Greetings from the Central Coast of California. It was 1954, I was in
the Corona Naval Hospital, my parents came over to pick me up and give
me a ride home. My father was a First Class Petty Officer in the United
States Navy.
Almost immediately after getting out he asked if I would like an old
fashioned malt and something to go with it. I said that would be
great! My father was in uniform, my mother was nicely dressed, nothing
fancy but neat. I was in some sort of cut offs and tennis shoes and
what ever try could locate for me to put on and get out of the
hospital. We drove up to a restaurant in Corona, what is now is the
main part of town but in those days it was like out in the boonies. We
went in and sat down.
The longest time went buy and finally my father stood up and went over
to the waitress. She pointed a finger at a sign hanging over the
register. "WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE".
Apparently they did not like service families. I guess you might say
they did not know we were human beings too and that the Korean War was
in progress. So for all you folks that have been turned away for one
reason or another. Whether it is in a "Great Old GMC" or one of those
"Great Old Branches of the American Services". Keep the faith, life is
great if you just don't weaken.
Chuck, 78 Eleganza
the Corona Naval Hospital, my parents came over to pick me up and give
me a ride home. My father was a First Class Petty Officer in the United
States Navy.
Almost immediately after getting out he asked if I would like an old
fashioned malt and something to go with it. I said that would be
great! My father was in uniform, my mother was nicely dressed, nothing
fancy but neat. I was in some sort of cut offs and tennis shoes and
what ever try could locate for me to put on and get out of the
hospital. We drove up to a restaurant in Corona, what is now is the
main part of town but in those days it was like out in the boonies. We
went in and sat down.
The longest time went buy and finally my father stood up and went over
to the waitress. She pointed a finger at a sign hanging over the
register. "WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE".
Apparently they did not like service families. I guess you might say
they did not know we were human beings too and that the Korean War was
in progress. So for all you folks that have been turned away for one
reason or another. Whether it is in a "Great Old GMC" or one of those
"Great Old Branches of the American Services". Keep the faith, life is
great if you just don't weaken.
Chuck, 78 Eleganza
