Annapolis Hotel

Chapter Two:

The Annapolis Hotel served as a transient barracks for all Naval Personnel coming into, or leaving Viet Nam. We checked in there, were assigned a bunk, and a locker, stowed our gear, except for our medical and personnel records which we took with us, and climbed back on the bus, and headed down town Saigon to the Hospital which took care of all military, (and civilian) personnel.

On the way in, as we approached the door, we met Martha Raye coming out. She was all decked out in full greens, and as always had a big smile on her face. I think I was the only one who recognized her. I said “Hi Martha”, she turned to me with a big smile, and said “Well good morning sailor, are you coming or going.” “I just got here, I’m checking in now”. She said, “where are you being assigned?” “YFR889”, I said. She said, “That’s a new one on me”. “Me too”, I said. We both laughed, an she said, “Well, good luck sailor, nice to have met you”. I said, “It was nice meeting you too”. I never saw her again the whole year I was there.

After we finished checking in at the Hospital, we climbed back on the bus and headed over to the personnel office, where we were officially assigned to “Naval Support Activity Saigon”. Then it was back on the bus. The driver said, “Anybody need anything from the PX“, and of course we all said yes.

When we got to the PX, the first thing I tried to buy was cigarettes. At the time I smoked “Salem Menthol”, but they told me that the PX didn’t carry them, if you want Salem you have to buy them off the “Black Market” on the street , and that’s what I did until I went aboard the boat (YFR).

We got back to the Annapolis Building just before “Chow time”, [lunch]. The chow hall was in another building, a few blocks away, and very much like the Annapolis building, so a group of us walked over there and had lunch. Us new guys were still a little “Nervous” about walking around Saigon by ourselves. So the next three or four days that we were there, we went in groups.

I bought four packs of Salem cigarettes on the street, and found that they were still cheaper than retail in the States.

One morning early, the four of us were told to pack our gear, our boat was in. This time they hauled us down to the pier in the back of a pickup truck.

We climbed out of the truck, and there she was, in all her splendor , the YFR889. (To be continued)