Traveling Back to the United States
Going the LONG Way
27 Sep 1965 - 23 Oct 1965
Part 1
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| Family Passport Stamps |
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| Family Passport Stamps |
On our way back from Japan to the United States, my parents decided to take a world trip covering Southeast Asia, the Middle East & Europe in a six-week period. My mother, brother & I would visit the foreign country embassies in Tokyo to get the proper approvals needed to enter these countries. We also had to obtain the required health shots to enter each of these countries. My father was out at sea at this time. Some places, we would have to leave our passports overnight & pick up the following day, most of the middle eastern countries required this action. My father had to obtain a passport as he was travelling as a US citizen without military coverage.
My father mailed his first postcard of many (including letters) to his parents in New York expressing his joy of coming HOME.
Ten days later, when my father was out at sea, he wrote a detailed letter to "Fibber & Molly" (his nickname for his parents) his detailed plans for coming home.
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His mother, my Nana, wrote a comment on the top in green. She would pass on my parents' letters & photos to other family members as they were just as interested in our military lifestyle.
I just came across this photo of Nana (on the right) sharing a letter & photo from her son with a relative, who came for a Sunday afternoon lunch.
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When he was released of his position on the USS Oklahoma City; movers came to pack up our belongings, our family had several farewell parties, our dog was placed in a kennel (to later be shipped to us when we knew our final address in the States) & we began our adventure.
My parents keep a travel journal. I just recently found this journal in a box with her files & paper souvenirs from this trip. Inside this travel journal, my father kept track of the expenses spent in each country along with the travel itinerary. My mother kept a detailed TO-DO list for items to complete before we left Japan. She also listed all of the consulates in Yokohama & Tokyo. She then wrote pages for each of the countries we were interested in visiting keeping a list of requirements & recommendations for each country. These included England, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Belgium, Germany, India, Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands, Denmark, Pakistan, Switzerland, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Republic (Emirates), Turkey, Iran, Luxembourg, Iraq, Isreal, Jordan & Lebanon. We did not visit all of these countries as planned, yet memories of the ones we saw will never be forgotten.
My father took photos (slides) of our trip.
I knew about the slides as 30 years ago my mother had photos made of all of our travel slides. I wanted to make a scrapbook of those memories back then, jeesh, I am still working on that scrapbook!
Here we go!
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| We are ready to start our trip. We are waiting for the bus. |
Monday, 27 September 1965- Tuesday, 28 September 1965 - The Cooper family boarded a bus in Yokosuka at 1200 (noon) for Tachikawa Airport in Tokyo arriving 3 hours later. We boarded on a MATS (Military Air Transport Service) flight 6 hours later for Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. We arrive at the Kadena Airbase in Okinawa at 0120. At the terminal, we browse around the small exchange. I wanted to get a doll for Mary for her collection, but it was too big. Stan & I had coffee & doughnuts in the cafeteria. We waited for more time in the lobby. We boarded on the plane & departed from Kadena at 0320. We are served hand towels, snacks & coffee. We all sleep soundly. We wake up about 0500 as the sunrise was just beginning over the Delta land below. We arrive at the MATS terminal of Clark Air Force Base in Luzon, the Philippines, at 0600. We go through processing. Stan checks for our next departure. We have breakfast in the terminal. We take a motor pool taxi (a canvas-covered truck-like with seats in the back) to a billeting (a lodge for soldiers in a particular place, especially a civilian's house or other non-military facilities).
There were no rooms available. We were sent out to Diamond Apts. in Angeles for 2 rooms. We took a 3-hour snooze. We were up & back to the base in a cab. I had time to take dirty clothes to the laundry. I went to the Base Exchange to get a book bag for Mary & other necessary items. Then off to the Officer’s Club where Dad & I have a couple of Old Fashions in the cocktail lounge. Gib & Mary watch T.V. We join the children & watch with them. They were watching an old movie with Tyrone Power & Joan Fontaine, “This Above All.” We walked to the Rathskeller dining room for dinner at 5PM. Mary & I enjoy seeing the pretty dresses & a lady with pink hair. After dinner, we were off to the Kelly Theater for the movie “Carry On Spying.” Crazy! We were over to the Kelly Restaurant for milkshakes & we caught the Microbus back to the Diamond Apts.
