Posted on 10/08/2015 11:22:29 AM PDT by NRx
I was there.
I was 9 years old and we sailed in ‘57 or ‘58 out of Yokohama to Seattle, one of six trips back and forth, 1951-1961.
We sailed on the Edwin D. Patrick, George M Randall, Mason M. Patrick, W. O. Darby and finally, the W. A. Mann. Each way was 2 weeks at sea.
The last trip included a one day stop in Honolulu. The Arizona Memorial hadn’t been built yet. We toured the royal palace, took a cab over to Waikiki and walked the beach for 15 minutes, then got back aboard.
The last trip arrived in Oakland. We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and after 10 years in Japan, California looked damned good to me.
My dad cabbed over to Lane Buick in Oakland and returned with a new ‘61 station wagon. Dad had taken early retirement as a GS-13 Army DAC. We drove home to Iowa, finally and I became an American again.
I think that some billionaire (Trump) should buy it, refurbish it, and either make is a luxury short haul cruise ship, or just a museum of what once was.
‘twould be better to start over.
1954 my dad, a career Army officer, was transferred to Fort Richardson, AK. I was only two years old but my family sailed on just such a ship from Seattle to Alaska. In 1958 my father was transferred to France. On that trip we flew from Idlewild to Orly in a TWA Constellation.
Why do we need a Presidential yacht?
Beats spending it on millions of EBT cards that people can exchange for drugs and cigarettes.
Or on millions of illegals, their families, their anchor babies, from birth to retirement at age 65 then old age until 95.
Or on idiotic wars in Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq that we lose after fighting them over 20-30 years. And then their people immigrate to the US and go on the dole.
You really think the President would take the yacht on overseas trips?
Beats spending it on millions of EBT cards that people can exchange for drugs and cigarettes.
Of course a Presidential yacht is a much better use of taxpayer money. </sarcasm>
You didn't really mean the sarc tag, did you?
I mean, having something majestic like the United States, like the former Royal Yacht HMS Brittania, would be just the thing for the President and entourage to take on a state visit.
Probably cheaper and more fun than the Air Force One method.
Maybe do some target practice on pirates while underway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.