Democracy Land of the Free

[Colin Pook]

Immigration Officers,---now there's a grand title, we used to call them RUMMAGERS!!! Came back from Ireland one time and in the arrival hall was a notice stating-- IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DECLARE< PICK UP THE PHONE AND WAIT FOR A REPLY. Where were they, having a smoko?
Colin.

[Captain Kong]

In 1956 I was in New York on the old Franconia, Pier 90 opposite the Diner, after a few 10c beers I staggered back and the Policeman told me he wanted tio see my ID I must have made some stupid comment I got a hell of a slap in the face, "Ya trying to be funny Wise Guy?". It hurt , He had a gun so I didnt argue. I said `Sorry it was the Budweiser speaking not me`.
..
.
My son was a Consultant Hepitologist at the Scripps Intitute in San Diego, for four years, but travelled back to UK several times a year to give lectures at Medical Schools in UNIS. He was locked up in LA airport for three hours, in an empty room. Then They came in and questioned him repeatedly as Why do you travel here so regularly, you make a lot of trips here Why. ?
He found it very difficult to get them to understand that it was part of his job and he worked for an American Company, Scripps. Which is a very famous Institution in the States an a par with the Mayo Clinics.
After three and a half hours he was eventually released.
He still flies over there twice a year to give lectures in Boston and San Francisco medical schools. Still gets a lot of Hassle.
.
I was in Jacksonville FLA, one Saturday afternoon, I was schooner rigged and went ashore to JC PENNYS store, they had a lot of US Army gear going cheap. I bought a a set of Kharky shirt , trousers and shoes, binned my tatty dungarees and shirt and shoes. felt good for a change.
I went into the Flamingo Bar, a beautiful Puerto Rican barmaid named Maria, was pouring me continuously with Rum and cokes, the Rums getting bigger and the cokes getting smaller, I was as Nissed as a pewt.
I staggered outside and bumped into two Shore Patrol MPs, with big night sticks. I legged it with these two chasing me I ran across an intersection jumped over a car hood and fell over, These two gorrilas jumped on me beating me over the head with their clubs, I was shouting . "I`m a Lymey, I`m a Lymey, "Yeah heard that before Mac`, thumping me again. I was covered in blood, a wagon came and I was thrown in and taken semi concious into a cage with a few other Yanks. I was hurting and in a mess with blood from my head. an hour later they pulled me out and went through my pockets and found my pass from the Manchester Merchant, "Oh Jeez" the big fella said, " He realy is a Lymey."
They cleaned me up and took me to the sick bay and had a few stitches in my head. Then with my head covered like a turban with bandages, put me back in the wagon, `take me back to the ship` I said, `No we are giving you a treat we are so sorry`. They took me back to the Flamingo Bar sat me on a stool and told Maria to give me anything I wanted.
I wanted to go back to my ship I was hurting and knackered. "Stay there, we will be back," me "Why are you going to beat me up again?" "We are off duty in half an hour, just stay there. " so they came back later in civvies and took me to a restaurant for a big steak dinner, I didnt want it but had to force it down in case they battered me again.
Then they ran me back to the ship where I crashed into my bunk. My head was hurting real bad. I never went back there again or bought Army surplus clothing again.
Cheers
Brian.

[Ron Kendall]

In January 1957, on the Table Bay in drydock at Bethlehem steel, Baltimore, I got permission to go and visit relatives near Pittsburg. So went to the Trailwauys bus station to enquire about a return ticket price. the clerk said just a minute, and the next thing I knew 2 police cars came roaring into the station, and I was subjected to a third degree. It seems the week before, some Greeks had jumped ship and they thought I might do the same. They told me my paper pass was for shore leave only, and I responded by saying that was what I wanted to do, when I said it was worse here than Russia, I was put in a car and whisked off to the police station, after a lot of argy bargy, I was taken back to the ship, and advised to keep out of the US as they did not like Commies!

[John Pruden]

its a pity we don't have the same here waiting this side of the channel tunnel immigration here is a joke?jp

[Jim Brady]

Captain Kong getting chased by the MP's reminds me of the G.I.who got his draught through for Vietnam.He decided to go awol.He was walking through town when he was spotted by a couple of MP's who gave chase.He ran around this corner and bumped into a nun,sister.sister please help me I'm being chased.Hide under my habit said the nun.The MP's came around the corner.did you see a guy run passed here sister they asked,the nun pointed right ahead.Whilst all this is going on the guy under the habit is having a look around and he notice's that the nun has orchestra stalls.You can come out now my son the coast is clear.The guy comes out and says thanks sister,but what I did notice when I was under your habit was,the nun interupted and tapped him on the head saying "I dont want to go to Vietnam neither my son."
Regards.
Jim.B.

[alf corbyn]

J.P. referring to your first post. yes it was paul robeson. couldn't remember his name.

i also went to the bethlehem steel works in new jersey.had to goashore in a limo with blacked out windows at 80 MPH.
you would think they invented the bessemer process instead of us.

[Neville Roberts]

The first time I visted the US was in 56 in lake charles louisiana,on the Tacoma Star, during segregation .I wnted a pair of wranglers so four of us took the bus into town sitting on the large back seat , when we were getting off the driver told us we cant sit on the back sea as that was for the nigras , said to him why do they get get thier own seat ,he looked at me with a puzzled look . also remember the short arm inspection at that time . but only ran into that in the southern States.

[Captain Kong]

I remember having to do the Short Arm Inspection in 1954 and 55 in Fremantle Australia,
All hands lined up on the boat deck drop the keks for the Port Health Man, he would lift it up with a pencil and srcutinise it, no doubt licking his lips, then we would have to show our hands to him, front and back to see if we had scabies. then in 55 I went back a second time on the Georgic and it never happened again.
Now I never saw any Officers, Captain or Engineers lined up on the boat deck with us. it was just Firemen, Sailors and Catering members who had to show their members.
Cheers
Brian.

[Tony Morcom]

Maybe he'd been sacked for being a perv by then Brian

[Jim Brady]

I remember the short arm inspection in B.A. this was carried out on the wing of the bridge.What was that pass that we got in Lisbon which restricted us to a certain area.Mind you where the bars were in that one spot with the orchestra in the half a lifeboat was it the Texas Bar I dont think that we were interested in going anywhere else.
Regards.
Jim.B.