White Hats In Acapulco part 1 of 3

[sniper]

White Hats In Acapulco
By Claro

Part I

   The USS Hunley, AS-31, had squeezed through the Panama Canal Locks with a few feet to spare, port and starboard.  Guam was getting closer, but there was going to be some really nice liberty ports between the secretive Charleston Naval Weapons Station and there. This Hospitalman Second Class  was going to get his share. . . . . Next Port: Acapulco!

   A Captain of a ship and a Captain of an airplane have much in common.  The Captain of either vessel is among the most highly trained individuals in the world.  An airline pilot goes by rules which he imparts to the crew and passengers in the form of "regulations".  The Captain of a ship simply issues the crew his orders in the "Plan of the Day".  Basically, the "word" was; "keep your nose clean while ashore".  Mexican jails were not the place to be.      

   Our draft was too deep to berth alongside the pier (the fact we carried nukey booms might have had a little to do with not tying up to dock also) so we dropped anchor in the bay.  Liberty launches were on order to hit the beach.  Boatswains Mates were an overworked bunch at best and whenever they could get something done with the least amount of effort, rest assured they would find that most effortless way.  One landing platform was attached to the side of the ship and the launches were started right away.  

   When landing at the pier, we faced a gauntlet of Mexican people trying to sell locally made goods.  I didn't buy anything.  At the end of the gauntlet was a young man standing with a big smile and empty hands.  He approached me and my companions.  I held my hand up towards the young man approaching us to show him we were not interested in purchasing whatever he had to offer.  He kept on approaching and I was starting to don a defensive posture. There was usually safety, or a feeling of such, in numbers when hitting a strange beach.  A few other corpsmen and I had pooled our resources and intelligences before that excursion into Acapulco.

   The young man appeared to be about 9 years old.  I was later to discover he was 14, and his name was Jaíme.  In America we pronounce this name jay-me, in Mexico it is pronounced hi-e-may.  Jamey preferred the American pronunciation.  Jamey was not selling any goods.  He was trying to sell a service; a tour guide service. His tour guide service. He had a most unusual angle to his fee.  His fee for acting as our tour guide was that we had to speak English to him.  I did not have a problem with the fee.

   There were two school systems in the Acapulco area.  One of the school systems is financed by the Federal government and the other is supported by the local economy.  English is not taught in the locally supported school system.  Jamey wanted to learn English so that one day he could go to America.    

   Jamey was a good looking kid.  He had coal black hair and a smile that reached all the way from Acapulco to around the world.  His smile crossed international borders very well.  What Jamey also had were very bad teeth.  Jamey's bad teeth did not lessen the broadness of his smile.  Jamey was a really nice kid.        

   Our first goal as we hit the beach, actually turned out to be our second goal.  We had never thought of getting a tour guide.  To procure transportation we headed for the local automobile rental place and rented a pink vehicle with a pink and white, soft cloth top with tassels.  On Jamey's advice we made sure the horn worked.  For some odd reason I was selected to be the designated driver for the day.  Jamey sat in the co-pilots seat.  

    We toured the city, the bay side, the cross on top of the hill across the bay ,and made it to Frank Sinatra's mansion; located near the famous cliff divers of Acapulco and back downtown.  

   Our first day in Acapulco was almost over.  We excused Jamey from any more duties and made arrangements to meet him the next morning.

  We had one last duty to perform before we called it quits for our first day in Acapulco.  We had to return the pink jeep and make arrangements to get the same vehicle the rest of our liberty.  The owner of the business was reluctant to do that until we agreed to pay a week's rental, in advance, and tipped him generously.  Transportation problem solved!  Cinderella liberty (back aboard by 2400 hours) was very near, so back to the ship we went.  
Day 2

   The P.O.D. stated that the Old Man was extremely happy that the crew had apparently behaved themselves ashore, so no more Cinderella liberty.  We could stay ashore overnight if we were so inclined and it was pre-approved by our individual department heads.

   Jamey was waiting on the pier when we went ashore the next morning.  We began by taking a more leisurely tour of the city.  Jamey showed the market place to us and we tasted the varied types of food for sale.  

