Key West in the 1960's was a wonderful place, for an 18-22 year old kid, to be. That's how old I was when I arrived and left. Of course the lessons learned in the 'GATE BAR' made me far older than 22. Thank you Angie, Miss Pat Smith (Key West's sister to Winnie & Moo's Snorkel Patty), Miss Vickie, Old Betty, Young Betty, Marian from Boston, that Canuk French/Indian dark haired/dark eyed gal, and a host of others. I remembered my 'lessons'.

Cumshaw was an acquired art that started with a degree of larceny in your heart. Getting anything off the Bushnell without paper work was our war cry. One time while the Tirante was tied on the quay wall and the Bushnell was in front of the squadron building inside the quay we needed some paint, for whatever. I borrowed an EM1(SS)'s Volkswagen, took out the back seat, drafted a non-qual EM striker and drove over, parking behind the Bushnell's paint locker on the pier. We leisurely picked out cans of paint being sure to get the proper colors, and filled the back of that small Volkswagen. Just as we found the last can we needed there came a cry from a Bosun on the fantail of the Bushnell, "Hey you, what the F... do you think you are doing?" We immediately jumped in and started to leave, remember I said the Volkswagen was small, having the back totally full of paint cans weighs a ton and those old 1960s Vw's didn't have a lot of power. I floored it and swear that non-qual was scooting (pushing with one foot) out the door to pick up speed, well we out ran the bosun, just barely, man can those pissed-off bosuns run, we made it back to the quay wall, unloaded, and finished our painting. Lesson learned, don't take TOO much time picking out your proper paint colors, even those dumb skimmers will realize what is happening given enough time.

The Tirante crew was lucky right before I left, we had the barracks closest to the main gate. I swear it was only 2-3 hundred yards from my rack to a stool in the Gate BAR. A long walk when you are thirsty, and an even longer stumble when you are sh.. faced. Made the walk in both directions many times. Even crawled back a few times.

All I want is one last 'Bud' in the 'Gate' before I leave on eternal patrol.