'Mimi and Yokosuka 1969' Monday, March 1, 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010

Mimi and Yokosuka 1969

My second medivac from Vietnam (yes, I was stupid and
volunteered twice:-) I ended up in the naval hospital in
Yokosuka, Japan. Was wonderful...almost heaven.

You make friends 'fast and loose' because you're not there
long. A friend John Boyd from Omaha, or Larry Childs from 
Indiana(Larry, when we die our mothers are going to kill us
for all the nasty slagging of them that we did, and trying to
outdo each other...'mattress strapped to her back...giving curb
service'), or someone else told me how it works in the red light district.

First, he had to explain what a 'red light district' is to me ;-))

Being that prostitution was strictly illegal...they didn't have

 'windows' as they do here in Amsterdam. He said that the bar girls

(called 'hostesses'), get a commission on the drinks that you buy them,

and if they see men 'on the side' (sex4$), and if they think you're okay

for that...they'll sit on your lap and bounce, or grind(perhaps, 'bounce'

sounds a bit nicer:-) their ass into your crotch to get you horny (Hell,

my brain alone or eyes could do that!).

As soon as he explained how it works I, (me, being me) knew what

I'd do.

For instance, one night three of us were at the Club Texan, which
was next to the Honky Tonk where Mimi worked (she stole my heart the
first time our eyes met-she's enough for several chapters, or a whole book).

And, there was a lovely lady (a 'hostess') with nice thighs sitting on my

lap...stimulating me. We also had very interesting conversation, but I

can't remember anything about it). Having a few beers in your system

while looking at those thighs, and trying to hold a conversation, let alone

remember what she just said...is a bit much.

At one point, the woman asked me (what I was expecting) 'You like'?

She meant what she was doing...grinding...and would I possibly like...

I would say something like ... 'Oh ya, it's a nice bar, my first time here'.
Or, 'Oh ya, I love Yokosuka', and 'you and your friends are very nice...i'm
having a good time'... etc. Hell, I might even spring(oops..bad choice of
words) for another round of drinks. My friends said that I was playing
dumb. No comment.

The woman would think that I didn't understand what she meant, and
say 'No, I mean 'you like' "...and I suddenly felt more pressure applied
to my crotch area as she bounced up and down. Again, I would give a
variation of what I had said.

Then, she would make it clearer what she meant. Sometimes her
girlfriend might say 'No, she means you like that'...and point.

At that point I would say I was sorry, and apologize for not explaining
my war injury (non-existent:-). And, I would get up and point to a spot
just above my knees, and run my hands up the length of my thighs till I
got to the top. And would tell her that as a result of 'nerve damage' I had
almost no feeling there, and in my crotch.

To demonstrate, I would press her thumb into my thigh with moderate
pressure and say 'You feel that'? She would say 'Ya'? And, I would say,

'see I can't feel anything'. Then I would press her thumb down hard into

my thigh and say 'See, I feel that'. And, again apologize sincerely for not

telling her, (the eyes being sincere goes a long way; and keeping a straight

face), and for forgetting to mention it.

What do you think was the end result? I got some serious, serious

grinding activity (and even TLC...they felt bad for me-my injury:-)

which helped me to relax even more (putting away those awful

memories of Vietnam;-)...while enjoying a drink, and our stimulating

conversation with renewed interest.

The woman may be confused if she felt something hard and questioned

that. I would usually say that 'I'm a marine; I'm always hard'. Or, that I'm

okay there and I have eyes...i.e. my wound didn't affect my functioning there.

Once in a while my drinking partners would get jealous about it, and say
what are they going to use. I'd just tell them I can't help it if I'm smarter

than you guys. Or, cuter (as in the Irish term 'cute hoor'). Think of one

yourself; but don't use what I'm saying (you know I sorta felt like I had

copyrights to it). Or, do you guys expect me to think of one for you too?

Be creative.

