My father was in the Coast Guard during World War II.
He and his ship mates were on liberty in Boston one time, and they asked the locals where to go. They were told, “Whatever you do, DON’T go to the combat zone!”
So what DID they do? They went to the combat zone! I don’t think much happened....they just had a few beers in a bar.
On the other hand, when my family lived in Framingham, Mass. for a few years during the 1970’s, there was this guy in my gym class.
A few other guys took me aside and motioned toward this particular guy. They said, “See that guy over there? He goes to the combat zone and when he’s there he goes to whore houses!”
To myself I thought, “Holy crap!”
Uh,uh….no area called combat zone during WWII…..it was Scollay Square that was iffy.
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I was “fortunate” enough to experience the combat zone back in the 80s and at that point I was told it had settled down a bit. Was total anarchy, no laws no police after dark.
I actually worked there for Bekins when it was all being bulldozed over, we weren’t allowed to get out of the truck.
For a kid from NH in the 70s and 80s when somebody said they had been to the combat zone on a Friday or Saturday night...it was like a badge of honor.