HOSPITALITY GIRLS MEET THE US NAVY

Continuing my yesteryear bender on the oldies tip, I harken back to the summer/fall I spent with Joey Dee and the Starlighters. I know my detractors think this is irrelevant but hang on...there will actually be some context!


During what felt like an endless six months, Joey booked us for three nights at the Mayport Naval Base, just outside of Jacksonville, Florida. The first we played at the Officers Club, a posh, carpeted environment with deadened acoustics which made us sound like musak. Next...the Non-commissioned Officers Club - an environment of which I have virtually no recollection though I'm sure it was decent enough. And finally on the third night, in a super noisy and acoustically-challenged linoleum-floored cafeteria where we performed for the grunts. Regardless of the music bouncing off of everything and making us sound loud, shrill and just as bad as we could have, those have-not/end-of-the-line type guys who landed in the navy rather than jail or the welfare rolls totally appreciated the show. That was the audience who most enjoyed the band. 

But what was most odd was that the great majority of the crowd was either redneck chicks or really cute Filipino girls! The sailors were barely in evidence! After we were done playing, the band befriended one of the redneck girls...who took us back to her digs and cooked up a mess of eggs, sausages and bacon - like enough to feed ten bands! 

Inquiring dude that I am, I couldn't help but ask about the audience demographic. I mean...what was with all the Asian chicks unattended by guys? And the answer was that those cute Filipino girls were married to sailors who were currently in the Gulf of Hormuz, protecting our liberties. And it didn't take an Einstein to understand that our boys had visited the Philippines while on duty...patronized the hospitality houses...and picked the creme de al creme to take home and marry. 

And let me tell you...most of the girls were astoundingly beautiful! To think those end-of-the-line have-nots ended up with some of the world's most beautiful women as wives speaks volumes for why America's aimless youth should sign up and serve in the navy. In a million years, they would never have scored as beautiful a woman if they hadn't enlisted. 

And as for the wives? Those sailors were the ticket to a better life. No doubt, the hospitality crew sat around fantasizing among themselves about the American sailor who would rescue them. Unfortunately,  for the band...there really wasn't enough time to indulge in anything meaningful. It was off to Lake City, Florida for the next engagement.

Regardless, knowing what I know now, I can't help but be envious of those armed forces enlistees. I wonder if their recruiters said something like "Join the navy and you'll get to meet and marry an incredibly beautiful Asian woman!" That would have been my line  were it my job to convince a high school drop out to join the navy. 

Yes, there are some very attractive Korean hospitality girls in New York but trust me...those Filipino girls really were amazing! Makes me want to join the navy and ship out. Just one problem. I'm too old! Oh well.