    There was clothing for sale, sandals, fresh and dried vegetables, hats, serapes, meats and sea food items being traded or bartered, as well.  He also explained that it was there that most of the locals came to get their food for preparation at home.  

   I noticed a policeman looking at us very carefully and became concerned.  I mentioned the Policia to Jamey and pointed in that direction.  He laughed.  His brother was a part-time policeman and a local wrestler, and that was his brother.  I waved at the nice policeman, smiled and bought Jamey a bottle of soda pop.  My actions brought a smile to the policeman's face and I felt a little more relaxed as we all saw Jamey starting to suck on his cola.  Come to find out later, that kid had a hollow leg when it came to drinking soda pop.  

   Jamey explained that the local police did not carry guns regularly, but that they carried special police clubs.  Big police clubs!  One look at the size of his brothers arms and I knew I did not want anything to do with that combo.  Jamey also told me that the local police enforce the parking ticket laws very strictly.  

   It was near time for lunch and a breakfast chain restaurant was suggested.  The water might be of a higher quality there.  

    It was during that meal when I decided to mine for the hidden gold of Acapulco.  I thought the world should know all about this bright, ambitious and industrious young native.  He was certainly far above and beyond the common 'Gringo' opinion.
To be continued. . . .  
Copyright © 2004
Clarence W. Andrews Webb City, MO 64870
All rights Reserved

[sniper]

White Hats in Acapulco

By Claro

Part II

Day 2 Continued

    Jamey's brother was a policeman and part-time wrestler, as mentioned in Part I.  They lived with their mother on the mountain side immediately behind the city, in what Jamey called a casita (small house).  He told us about the school system he attended and how he wanted to go to America to find work and support his mother.  His brother was well liked as a police officer and a wrestler and Jamey was thought of as 'little brother' by many of the policemen there.  I had the right tour guide! 

    After lunch we walked around and Jamey showed the local stores to us; the police station and a many other interesting places around the city that were a little off the turista's beaten path.  It seemed the day went fast for me and it was time to go back to the ship.  The last liberty launches would be leaving soon and I had nowhere to stay onshore. 

     Mike Lowe, one of my shipmates, suggested that since the next day the ship was having open house, we invite Jamey to tour the ship.  Everyone agreed and we parted company.
Day 3

    Jamey was waiting on the pier the next morning and we all caught the liberty launch back to the ship.  We gave Jamey a whirlwind ship's tour and then headed to Sick Bay.  Jeff Perrapato was the Hunley's Chief Medical Officer.  Jeff was so new to the Navy, that he helped clean the place during field day.  We never told him any different, but that was a different story.  It did my heart good to see an officer clean up after himself! 

    We wanted to give Jamey a very thorough physical.  Jeff was very co-operative and in turn spoke to the Dental Officer about the "Jamey" plan.     

     Blood work, urinalysis, x-rays (whole body), physical examination (with US Government physical forms, signed!), shots (complete with US Navy shot record stamped with the appropriate US Government seal). Jeff prescribed a few medications for him as he had a small blood parasite infection.  The pharmacist filled the prescriptions with directions in the Spanish language on the labels. We then took him to the Dentist!  That bad tooth in front had to go!

    I can't remember the name of the Dentist that headed the department, but I can recall he had worked on my teeth at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was a full Commander.  Good ole NNMC!  For a Naval Dentist to be stationed at NNMC was a feather in their cap!  Bethesda is the top Naval Medical facility, period! 

     The dentist took Jamey to a dental chair and started the exam.  He took the x-rays personally!  Then he numbed Jamey's mouth and started to work.  Jamey's cavities were filled with real gold, and the tooth in front was next.  He gave Jamey a big gold crown on that bad tooth.  Jamey had a perfect smile and he loved that big gold tooth.  I think his smile got bigger, if that was possible. 

