Key West is different from the world above it!

Key West is the home of one of my favorite writers, Earnest Hemmingway.  Sloppy Joe’s Bar, is a drawing card for folks who enjoy having a beer in a famous spot.  Sloppy Joes was one of Earnest Hemmingway's hang outs.

While we were there some very ‘different’ things happened. I went to work one morning and heard that all the city fathers were arrested and in jail. the mayor, some of the city council, the Chief of police and the fire chief.  All for drug related charges. The Florida State Bureau of Investigation had been working this city for over a year. They had photos and witnesses galore.

The first trial was for ‘Bum Fardo’ the Key West Fire Chief. There was film of him selling drugs to high School kids out of the trunk of his lime green Fire Chief’s car.

Bum was found guilty and released until the sentencing part of the trial.  Bum was never heard from since.

The Police Chief’s office had 100 bales of Marijuana confiscated and spray painted with the numbers 0-99……. At the time of the trial, there were only 2 bales, 0 and 99. The Chief declared, “WE must have mis-labeled them.” 

A prime witness died of battery acid poisoning, in his bath tub, and all of a sudden all the other witnesses vowed they were mistaken of had lied. The city fathers (Except Bum Fardo) were reinstated to their jobs with back pay! Folks figured Bum is wearing concrete boots or is in South America. Ain’t politics wonderful?

Life time friends were made by all our family in Key West. Dan Doughton became a Mustang officer. He and his family became life time friends. We still visit them when we can. they have a wonderful extended family now.

Jack Jr. met Marty Kerns who became his life long friend. Marty has even lived with us for a short period of time. They are still friends here in the Charlotte area. Jack Jr. joined the Navy while visiting and living with Marty’s family in West Virginia.

(Mark’s foot ball injury, a broken foot. His coaches on the right one who swore he had never had a pair of shoes on.)

Mark met Kenny Nickols. Kenny’s dad was an officer locally and later went to GITMO for a spell as a commanding officer of one of the commands there. Mark has just purchased a house within a 1/2 mile of Kenny in Palm Bay, Florida.

Kenny and Mark were on apposing teams, but that did not matter.

After Jack Jr  Joined the navy, We took Kenny with us on leave from Key West. They wanted to visit Grand Father Mt. in NC and watch the hang Gliding off the mountain.

Atop Grand Father's Mt. NC, Kenny on the left and mark on the right.

Jack Jr. and his date for the HS Prom.

Jack as a civilian and jack as Seaman Darnell.

(above Sherry and her two boys)

My mama stayed with us for awhile in Florida.

(I cannot remember a better smile than this, after dad died)

Sherry’s dad loved fishing, what better place than Key West. He loved it down there.

Thanks for coming to Key west with us.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Funny, we were stationed at some exotic places and just considered it an assignment at the time.

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Car of the year 1975, Chevy Monza!