And, sometimes one of my friends would tell the woman he was with,
that I had no 'nerve damage', and she would tell my hostess. The woman
would slap my chest-was their way-playful. Didn't hurt, and she'd laugh.
And, grind ever harder...and ask if i felt that...laughing One night the other
two hostesses left my friends for a minute and took turns sitting on me and
asking me 'You feel that'? Did I;-))) It served my dishonourable friends right!
That's what happened at the Club Texan.

But, each night I'd go back to the Honky Tonk and spend time with Mimi in
between my drinking and fighting. I had a reputation to keep up. Mimi didn't
do sex4$, and told me, and every other man on our first drink...so 'Never
ask me out'. Mimi didn't sit on laps, (that would have been heaven, just to

Have her that close...but, I gave up trying to think of a 'medical' reason why

 it would ' be both 'urgent' and 'therapeutic'...I'm sure it would have been,

but...). If Mimi was busy (having a drink with someone else) her girlfriends

were happy to keep me company, and sit with, but not ON me. Her girlfriends

were just keeping me there until Mimi was done. I would've waited anyway.

They were all a very nice group of women.

Before I left Yokosuka Mimi met (cornered) me in her favourite spot...the
exit from the bathroom, and angrily asked me "Why you never ask me out"?
She was crying. And, before I could answer she said 'I know you see other
Japanese girls. Don't you bullshit me'. I told her that I didn't like her that way,
that is, I didn't want to go out with her for a sex date...I really liked her. I didn't
see any other Japanese women after we met...well, except for those who sat on
my lap in bars most nights. I thought that if it was a local custom, then I didn't
want to be rude and make them sit next to me. But, I didn't go out (sex4$)
with any.

But, all that's a separate story.

I'm proud to say that during my time in Yokosuka I was a one man

Economic stimulus for parts of the local economy. My very first night in

Yokosuka's red light district I boosted the local economy. Obama, and

Gordon Brown et al, talk about creating jobs. But, I provided instant

and steady work for carpenters, glass and mirror installers, cleaners,

and rug cleaners who had to quickly renovate red light bars that I had

left in a hurry...er...to meet other friends, or because I heard police sirens,

and decided it was time for a change visit another bar...so many places
and people to see etc.

I also helped (indirectly) to support those small local shops that sold beer

glasses, mugs, pitchers, and those small ice bowls (convienent head thumpers,

but they lost their shape). Bars were forever in need of replacements, and

shopkeepers were grateful for their patronage. There was no economic

downturn in the Yokosuka's red light district when I was there!

And, I gave plenty of meaningful work to the Japanese police (2 pm-5 am),
and the MP's looking for someone who (some said) roughly fit my description.
I found it good at times to approach them, and ask what was 'going on'? You

know, like what happened? Was there a fight, or accident? More than once,

I even asked them if it was 'safe'to be out if there with fights etc... They

just thought that I was a nice guy...certainly not the one that they were

looking for.

I knew that their job could be one long boring night of walking. I made

their nights interesting.

About the Club Texan, I was only there one night. The barman got very

rude, especially at me, so we withdrew our business. I thought that the

fella had no sense of humour. So we left after...

I was getting bored with chatting, grinding etc, and noticed that there were

two big navy guys (Marines called them 'squids') at the table near the door.

I asked my mates if they wanted another round of drinks? Of course. So,

I went up and bought two pitchers of beer...one for each hand.

Then, as I turned away from the counter I saw those two men, and said

'Hi'. I asked them if they were on the carrier (aircraft) that just got in. They

were. I knew. And, I went on like a little boy about how big it was, and

asked them, "Is this your first time in Yokosuka"? It was.

I told them the city was great, and I hoped that they'll have a great time,

and asked how they liked the city so far? One of the two said "It's our

first night out on liberty". So, I said "Then can I buy you a drink on your

first night out''? They were like 'sure'. They were drinking beer, so I asked

if they'd like a couple of pitchers of beer. I said it's cheap. They were more

than happy, and said yes. It seemed like the start of a nice first night out.

I didn't seem like those 'mean', 'crazy' Marines that they'd been warned

about.