Wednesday, 29 September 1965 - Up at 7AM. Depart Diamond Apartments in their micro-bus after waiting until the driver shines it up to return us to the terminal at Clark AFB. It was crowded with commercial plane crews & luggage. We got off at Kelly Restaurant for breakfast. We walked over to the Air Base Hotel (motel style) to see if rooms were available. We contacted Mr. Sanchez at the billeting office. Sanchez has 1 room. We’ll take it with an extra cot. We took the cab to the Base Hotel. It was so much nicer than Diamond Apts. Stan & Gib go to pick up laundry & dry cleaning. We go see the 5PM movie Mr. Terrors House of Horrors. Dinner at Kelly's at 7PM. Back to the room where I repack bags more conveniently. Showers. Do hand laundry for the last 2 days. Hung it all over the room. Mary sound asleep fast. Gib & Dad play cards. Teasing & uncooperative. Mother annoyed. To bed about 10:30. Martha makes a post comment on driving on the right side of the street. "I felt like it was all wrong. This is after driving on the left side of the streets in Japan for 18 months."
Thurs. Sept. 30 1965 - Up at 0400. Took down still damp laundry. Check out of room 21 (Clark AFB Hotel). Motor Pool Taxi to MATS Terminal at 0530. While standing by for Stan to check arrangements, a large group of men leave for Saigon, gave them God’s blessings. Lovely sunrise of blues & pinks, Gib & I out to see it better. When return, Stan says flight delayed until 1515. He should have phoned before coming to terminal. A very pleasant Sargent told us to check bags on the flight. So, since Stan was advised to change to civilian clothes, we took cases needed & checked others, then we were on the M.P. taxi back to the hotel who allowed us back in our room at 7AM. Gib & I hungry so went to Kelly Restaurant for breakfast. Dad & Mary back to bed. Took them doughnuts, but sound asleep. Arranged Stan’s civilian clothes, packed uniform & to bed. Phone (Sanchez) rang at 0900 when we vacated the room. Can’t sleep anymore as power mower going outside. Gib & Dad play Gin Rummy. Leave room 1030. Relax, wait in the lobby & I read the paper. Cab to O’Club at 1200. Lunch in the main dining room, play cards in the TV room until 1330. Cab to the terminal - check rest of bags by 1400. Play cards while waiting. Mary working on her multiplication tables when our flight was announced. This was a typical military transport, grey, nothing fancy. An airman was our steward, loud & clear. Very hot. Depart Clark AFB at 1520. Mary fussed about it. We try to tell her to relax. Jet flight at 35,000 ft. Her ears were affected. She was comfortable after we were airborne. Served cold cup water. Then help self to coffee. Play cards. Teach Mary 6x tables. No windows in plane. Baggage loaded behind the pilot cabin in canvas webbing. There were about 4 dependent families aboard. After we landed, we watched soldiers getting off. We were at the Tan San Nheit Airport, in Saigon, South Vietnam, at 1730. As we got off the plane we noticed we were guarded by rifle bearing troops to the terminal. We were herded into the restaurant because they wanted to keep us together so we can be found (so they say). Four or five Vietnamese planes land & unload while there. People interesting. Old woman with cane guided by girl child about 12. Had soft drinks & coffee. Outside to wait & watch the sunset. Airmen with revolvers on hips carrying small locked boxes. We board the plane & depart at 1945 for Bangkok, Thailand. Same affects. Play cards. Write in this diary. We arrive at the military side of the U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport. We then got on an Air Force bus to Bangkok International Airport on a back bouncy dirt-road partway to another highway. Bangkok Airport was large, new, beautiful, & busy. We were herded through. All dependents except us were departed to their planes. Our delay was due to radar trouble. Our family on to JUSMAG (Joint US Military Assistant Group), others returning from leave, two army men to the embassy in New Delhi, courier & discharged soldier going to New Delhi. We have rushed repast of soup in a restaurant. 10 baht, their currency. Mary was fussy. Back to the waiting room. Learn of delay. Take Mary back for a hamburger to go. 85 baht & 2 cakes 5 baht. Back to the waiting lounge. The bus takes us to the other side. Further delay. Back to International to wait some more. Had light supper in a restaurant with 3 other passengers. We were informed at midnight that our plane was delayed to 1400 tomorrow.
