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Sunday, February 22, 2015

One of my Forrest Gump's Moments


Fifty years ago yesterday, February 21, 1965, we went to New York City.  It was only about 60 miles away from our base.  We read a mass order from the Fleet Commander that there would be an anti-Vietnam War protest of Arm Services people in their uniforms  at Union Square in New York City, and  under no circumstances active servicemen  to attend .  Anybody in uniform would be arrested by Military Police.

We went, but didn't wear our uniforms.   We wanted to take pictures.

We found Union Square but there was no protest going  on.  Maybe we were early, maybe we were late, or maybe the location was changed at the last minute.

Just killing time, we rode around looking at the big city.  We rode up 5th Avenue and passed the Guggenheim Museum on the right, and up a few blocks the Metropolitan Museum on the left  and Central Park.  Then several more blocks and Central Park on the left ended. 

Seeing the pedestrians we realize we were in Harlem.

WHAM! 

Somebody  hit my Volvo with some kind rock or brick.  Some people shouted at us.

We got the heck out of there.


Later, on the news we learned that Malcom X had been assassinated in New York City.   Maybe the reason we were hollered at was because I had  Georgia License Plate on the car.

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