So, I took the two pitchers of beer in my hands, got next to the table, and

gave them each one... that is I soaked them from a few feet away...tossed

the contents on them (I whipped it at them-I thought that it would feel

refreshing;-)...face, chest, and pants. Then, I upended their table, and was

using it to push(crush?) them against the wall. Their drinks landed in their

laps. (Now, that was a shame, and quite unintended'). The 'Law of

Unintended Consequences'?

I threw a few (friendly) punches, as we say (just saying 'welcome to

Yokosuka';-), and was laughing so hard that I was losing all the

strength in my legs and stomach, that for once, my friends had to

come over and help me. And then, we ran out because the barman

said some very uncomplimentary, and rude things to us, and we had

been very good, even 'model' customers until then. In fact, I offered

to buy them two more replacement pitchers of beer, to make up for

my slipping and dropping (my excuse to the barman) the beer all over

them, but, the barman would have none of that. He went crazy, a bit

over the top, yelling at me, and my friends. But, mostly, me! And,

those men wouldn't accept such a gesture.

And, again we heard that familiar siren of the Japanese police. I

suggested that the other two go to another bar as I wanted to see

Mimi...and we could meet up later. It was also because Mimi was

next door, and the three of us together may not be good until later.

I went next door to the Honky Tonk where the barman, Jimmy was

nicer, and Mimi was there. I asked Mimi if I could buy her a drink,

and asked if we could sit up on the next level (it was darker there).

When the siren seemed to be coming closer Mimi asked me "You get

into a fight again"? I said "Is that the police siren, or the firemen's"?

She said it was the police. And, I said it was probably some crazy

Marines getting drunk someplace.

But, the police stopped next door and went into the Club Texan
(I was glad we left as a fight must have just broken out;-).

Eventually, the police came into the Honky Tonk while I was with Mimi.

They went straight to the back where the bathrooms were, and then started

started to leave.  One of the policeman (he seemed vaguely familiar to me)

went  to the bar, and asked Jimmy something, and he pointed in my general 
direction. But, Jimmy laughed and shook his head and hands 'no' several 
times about whatever it was.

And, then the police left, Jimmy winked at me, and waved his finger...'no.

no' like. And then, Mimi got up and left me as well. She seemed angry at

me for some reason.

'The US military and sexual trafficking-Yokosuka, Japan 1969' Sat. 6 March 2010

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The US military and sexual trafficking-Yokosuka, Japan 1969

My first time on 'liberty' in Yokosuka, Japan I got a taste of
how the military works with, cultivates, ignores, tolerates
and is an integral part of sexual trafficking. They are a part
and parcel of it.

Outside of every military base I was at were brothels. Some more
obvious than others.

In Yokosuka, there was a huge (about four stories) off-base

servicemen's club (an enlisted men's). Bars, function rooms and

a place to buy cheap (tax-free) booze for all military personnel.

It was called the Club Alliance; which was located across the base

on the main street.

When I first stepped off the base I was amazed to see the size of

Yokosuka. I was on a main thoroughfare...watching it all. I had

stereotypes of Japan in my head, and this city seemed smaller than

Boston, but not too different population wise. I wanted to see more

of the main street area even before heading off to the red light zone

for my first night of drinking, fighting and...

But, first things first. We went to buy our booze from the Navy store

on the first floor. The corridor was about 12 to 15 feet across. We had

to line up on the left. An MP(Military Police) was standing further down

and to the right of the line.

I bought two bottles of Beefeater Gin at about $1.65 per bottle; A

cheap drunk. It would've cost over $7.50 with taxes. (two bottles per

person each day was the limit). Burp! After that, I turned around to go

back the way I came in.

The MP moved in front of me and said that we had to exit through

the other door. I said that I wanted to go back the way we came in to

get back to the main street. But, he said (and pointed) that we had to

exit through the other door. It seemed bullshit to me(like so many

things in the military) because I wanted to get back to the main

street.