    It took all day to fix Jamey's health problems.  When we finished I escorted him back to the pier on the liberty launch.  The hapless kid was feeling a little woozy from the shots and the dental numbing.  I told him to take the day off tomorrow.  He tried to talk, but not understandably with  his numb mouth.
Day 4

    Jamey was once again on the pier the next morning when we started our fourth day of liberty.  He was very excited.  He told us about what his mother thought of  us overhauling his health.  Out of gratitude, she had invited us all to dinner. 

     We thought it would be an insult if we did not accept her invitation, so we told him we would accept her kindness and go to dinner at his place. His mother wanted to cook for us. We thanked him, very much.  He asked if we could meet him back on the pier at 1 o'clock.  We said yes. 

     1 o'clock is a very strange time for dinner, but not in Mexico!  It is Siesta time.  Siesta time is a special time for family.  I had not realized the deep, inner meaning of the invitation.  I soon learned.

    We proceeded to go to the market place  Jamey had shown us to buy some food.  We did not know, and certainly doubted that his home had a refrigerator, so we bought food that did not require long term cold storage.  We bought dried peppers, fresh vegetables, canned goods, flour, corn meal, salt, pepper, soda pop and some items that Jamey had pointed out a couple days earlier.  Our purchases included fresh meat for dinner.  It was not a great quantity of food and came to a little less than $20.00 USD, total.  It was time to go meet Jamey and his family.

    Jamey was waiting for us at the pier and immediately started pointing out the way to his house.  Man, am I glad that vehicle had 4 wheel drive!  We needed it!  The "road" to Jamey's house was roughly defined by where the grass did not grow. 

     When we arrived, it was clear that our assumption about refrigeration was correct.  Jamey lived in a house with 3 and 1/2 outer walls.  The gaping entrance left by the half-wall encompassed a table that extended into the open air.  A tub on the outer end caught rain water for drinking and cooking.  A blanket was nailed in place to cover the open area above the tub. 

    Jamey very proudly introduced us to his mother.  She was a most gracious woman and immediately started thanking us, holding Jamey close to her bosom.. 

     Her eyes lit up when we gave her the bags of food.   I noticed that she was wearing a Mexican traditional apron while she worked and talked.  After a few moments of very rapid speech (most of which  was beyond our recognition), she offered us seats and started to cook.

        I had never seen a black pepper before.  It was not cooked, it was black by genetic nature.  Jamey's mother mixed it with red and green peppers, then put the mixture on the table. 

    I was already regretting that I had left  my antacid in sickbay, but I was looking forward to enjoying the meal. 

    Sharing this family's Siesta was a very special gift.  Far more valuable than an invite to an inauguration ball.  The warmth of their smiles and the glow in Jaime's eyes told me that far more was coming.

continued...         

Copyright © 2004
Clarence W. Andrews Webb City, MO 64870
All rights Reserved

[sniper]

This is the last segment of this story. I originally wrote it for a travel magazine is why it is in three parts and contains no harrowing parts about a Jeep trip up the side of a mountain.

White Hats in Acapulco

By Claro

Day 4, continued
   
   Siesta is a traditional custom in Mexico and does not have a counterpart in the United States.  It is generally portrayed, in the USA, as a lazy time in the afternoon, but this is an ill-advised portrayal.  It is a high honor to be invited to share Siesta with a Mexican family.  The realization that came to me, was that I had been accepted as a part of a beautiful and very industrious, Mexican family.  

   Jamey's mother fired up the propane stove and started cooking the meal.  Being a family affair, Jaime's policeman brother brought a fresh stack of tortillas from the local tortillaría.  To this day, I remember the Paella dish she prepared and served.  It was absolutely wonderful.  

    It was a lot more delicious when I learned to  go lightly on the blended pepper salsa.  My  whole head was on fire and it was attached to my body through a fire tunnel that extended to my stomach!  I was thankful we had brought some canned soda pop to put out the fire.  Each bite I took was immediately chased with a mouthful of cola.  The best way to neutralize the salsa's high alkalinity was a large shot of cola acidity.  It is still the most delicious Mexican meal I have ever had.  To this day, I love a spicy Mexican dinner!

