Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

During my early years with the pharmaceutical company, we would have sales meetings every two months in San Antonio, Texas.
One of the salesmen was Doc Armstrong. Not only was Doc an amusing storyteller, he was loaded with stories of his experiences aboard the USS Texas, a battleship.
During World War II, Doc enlisted in the Navy. He had gone through his basic training as a medic sometime around the middle of the war when the USS Texas was not longer needed in the Atlantic it was then sent to the war in the Pacific.
Doc was waiting for the USS Texas come back from duty in Europe.
He went aboard when the Texas came back to the states and he sailed with her to the Panama Canal. Now USS Texas had been outfitted with gun tubs on either side to accommodate machine guns. This was thought necessary for the air defense of the ship. When it arrived in Panama in preparation to go through the Canal, these tubs made this ship too wide to enter the locks. All of these tubs had to be removed which took several days.

When USS Texas anchored in Panama the captain declared liberty for half the crew on the starboard side, with the port side having liberty the next day.
This was the first time they had liberty in a long time. Doc said he went top side and looked out and was amazed to see along quayside a line of taxis bumper to bumper as far as he could see. These were waiting for the sailors who had the liberty to have a ride to bars and bordellos in town. Some of the other more experienced men who were also medics, said, “Doc, we will take liberty today, and then allow you to have liberty tomorrow."
Doc said he didn’t suspect anything, but within an hour or so, the shore patrol began bringing drunk sailors back. Now most were so inebriated they were being help up by the shore patrol. One of the mandatory requirements was anyone who had gone ashore had to administer a pro-kit to prevent any sexually transmitted disease. Many of these sailors weren’t able to perform this since they were unable to stand without help by being held up by the shore patrol.

Doc had to do this for virtually every sailor who had gone ashore only a few hours ago.
He said before the evening was over the nearest head was ankle-deep in vomit and was his first medical experience.

Later, the USS Texas participated in several landings of the Marines, shelling the enemy on Guadalcanal and other islands. It would lob shells at the Japanese positions until the Marines were close.
Then it would move back further offshore and become a stable surgery center for the more seriously wounded Marines. A battleship does not bounce around due to the Pacific Ocean waves, so it was more suitable for the most seriously wounded.
USS Texas was part of the armada that anchored in Tokyo Bay and witnessed the signing of the surrender which took place on the Battleship Missouri. Just Sayin…RJS

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Thanks for the story Bob, I remember well the VD movies we all had to watch before going on Liberty as well as Short Arm inspections we had to undergo before receiving our pay Check.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Thanks for the story RJ!
Reminds me of "Fleet Week" every year when I live in NYC and played Broadway Shows. After the show a couple of us would stop off for a "nightcap" and hang out with the sailors, tell jokes. They were always polite and usually it was the officers buying me drinks. There would be some fights out on the street, it IS Times Square after all, but nothing bad.
Two beers and home for me!! It was fun!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Kandydisbar: I don't know why but after a few drinks so many young men have to try to knock each other's block off.

I was out in western Oklahoma visiting our office there and staying in a local motel. About every half hour, the bar would clear to go outside for another fistfight! Seems that testosterone was just too strong to not try to prove something. Just Sayin...RJS

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

Thank RJS nice story 👍🏽👍🏽