I was stationed at Mare Island for Nuclear Training starting in 1976. Every day off I was down in San Francisco and the surrounding area exploring. My roommate had worked at Lockheed Sunnyvale before going in the Navy. His girlfriend knew many people and I can remember going to China town and eating as guests of the restaurant owners Even decades later those times brings a smile to my face.
I visited SF a few times after those years on long weekends but it wasn't until an RV trip in 2016 to SF that I realized that SF truly sucked. I do not have any plans to ever return. Another somewhat related memory was my roommate dumped his girlfriend after we moved to Idaho Falls for nuclear prototype training. I thought at the time and have never forgotten I should have started a fling with her as she would probably have been very willing to be at the dock as the submarine pulled in after patrol! It would have made my navy time so much more exciting. Ditto Admiral Stansfield Turner's daughter who was also available during my SF time as her boyfriend flunked out of NPS and she would come by our apartment to chill after work. Just a few dates with her and meeting her father also could have changed EVERYTHING about my Navy career.
If only I knew then what I know now...
“If only I knew then what I know now”
I would undoubtedly have AT LEAST a million dollars in the bank.....at least.
You're right SF WAS great back then.
I did a couple of stints at Hunter's Point (Drydock) in the early Sixties and mid Seventies, between WestPacs.
Being a Fleet Boat Sailor, I was indistinguishable from the counterculture hippies and spent a lot of time Rock 'n Rollin' at the Fillmore.
Interesting times, especially for an anti-drug dude inside the scene.
SF was incredible until the mid Eighty's, however Liberals can destroy anything.
My dad trained on sonar in the Marine Corp on Treasure Island in WW II before shipping out. His favorite restaurant was the “Iron Pot” on Montgomery. When I moved to San Fran in summer ‘73, dad came out on a business trip and said “Son, let’s go out to dinner. I’ll take you to my favorite restaurant from when I was on Treasure Island.”
I said “Dad, come on, that was 30 years ago. The place must be gone by now.”
We drove down there and sure enough! It was still there and in business. It was a great Italian meal with Dad! Huge pots of delicious minestrone and hot sourdough bread. Yummy ravioli and a Baby Steak followed by Spamoni ice cream for dessert.
The Iron Pot had first opened in 1934, not long before dad was stationed on TI.
It moved to another location about 20 years ago, but I can’t find it any more. What a loss!