, and served in the best Navy in the world. It truly was an honor and a priviledge, and I would never take anything for my time in the Navy.
I am looking for a picture of the "FTG" patch,I was stationed there for a year as FTG back in '83,THANKS
Hey Ed, you should consider getting involved with our Association. You were at GITMO in the 80s, the same time as may of our membrs.
I was stationed at the GTMO Post Office from 86 to 88, I spent the last 9 months at the air station Post Office.
Hi folks,
I was on Gitmo from July 1967 until Jan 1969. Worked at the Leeward Point Base Clinic as an HM2 (8452). My wife, 3 children and I lived across the street from the clinic, which was much too close to work at times. Spent most of my off duty time fishing and snorkeling. I was on the Gitmo Rifle and Pistol team and was fortunate enough to compete in the Navy matches in Annapolis, MD. The Leeward Point wives contacted me to form a group and instruct them in rifle and pistol shooting. The armory checked out the weapons to us and I scrounged the ammo from everywhere possible. Some of those gal's turned out to be damn good! Would be fun to hear from anyone stationed on Leeward Pt.
I served in Gitmo from Dec 64-Dec65, I was the person who gave the Bananna rat its name. My best friend Tom Siegfried and I used to bow hunt them and the natives working on base ate them. We also fished, spear fished, snorkled, and scuba dived almost every day. I worked in the post office & Tom published the gitmo gazette. Best duty we ever had, we talk about it often and have many pictures of our adventures. I am trying to find Kevin Bennett and Morton who also served with us. Kevin was from Buffalo N.Y. and Morton was from St. louis.
don"t have much more info, heck, it was a lifetime ago. any info or to chat my email is ernie_rossi45@yahoo.com
John, I am certainly pleased to find find this GITMO site. I was there July 62 to Dec 63 at McCalla Field. Worked in the training office and the chaplains office as a personnelman. Missile crisis in the fall of 62 had me unloading ammunition and bombs from landing craft at the seaplane ramp. It was being ferried it over from Leeward Point where it came in on aircraft. That seaplane ramp, 1/4 mile long, was six feet deep in ammo and bombs. Most every sailor carried a personal side arm (I bought a .38 revolver at the exchange). Marines were being flown in and those on the air station were sharing our barrel club. I remember one tense moment between a sailor buddy of mine and a marine, both armed. Shortly thereafter, no weapons allowed in the barrel club.
The barrel club was conveiniently located between the barracks and the mess hall - 10 cent beers - quite a number of times I didn't make it to dinner. Nice way to unwind at the end of the day drinking beer and watching A-4s practice dive bomb runs on the far side of the bay.
My division officer taught me how to sail. Taking the sunfish our on the bay when the white caps were up was a blast.
Many hops on the station aircraft to Kingston Jamaica to stay at the Myrtle Bank Hotel and drink Singapore Slings by the pool.
Do you know of any sites that share pictures of GITMO?
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