Recife
In January of 1961, while the USS Robert L. Wilson was in Guantanamo Bay for underway training, a group of Portuguese/Basque Separatists seized a Portuguese-flagged ocean liner named the SS Santa Maria. [1]
The Task Force to overtake the Santa Maria included the destroyers Vogelsang ((DD-862), USS Robert L. Wilson (DD-847), Damato (DD-871) and Gearing (DD-710). We were supported by the oilers Nesplin (AOG-55) and Canistro (AO-99), and the nuclear submarine Seawolf (SSN-575). The USS Hermitage {LSD-34) and USS Graham County (LST-1176) were to provide a US Marine Landing force if required. A squadron of "Hurricane Hunter" P2-V Orions (VW-4) was assigned to provide airborne reconnaissance and keep up-to-date location of the Santa Maria.https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki
During an 8-day chase, the Wilson crossed the Equator. There is an "ancient Navy ritual" that is held whenever a ship crosses the Equator. "Pollywogs" (those who have not crossed the Equator) are initiated into the "Realm of Neptune" and become "shell backs" (a form of turtle). I was fortunate in that less than ten percent of the crew were Shell Backs to initiate the 300 man crew, so the first people to complete the initiation were allowed to go below, shower, change clothes and return to the after deck. Since we were now Shell Backs, we were to assist in the completion of the initiations.
See also Crossing the Equator
Recife, Brazil
Recife. Brazil (map) was an absolutely wonderful liberty port for me. The ships of Operation Dulcinea Task Force were the first to enter Recife since WWII, and the city welcomed us with open arms. The people of Brazil speak Portuguese, which is close enough to Spanish to allow me to make myself pretty well understood. The city is on a series of islands, all connected by bridges, causing the city to be known as "The Venice of Brazil". You also need to remember that Brazil was ruled by a military junta, trying to figure out how to avoid a "Juan and Evita Peron"-style government that Argentina (Brazil's neighbor to the north) had just overthrown.
The unit of currency at the time was the Cruzeiro, and it had no fixed exchange rate. I found that the civilians wanted US Dollars, and were willing to pay two to five times the rate that banks used for exchange. A few exchanges of dollars (to civilians) for Cruzeiro, and then from Cruzeiro (to banks) for dollars quickly allowed me to increase my bankroll.
Many of the crew from the Robert L. Wilson traveled to "Isla de' Pinos" (Isle of Pines), a cross between a seaside resort and Coney Island Amusement Park. Most of the college kids wanted to practice their English and were willing to pay for drinks or meals just to have access to an English-speaking American. If you spoke Spanish or Portuguese, you were doubly pursued.
I had been doing bondage photography for Irving Klaw before going aboard the Wilson, so I dug out my camera and went looking for photo modeling studios. I had wonderful luck that weekend, and spent many, many hours teaching the "models the ropes".
One of the models said she wanted to go out for the evening, but only if I could find a date for her girlfriend. I asked one of my shipmates if he would like to "double" with us and he was quite agreeable. His date spoke no English. She was sitting in his lap (and kissing him) and asking questions in Portuguese. He kept asking me to translate, which I was a little too busy to do. The two of them disappeared together about ten pm and I didn't see him until the following morning at quarters. He said they spent the evening talking. (Right?) But he did have a smile for a week.
I was able to keep in touch with a few of the girls for many months after our ship left Brazil, and a few kept sending me pictures of "their progress". I lost touch with them when they moved to another city in Brazil and the Wilson sailed to the Mediterranean.
| Nexus: Recife, Brazil |
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The following articles are related to "Recife, Brazil" as their nexus
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Main article: Navy Days
"Sea Stories" (NOT!) |
Wikipedia links to various duty stations: |
References
- ↑ "The Seizing of the Santa Maria" by Henry A Zeiger, Popular Library, PC1004 @1961
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