Fri. 1 October 1965 - At 0030, Stan calls 5 hotels & gets a room at Thai Hotel. We watch the main entrance to wait for hotel microbus. US soldier sleeping. Other flights & passengers come in. We took a 30-minute ride to the city. We have a beautiful night ride along a large highway. 4 hotel employees along. The driver takes us by the Marble Palace, the Victory Monument (was with Burma), & the Royal Palace grounds. The city looks clean & lovely. We make plans for a Klong Tour [a type of canal in Thailand].
At the hotel, they have 2 rooms for us. No luggage. Stan talks them into letting 4 in 1 room as beds 3/4. Room 310. Sleep immediately. Up at 0600. Bathe & dress into same clothes & down to lobby. From the window with porch, we see 2 priests with saffron robes & beg bags. The desk clerk said it was time for breakfast in hotel restaurant. We were served a choice of fresh fruit beautifully arranged on a platter. Thai sweet pineapple, red papaya, bananas. Ordered breakfast, but before it came, the car from the Klong Tour had arrived. We had paid for Tour #1.
Our guide, Mr. Peter was joined by Mr. Ahmed S. Elhail of Kuwait just from a month each in Burma & Malaysia. We took a 20-minute ride to the Chao Phraya River where we got on a covered motorboat. He took us down the river under a bridge & into a klong or canal. At the entry to our first klong (canal), there were large rafts of bamboo poles tied together forming open squares. I missed a good shot of the fishermen below throwing their net into the water.
The river is very muddy looking. A raft was blocking the way including large barges. Our boat helped push the raft, then got by. Little children were waving western style to us, then gave us a Thai style greeting of folded hands & a bow. In the river, they bathe, wash dishes, eliminate, wash clothes. Women & many men are in sarong type skirts in which they bathe in.
We see wooden houses on stilts over the river. They sleep on floor mats & eat at low tables.
We move on to the floating market, only out at the early morning. There are boats loaded with coconuts, vegetables, flowers, toys, coffee & everything else. Each is carrying its own type of ware. Paddled by women in straw hats with flat top & flared rims. Klong is very congested.
Individuals paddle their own small 1-2 man boats.
In a clear area, we turn to the right into a jingle like atmosphere, then into another floating market area. We see small Buddhist temples on poles.
We stop at a Thai silk factory. We watch men spinning & women weaving. Many beautiful colors. There was a souvenirs shop at the front. The weavers are in the back. A spinner & a weaver were delighted in touching Mary. They squeezed her arm & touched her face. One gave her blue silk thread.
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| Slide mom purchased |
Further in back, we went through a Thai style house with our boat guide. We saw 2 pygmy elephants in the back. There was a black bear cub under the house. A monkey was out in front at the souvenir shop. I bought postcards. Back on the boat. Pass a few colorful temples & some old broken down ones.
We returned back to the river. We pass by Royal gold barges at the Thai Navy Base. The barges on the river were practicing for a royal river procession for Oct. 19. About 100 Navy men in tan uniform practiced procession rowing in one boat stationery all in one form.
