Frankly Speaking-Bucky Diltz
It was the late summer or early fall of 1972. The USS Saratoga was making regular visits to the Subic Bay Naval Station for rest, relaxation and much needed repairs. These visits were the highlight of our activities. Maybe highlight isn’t the correct term. See, it was either Subic or we were involved in flight operations on Yankee Station, some choice!
Yankee Station was simply the area of the Tonkin Gulf north of the DMZ (demilitarized zone for younger readers). Viewed another way, it was off the coast of North Vietnam and Yankees were from the north so ……. Yes, there was a Dixie station off the South Vietnam coast but aircraft carriers didn’t spend a great deal of time there. There is some twisted logic that one could make about those locales and their relationship to the United States’ own civil war. Oh, if you are less than 30 years old you may not know that a long time ago in a place far away there was both a North and a South Vietnam and we managed to involve ourselves in their civil war. Anyway….
As I said we were at Subic Bay Naval Station. The use of drugs had become an issue on the ship and for that matter throughout the armed forces. Cigarettes were laced with pure uncut heroin and being smoked by addicted sailors and marines. Therefore Captain J R Sanderson made a command decision. Anyone boarding his ship would be frisked prior to walking up the gangplank. Sounds simple right? Put another way, 5000 drunken sailors would congregate at the bottom of the gangplank every night at 12:30am when Marshall Law mandated that everyone be off the streets of Olongapo City, Philippines. Those failing to heed that edict faced imprisonment.
At the appointed time Bucky Diltz, Bill Seehorn and I congregated in the mass of humanity to return to our bunks for the night. After about an hour we reached the front of the line. Diltz went first. He stepped in front of a folding table with a Marine noncom standing behind it and another Marine positioned behind Diltz. The Marine Noncom then said, “Empte ur pokits.” In a slightly inebriated state Diltz just stood there baffled. Again the Marine across from Diltz said, “Empte ur pokits.” Again Diltz stood there motionless and totally unaware of the instruction. The Marine behind Diltz slapped the back of his head and said rather emphatically, “Empty your pockets!” That Diltz understood and he promptly complied. Wallet, keys and miscellaneous change were placed on the table.
The Marine at the table then said, “Takurmoneyoutaurwallet.” Once again Diltz had no idea what was said. “Takurmoneyoutaurwallet”, was repeated. After Diltz failed to respond the second Marine once again slapped the back of Diltz’s head saying, “Take your money out of your wallet.” Once again Diltz got it. He picked up his wallet and emptied its contents onto the table.
The Marine at the table said “Piupurpaprmoney.” Again Diltz was clueless.
“Piupurpaprmoney!” Once again Diltz mimics a deer in a car’s headlights.
“Pick up your paper money”, announces the second marine! Diltz immediately complies.
The Marine at the table says, “Puurandsontopourhed.” Diltz just stands there.
“Puurandsontopourhed.” No response.
“Put your hands on top of your head!”
Being the astute follower that Diltz was he immediately put down the paper money and placed his hands on top of his head.
Both Marines lost it at that point. The Marine behind Diltz picked up the paper money, placed it in Diltz’s hand and held both hands on top of Diltz’s head with one hand while unceremoniously frisking Bucky with his other hand. The shakedown found squat, zero, zilch nothing. For that Diltze should probably be grateful.
Diltz was finished with the evening and waited patiently while Bill and I endured the same shakedown. Watching Bucky had given us some fantastic on-the-job training. We breezed through the process.
Together the three of us headed up the Saratoga’s gangplank. Diltz led the pack followed by Seehorn and I. But wait; there were actually two gangplanks between the ship and the pier. One was for people leaving while the other was for those arriving. As we were going up the arrival gangplank the Shore Patrol was escorting a very drunk Hispanic sailor up the down gangplank.
Bucky made a rather negative comment about the Marines who had shaken him down at the bottom of the gangplank. Hearing that, the Shore Patrol’s captive leaned over the rail separating the gangplanks and struck Bucky with his fist. The Shore Patrol grabbed their customer and continued up the gangplank. Bucky found it advisable to remain behind them, well behind them.
When the drunk reached the top of the gangplank he simply passed out and fell face first onto the ship. Diltz stopped dead in his tracks! The gangplank was beginning to backup with guys going aboard, but Diltz was not going to pass that guy again. Bill and I had to physically force Bucky to pass that guy.
The following evening Rick Ivy thought that a film canister filled with sugar would be an interesting diversion for the Marines. Believe it or not those Marines didn’t inspect that film canister. Rick was upset that we had to endure that wait and they did not find evidence that would evoke some sort of response. We did finally convince him that provoking them was not wise. Those nights were the only times we had to endure that process. I wonder why?
