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Useless Trivia The world's first passenger train made its debut in England in 1825.
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Member Biographies :
Member Biography
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| Title: |
NAVY DAYS - CHAPTER 4 |
| By: |
John Prichard
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| Bio: |
We tied up or anchored at "Gib" (Gibraltar). I can't remember which. Anchored, would require us to take the "Officers' Gig". "Tied Up", we could walk down the gangplank to the dock. In any event, Dr Pittard, (TAD) with me on board, as well as the regular Navy Doctor on board took Liberty, Shore Leave for an excursion into Southern Spain, as well as a tour of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is one of the two Pillars of Hercules, the northern pillar, a steep sloped rock thrust up out of the sea at the juncture of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The Southwest corner of the European Continent. We had our choice. Madrid, Barcelona, or Malaga. Like buzzing bees, we doctors sorted it out. Some (*) went to each. We three, went to Malaga. It was the closest, about one hundred miles from "Gib". We arranged the fare and took a cab for the day. (*) Some, here refers to most of us twenty two Doctors in our School. Those who had been on the Destroyers and Perhaps one of the Carriers debarked at "Gib". One Carrier, The Lake Champlain, had gone on to Cagliari, the first Island on entering the Mediterranean. (A note for those Doctors reading this page: Cephalosporin, an ever effective and enriching antibiotic, was discovered in the "Sewers of Cagliari. So, from the Rain Forest of the Amazon to the Sewers of Cagliari, one finds drug companies, (Pfizer, etc.) looking for cures. Always reminded me of the witch doctors in Africa, or the Curandaro in Mexico.)
Gibraltar is British, but small area, British. After a short cab drive through urban "Gib", we came to La Linea, the border or "Line" between Spain and Gibraltar. The border guard stepped from a little hut, wearing what I considered to be a hat of ancient times. Quickly, our narrow two lane Macadam road reached the Mediterranean view position which it followed all the way to Malaga. Beautiful views, Africa, on the distant shore. At about each twenty mile mark was a crumbling moorish Castle, a stark reminder that Spain was Moorish for centuries. The Moorish or Arabic culture in Spain is everywhere. I have my picture by one of these disintegrating Moorish Castles. An observation: The overall scenery, the view of the land on this tour of Southern Spain reminded me exactly of the topography of Southern California. I can see why the Spanish, the Conquistadors of early day America found California and Arizona to their liking. Here, they were home. As I recall, even Cactus was growing on those Spanish hills.
Malaga is situated on the side of a high costal hill overlooking the beautiful blue Mediterranean. - Our Cab Driver was a good tour guide. He knew Malaga. We parked, sat on a bench in the central park of Malaga, by a pool. People watching; Then curiously, a group of priests walked by. I may have a picture of these priests garbed with a colorful red sachet, reflected in the pool. I'll look it up. The cabbie took us to a restaurant at the top of the "Malaga Hill" where the overlook was 360 degrees. An ophthalmic delight. And the food was good. My overall lasting impression was the scenery, its correspondence with Southern California. On the way home we stopped at a small village restaurant for dinner. The steak we ordered after linguistic triangulation was a thin piece of sirloin, cooked in olive oil, not like "Amurican" steaks, at all. Back at "Gib"; Piped aboard the Baltimore and sleep. My one day and only tour of Europe until later in life. (1967 -Fourteen years later).
On our final day of shore leave, we toured, (Walked around) "Gib". It was a bright sunny day. We walked uphill to the "Monkey Redoubt", and we saw a monkey. The superstition goes: Britain will remain a power as long as monkeys are on Gibraltar. The superstition goes further: Winston Churchill imported monkeys to Gibraltar during WW2 to insure this prophesy. The glint and sparkle of little waves in the harbor; The vague deep pooled silhouettes of two docked submarines, British "Man of Wars" and our own Capital ships, all from this hillside perch in "Gib". A discussion with a lady British subject, living there and loving it, in spite of Gibraltar's total military immersion, images all tumble through my mind at this antiquarian age of mine. Shore leave was over; I was to return to Norfolk on the Cruiser Pittsburgh. I was "Piped Aboard". for the trip back. The Baltimore had replaced the Pittsburgh in the 6th Fleet. The baton exchange was quick. We started home.
Two memorable items of note: 1. During a Pacific Cyclone in WW2 The Pittsburgh lost it bow, the whole front part of the ship. Miraculously, she limped safely into port. I had great faith; I knew it wouldn't happen again. 2. The Admiral's quarters were sumptuous and commodious. They were situated above deck on the bow of the ship. For the return trip home on the Pittsburgh these quarters were assigned to me. There was no admiral on board. I was TAD (extra baggage) or so I believe. In any event, I had these quarters for the trip home. Smooth sail, took about a week, nothing much happened. I did visit the ship's store for a few trinket purchases. Sounded the Colors or whatever they call it as we passed the Iowa in Norfolk Harbor. Down the gangplank at pier 7; gray Navy bus to Navy Airport and Home to Anacostia Naval Air Station. Esther advised me of Little John's Chicken Pox.
At a formal ceremony in the auditorium of Bethesda Naval Hospital we graduated. (June 1953) Dr. Siliphant, Chief of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology was the principle speaker. We got diplomas; our picture was taken. This picture, incidentally hangs or did hang, maybe still hangs in the Library of The Bethesda Naval Hospital. I'm the tall guy in the back row. We were a privileged class, We twenty two, in the Naval Medical Corps. We were extended the largess of picking our next duty station. We consulted with the assignment officer; (I can't think of the Navy Name for the assignment officer. (The guy who draws up your next orders) In addition, I knew the mid level assignment officer. Dr. Steve Mills, a fellow graduate of George Washington University Medical School. He had married a fellow classmate Marian Choisser, the daughter of our Pathology Professor. I told Steve that I would prefer going to the west coast. He said I can send you to Camp Pendelton with the Marines or the Naval Gun Factory here in Washington, D.C. I chose Washington, D.C., where I spent the next eleven Months of my Navy time as a Lieutenant, senior grade, (Two Silver Bars) at the Navy Gun Factory Dispensary. Yes, I had been promoted from Lieutenant Junior Grade to Full Lieutenant. After some introspective comments I may tell you some vignettes of my Gun Factory experience.
Fifty four years removed from these events entitles me to reflect and comment. I've decided to withhold these comments till the end. Now on to the Naval Gun Factory, and a new chapter, Chapter 5.
John Prichard, M.D.
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