   After dinner Jamey's mother offered us her version of a social grace.  Her after-dinner treat was simply to provide us each with one American made cigarette.  She had a friend in the United States that sent her a single pack of American made cigarettes each month and she smoked one cigarette a day.  We all had our own smokes, but we accepted her offering as we felt it would be an insult to refuse hers and smoke our own.  I realized Jamey's mother was not smoking with us.  She had given us her last cigarettes!  I asked Jamey to have his mother sit down near us and relax.  When she finally sat down, I got up off my seat and approached her.  Reaching into my shirt pocket I withdrew a pack of cigarettes and offered her one. The lady accepted my cigarette, and I offered a light.  Jamey's mother was amused that I had the same brand of cigarettes she had given us.  We all laughed until our sides ached.
   
   Jamey seemed pleased.  We sat there for a little while making small talk with Jamey acting as interpreter.  Then we asked Jamey to inform his mother that we had to leave.  We told her that one of us had an upcoming duty shift and we needed to get  back to the ship.  We said adíos and thanked her for the gracious and generous hospitality she had shown us.  That lady might have been very poor but she carried herself as the gracious queen she was.

   Jamey accompanied us when we left his home.  We dropped Mike off at the pier so he could get back to the ship and went to a night club.  It is very hard to ask a girl to dance if you did not speak the language.  We enlisted an interpreter from the Hunley, not thinking Jamey would be with us for the evening.  Jamey was with us, and good luck was on our side, all day.  

   After spending the remainder of the late afternoon at the first Disco, we decided to go to another.  When we walked out, our vehicle had been chained to the curb due to a parking violation.  

   The parking ticket collection system in Acapulco was very efficient.  The police chain your vehicle to the curb until you pay the ticket.  Works every time!  Jamey, seeing what the problem was, walked over to the officer and showed him his gold tooth.  Jamey then spoke to the Policeman for a few moments and solved our problem.  The policeman unchained the vehicle, and started standing guard over our car.  Very cool!

   We had a wonderful time dancing. It was getting late so we took Jamey home, and returned to the ship.
Day 5

   The next day the guys pooled about $30 and I went to the ships store.  I bought 10 cartons of American made cigarettes at $2.00 a carton, one lighter; one can of lighter fluid and one pack of flints for the lighter.  All the items fit into two sacks.  I had duty that day so I could not leave the ship, but Mike had the day off.  I gave the sacks to him and he, in turn, promised to give them to Jamey for his mother.

   Mike returned that night with Jamey's address.  Jamey had requested that we write to him after the ship departed Acapulco.  I made myself the promise I would write.  Jamey wanted the letters to him written in English so he could continue to learn the language.  

   I wrote letters to Jamey for the next six years and he would write back in English.  I noticed that his English improved with each letter.  Jamey had got married and secured employment at that exclusive hotel.   Jamey had a daughter and he sent me a picture of her.  What a young man!  I have since lost his address, but I pray he is doing well.

   A few years later I was to learn from a Mexican friend of mine what had probably happened to Jamey.  Jamey had  became bilingual.  In all likelihood, Jamey had won the job at the hotel because he could speak both English and his native Spanish.  My friend told me that because of the physical and immunization records the U.S.S. Hunley had provided Jamey; those papers probably contributed to his getting employed at the hotel.  My friend also told me that a job as a tour guide would ensure a career in a tourist attraction such as Acapulco.  Jamey was set for life.          

   American servicemen and servicewomen have always extended themselves as "Ambassadors of Good Will" to people the world over.  The money "Uncle Sam" spent on Jamey was the best diplomacy that could be offered.  

   I learned a lot about the Mexican people those few days I spent in Acapulco.  I  fell in love with Mexico.  A small, in stature, fourteen year old young man, his brother and his mother taught me how a smile and laughter can span international borders and languages.  

   Jamey gave me more than I gave him.    

   I am going back to Acapulco and find Jamey.  God willing, I will write the rest of the story. . . . . Vaya con Dios, amigos!
Viva México!!


Copyright © 2004
Clarence W. Andrews Webb City, MO 64870
All rights Reserved

[Rob]

What an enjoyable read!
Thanks for posting this.
Rob Francis

[dadagoboi]

Thanks, Bill.  Great story!