Yankee Station was simply the area of the Tonkin Gulf north of the DMZ (demilitarized zone for younger readers). Viewed another way, it was off the coast of North Vietnam and Yankees were from the north so ……. Yes, there was a Dixie station off the South Vietnam coast but aircraft carriers didn’t spend a great deal of time there. There is some twisted logic that one could make about those locales and their relationship to the United States’ own civil war. Oh, if you are less than 30 years old you may not know that a long time ago in a place far away there was both a North and a South Vietnam and we managed to involve ourselves in their civil war. Anyway….
As I said we were at Subic Bay Naval Station. The use of drugs had become an issue on the ship and for that matter throughout the armed forces. Cigarettes were laced with pure uncut heroin and being smoked by addicted sailors and marines. Therefore Captain J R Sanderson made a command decision. Anyone boarding his ship would be frisked prior to walking up the gangplank. Sounds simple right? Put another way, 5000 drunken sailors would congregate at the bottom of the gangplank every night at 12:30am when Marshall Law mandated that everyone be off the streets of Olongapo City, Philippines. Those failing to heed that edict faced imprisonment.
At the appointed time Bucky Diltz, Bill Seehorn and I congregated in the mass of humanity to return to our bunks for the night. After about an hour we reached the front of the line. Diltz went first. He stepped in front of a folding table with a Marine noncom standing behind it and another Marine positioned behind Diltz. The Marine Noncom then said, “Empte ur pokits.” In a slightly inebriated state Diltz just stood there baffled. Again the Marine across from Diltz said, “Empte ur pokits.” Again Diltz stood there motionless and totally unaware of the instruction. The Marine behind Diltz slapped the back of his head and said rather emphatically, “Empty your pockets!” That Diltz understood and he promptly complied. Wallet, keys and miscellaneous change were placed on the table.
The Marine at the table then said, “Takurmoneyoutaurwallet.” Once again Diltz had no idea what was said. “Takurmoneyoutaurwallet”, was repeated. After Diltz failed to respond the second Marine once again slapped the back of Diltz’s head saying, “Take your money out of your wallet.” Once again Diltz got it. He picked up his wallet and emptied its contents onto the table.
The Marine at the table said “Piupurpaprmoney.” Again Diltz was clueless.
“Piupurpaprmoney!” Once again Diltz mimics a deer in a car’s headlights.
“Pick up your paper money”, announces the second marine! Diltz immediately complies.
The Marine at the table says, “Puurandsontopourhed.” Diltz just stands there.
“Puurandsontopourhed.” No response.
“Put your hands on top of your head!”
Being the astute follower that Diltz was he immediately put down the paper money and placed his hands on top of his head.
Both Marines lost it at that point. The Marine behind Diltz picked up the paper money, placed it in Diltz’s hand and held both hands on top of Diltz’s head with one hand while unceremoniously frisking Bucky with his other hand. The shakedown found squat, zero, zilch nothing. For that Diltze should probably be grateful.
Diltz was finished with the evening and waited patiently while Bill and I endured the same shakedown. Watching Bucky had given us some fantastic on-the-job training. We breezed through the process.
Together the three of us headed up the Saratoga’s gangplank. Diltz led the pack followed by Seehorn and I. But wait; there were actually two gangplanks between the ship and the pier. One was for people leaving while the other was for those arriving. As we were going up the arrival gangplank the Shore Patrol was escorting a very drunk Hispanic sailor up the down gangplank.
Bucky made a rather negative comment about the Marines who had shaken him down at the bottom of the gangplank. Hearing that, the Shore Patrol’s captive leaned over the rail separating the gangplanks and struck Bucky with his fist. The Shore Patrol grabbed their customer and continued up the gangplank. Bucky found it advisable to remain behind them, well behind them.
When the drunk reached the top of the gangplank he simply passed out and fell face first onto the ship. Diltz stopped dead in his tracks! The gangplank was beginning to backup with guys going aboard, but Diltz was not going to pass that guy again. Bill and I had to physically force Bucky to pass that guy.
The following evening Rick Ivy thought that a film canister filled with sugar would be an interesting diversion for the Marines. Believe it or not those Marines didn’t inspect that film canister. Rick was upset that we had to endure that wait and they did not find evidence that would evoke some sort of response. We did finally convince him that provoking them was not wise. Those nights were the only times we had to endure that process. I wonder why?
posted by Frank at 3:23 PM
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