The MP repeated himself; I tried to reason with him. But, he wasn't

about to budge. And, I knew that once I was 'set loose' in the red light

district guys like him-MPs would soon be looking for someone who

(roughly) fit my description (fights and general mayhem etc.), and I

would be avoiding them. A game I had already played successfully

in Chelsea Naval Hospital and city(my first medivac), plus Charlestown
Marine barracks, Boston, Jacksonville, North Carolina (Camp LeJune);

Oceanside, California (Camp Pendleton). And, I didn't want to give him

a face to remember me by. So, we exited by the door we were told.

When I was at Camp Pendalton doing my last bit of training before

going to Vietnam the first time I had a slight problem with two MPs in

Oceanside. I came back from liberty at my cousin, Bernadette and her

family in Burbank. When I got into Oceanside to catch a bus back to

base I'd had consumed the better part of a quart of Tequila. So, I walked

into a shop that sold military insignia etc., and I bought Brigadier stars.

A Brigadier General is the bottom rank of generals; one star.

I put them on my civilian shirt lapel (an instant promotion from PFC to

General;-). When I was on the bus two MPs came aboard to check our

IDs. When they saw me they asked me to remove my stars. I told them

it was my rank, and that I was the youngest Brigadier in the Marine

Corps, and surprised that they weren't aware of who I was. And, I

reminded them that they had forgotten to salute me. Everyone got a

big laugh out of my insistence that it was my rank, and that they

were out of line not saluting me. I also told them that I like to take

the bus just to be 'one of the men'. I removed them. Anyway...

But, that day in Yokosuka I said to Boyd(I think) that I wanted to

go back to the Main street for a bit. But, when we exited the door

there was a problem. I couldn't turn right, because there was a brick

wall there. And. there was another brick wall in front of me. I couldn't

go back; that's where the MP was. We could only turn left. We were

 in an alley. The military had it set up so we had to exit into an the

dead end of an alley and throngs of hookers were awaiting for us.

They knew. We didn't! Not, that I would've run away from them,

but that''s the way the brass had it set up.

Who was getting kickbacks (and who knows what else) for that?

And, by then, we heard all the commotion on the only street that we

could walk on-our left. After we walked a few feet a prostitute (among

the throngs of them) welcomed me to Yokosuka. Well, she had her

hands on my balls, and she was quoting prices and offerings. '$20

dollar...fuckie-suckie, fuckie suckie...$20...etc. A man's brain kind of

goes mush when that is happening (at least mine did:-), and it's kind

of hard to think straight. It's a bit intoxicating...especially for someone

coming from a war zone...but even if not.

I turned to Boyd with my hands in the air (a bottle in each), a lovely

Japanese woman attached to me, (and turning as I did a 360) I said,

"Hey, John, we're not in the hospital....or Yokosuka. We must've got

killed in the Nam cuz it looks like we're in heaven.''

As there was competition among the ladies...I had more than one

pair of hands on me trying to convince me that for $20 she would

bring me heaven. Like an 18 year old man, or boy, or a dog in heat (?)

I went with the first woman. She looked lovely to this Marine... nice

thick thighs, smile, and she seemed friendly. But, the whole time on

that street I was on high alert for pickpockets. My wallet was in my

shoes, and my money spread around.

The woman took me to a bar where I bought us each a drink. She sat

on my lap, and began gyrating on me... She said that we had to meet

her Mama-san...(boss). When she arrived, I guessed the Mama-san to

be in her 40s. The woman that I was with was just a bit older than me;

I was 18, and soon to turn 19.

I had to buy the Mama-san a drink, and she asked me the most boring

and stupid questions, such as did I like the woman, and did I want to

 'see her'? DOH!! as Homer Simpson would say. So then, the Mama-san

said that we must take a taxi, and we did to a place that was in walking

distance. I figured that the driver must be related, and it seemed that it

may turn out to be closer to $40-$50 before we were done. I mean from

the first drink onward.

When we got to the place for my first time with a Japanese woman.