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| Slide Mom purchased |
We went on up the river to the other side. We were off at Wat Aroon Temple. Some towers Thai style & the smaller ones were Cambodian style. Very decorative Chinese porcelain pieces. Many were broken off. A close look shows the use of broken dishes, cups, chips, etc. We saw 3-headed elephants in the main central tower. Mary, Gib & I walk up halfway, which was steep with high steps. Mr. Elhail helped Mary down the other side. Nice view. I bought a color slide set for $5. Had soft drinks. Bought 4 Thai ties at 75¢ each. We went up the remaining part of the river coming back into the boat landing from the opposite side. Our micro-bus brought us back to the Thai Hotel. Gib & Mr. Elhail discover both are stamp collectors. He invites us to his room for drinks. Mary & I freshen up. Dad checks out. Join Mr. Elhail for best drinks of Scotch I ever had. Really hit me as no food yet. He showed us the fortune in stamps he bought from Barneo, Burnei, Sarawak, Singapore, Malaysia. He must be loaded. Very friendly. Exchange addresses. Engaged to be married next year. He spoke very good English as he was educated in England. We hurry to catch a cab to the airport. There we join other passengers for lunch. Too much food. Lunch for about ฿25 = $1.25 of cream tom soup, white fish with wine sauce, mashed potatoes, then ox tong, boiled potatoes, grilled onion, green beans, & carrots, coffee, rolls, butter, fresh fruit compote (pineapple, banana, papaya - delicious combination). Chat for a while & back to the waiting room, flight again delayed. Now 1545. At 1600, we were informed that the flight is not going to New Delhi as we can’t get aircraft clearance due to accelerated activity in the Indo -Pakistani War; so it’s going back to Clark in the Philippines. Do we want to go back to the Philippines? Yes? No! Hope our world trip doesn’t end here. Let’s make inquiries on commercial flights. This is a busy airport. Planes coming in & out regularly. All airlines represented. Stan inquires at Air France. I go down to Air India. Air India has nothing going for 2 days. Air France tomorrow night at 1855. Price for 3 & 1/2 about $1200. Takes about 45 min. to get all the information. Stan calls back the Thai Hotel. OK. Take airport transportation back to the hotel after hassling with cab drivers with cabs too small for all of us & our luggage. At the hotel, we meet Mr. Elhail at the desk, so we invite him for a drink in the Silver Room Restaurant & Bar. We have a lively discussion with him. He’s disgusted with way free-spending Americans have made it so expensive for other nationals to travel. He gave large cities like Tokyo, as an example. On his recent trip to a small town outside of Tokyo, he asked someone of his opinion of Americans. They like our money but, they don’t like us. I made a defence for us. Stan partially agreed with him. Mr. Elhail told us a little about Kuwait where he was from. We went to our room to bathe & relax before a nice dinner at the Silver Room. After dinner, back our room, Stan wrote letters & I laundered my drip-dry dress & hoped it will require no pressing tomorrow morning. I seem to be living in it. Everyone was very tired & slept soundly.
Here is the letter Stan wrote to his in-laws, Martha's parents, Steve & Mary Gabuzda.
We found out from Fred, the man at the desk, that we need a special letter of authorization to leave Thailand since we came on MATS & are now leaving commercial. Stan called the American Embassy. It being after hours, the woman who answered the phone was very annoyed; but she told us that a letter would be written tonight & ready for pick up tomorrow morning.
Our adventures continue in my next blog post. Believe me, it gets better!
After checking into the Astor Hotel, we went out for lunch & walked around the city. We saw the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Syntagma or Constitution Square in front of the Presidential Palace. We shopped for souvenirs including stamps for Gib, dolls for Mary, postcards for Martha & unusual small musical Greek instruments for Stan. We tried to sample the local foods as much as possible. 
We had a beautiful view of the Acropolis Hill with the Parthenon & other ancient buildings from our room at our hotel, especially awe-inspiring at night with floodlights on it. 