It was a long line of apartments two stories high. And, it was adjacent

to the base wall. That is, they shared the same wall!

As we entered a strong odor was prevalent; I have always described such

smells (whether in a brothel, friend's house, or a friend who hadn´t

showered after sex, or a co-worker...it´s the smell of recent sex. I´ve

always been able to pick up on it) as 'like a fish market'...for want of

a better word. It was a place where fresh air hadn't penetrated enough

to reduce the odor.

I was looking all about me to look for another man or two(as in

getting rolled- never happened), but it wasn't an ambush. But, there

was someone else in the room. As soon as we came in someone arose

from the bed. She was a young attractive Japanese woman, and as she

got up from the bed she used the sheet as her clothing.

And, what struck me, or that I picked up on was that she seemed

nervous. That alone made me feel uncomfortable. I turned to the

Mama-san and asked who she is. And, the Mama-san smiled, and

said 'she your girl'! I said 'No'.  'I came with her', and I pointed to

the woman who I met in the alley of the Club Alliance.

However, the Mama-san was insistent that the one who I met in

the alley had to go back to work(picking up another Marine like me),

and said 'this your girl. She very nice. You like...etc.

But, I said 'No. I don't know her, and while pointing to the woman

that I had met I said 'she is the one I met.' The Mama-san was

adamant that I see this young woman who was covering herself

with a white sheet. And, she went on about how nice she is, but

I said no. I said that she is probably a nice woman, but that she

was not the one that I met met.

I told the Mama-san that I was leaving, and she tried to suggest

that I owed her money, and even that she could report me for

giving her girls a bad time. I said 'really?' 'How about I report this

place to the MPs´ She didn't seem worried about that. I left.

I didn't feel good about my first encounter. It left a bad taste in my

mouth. I wondered if this is the way it works over here, or is it just

these ones? And, I felt bad for the woman at the apartment whose

job was to see men brought to her. I didn't think that she could like

that. I went back into the red light area for a night of drinking,

fighting and fun(mayhem).

It was only years later that I realized that it's called sexual trafficking.
I at least had the right instincts. To leave.

As I had very little money until my pay records came to Japan from

Vietnam I couldn't see anyone. But, my newfound friend Boyd (in the

military you make friends fast and loose) said he would take me to

the waterfront area where there were older woman.

When we got there a woman took us into the entrance of a house to

wait for the other two women to arrive. They both had houses, and

were probably married. I realized that when I saw the ring on the

finger of the woman I went with.

Before they came John had to go to the bathroom. When the women

came in, the mama-san asked me if I was ready, or if I knew which

one I liked. I said yes and asked her if I could see that woman. Yes.

As we left I felt a tinge bad, and realized that John may not be happy

that I took the best...and he was paying for it.

We didn't get far sexually, because the woman saw the rosary beads

on my neck, and said to me 'You Katlik?' it sounded that way. I asked

her again, and she pointed to or touched the rosary beads(used to ward

of death in Vietnam-superstition:-), and when I said 'Yes.' She said 'Me

too.' End.

I met and loved a woman that I met there, Mimi. She was a bar girl,

and had not seen a man (sex for $) in over a year, and told me when

I bought her her first drink not to ask her out, as she didn't go out with

men that way. I spent time with her everynight. She educated me. And,

I never saw another woman in Japan.

I left the US Marine Corps 44 years ago today

                 I left the US Marine Corps 44 years ago today

                         May 11th, 1970 was a Monday. 

I had made it through 22 months without being thrown
in the brig or facing a court martial. By the time I was
discharged...not getting caught and being court martialed
was an achievement.

I had been in so many fights, and hurt so many people...
broken jaws, bones, knocked unconscious and more
things that I wouldn't say that I was lucky. The Irish
say 'God is Good'.

Much of what I did was because in the military, and
especially the Marine Corps, violence was and is equated
with masculinity. But, most of it may also have been
'combat rage' from undiagnosed (until 1986) Post-Taumatic
Stress.

When I got into fights I picked on the big fellas and more
often a group. I had intensive training in karate, judo and
jiu jitsu for two years before I went into Marine Corps boot
camp.

The worst thing I saw in Vietnam was over 240 bodies in
body bags stacked up like cordwood. I stopped counting
at about 240, and wept silently. I was alone on a medevac
copter that had set down at a fire base outside of the A Shau
valley from where I had been.

At the Chelsea Naval Hospital outside of Boston I was given
a rehab job of working in the intensive care unit IDU. My job
was to talk to Marines coming out of surgery. The first one had
all his limbs taken off. He was a year or so older than me. I
couldn't drink enough to put away what I felt. Hell, I didn't
even know what I felt...just a lot of deep emotional and spiritual
pain. And, no amount of alcohol seemed enough to sedate it,
unless I was near unconscious.

I got my final screwing by the 'Big Green Dick' as we called it,
i.e. the Marine Corps on my last day. I went to draw my separation
pay and was given $35.00 I thought it was a joke because the
bus fare from Jacksonville, NC to Boston was $35. Friends helped.
Two years later and after writing to Senators and representatives
the Marine Corps coughed up another $82.00

When I got home I was drunk, but nowhere as bad as I was about
to get. My neighbours were in for a shock 'What happened to
Paulie Meuse? If I saw someone looking at me I asked them what
their F**king problem was?

I went back to sharing a room with my brother, Michael, who was
just 14, and in high school. What a prick for a brother he had;-
I'd come in drunk anywhere from 2-5am flop onto my bed, and
I pinched his nostrils closed so he couldn't breath through them.
When he awoke I made a loud snoring sound.

Somehow, I made it through a very dark period alive. One of the
worst things about getting out of the military was that us 'grunts'
were carrying lots of pain, imagery, the screams of friends, and not
being able to help them...carrying the dead, and seeing people in the
hospitals with all manner of injuries.

Most injuries and deaths in Vietnam were caused by booby traps -
explosions. Instant death and maiming, limbs blown off, blindness,
deafness...

When I was home alone like all others out government didn't offer
any help, and fought recognition of Post-Taumatic Stress until 1980.
Many Vietnam vets took their own lives. Over 58,000 Americans
died in Vietnam - a drop in the bucket compared to how many
Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians died...close to 2 million.
But, every death leaves a massive vacuum in a family's life.


Over 100,000 US Vietnam veterans have taken their lives by their
own hand since returning from the war zone, and Vietnam veterans
have the highest suicide rate of veterans of all US wars. Hey
'We're No. 1:-

Late at night from 1970-1973  I often sat downstairs and listened to
my brother's 8-track cassettes and wept. I was afraid anyone would
hear me and know. I would have denied it.

I wept and wept and wept in those private times, and since on certain
occasions. Things happen in war - I was just past my 18th birthday
by two months- that you have to live with. For me it was with my
team leader putting knives to the throats of Marines in panic during
a sapper attack and sending them back to their bunkers...

then having to listen to them in the dark of night being knifed
to death and them exploded to bits. I had to wipe up their remains
the next morning.

Through it all three things have helped me.
One is a belief in God.
Secondly, is the mental toughness that I had as a boy and in
Vietnam, and
Third, a strong will to survive.

The last thing that is as important as the above is a wicked
sense of humour. It kept me sane in Vietnam and after.
I'm a survivor and will keep on pushing on as long as God
let's me.  no proof reading:-)

Afghan panel claims to find secret prisons' so now what does Obama do? Keep looking forward??

The UN Covention Against Torture states:

Article 2

1. Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.
2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.
3. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.

Article 4

1. Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.
2. Each State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature.

It means that Obama has a mandatory duty as did Bush before him and every president
to investigate and prosecute crimes of torture. If he doesn't, then he is shielding the torturer,
and he, Obama can be prosecuted

Afghan panel claims to find secret prisons

World | Azam Ahmed and Taimoor Shah, The New York Times | Updated: April 27, 2014 20:43 IST

http://tinyurl.com/qbt29g5

 

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