Rest and Recuperation - R&R! |
R&R Hard Luck Stories!Dave Parker wrote in, "Ray, here's a short story on R&R. I NEVER GOT
ONE and I'm still pissed off about it. I had heard all of the great stories from guys
coming back from R&R and I was looking forward to mine. That was at the same time 1/50
was taking its colors home and I had two months left on my tour so I was shipped up north
to the 1/10 Cav in An Khe, and they put me on the bottom of the list for R&R so mine
went out the window. So let these guys know so they can send in their stories that way I
can enjoy theirs and that way I'll get mine." |
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In-country R&R Destinations.
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Out of Country R&R Destinations.(with minimum in-country requirements):
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Hawaii!Hawaii was the most popular destination for R&R (Rest and Recuperation) but was
generally reserved for married soldiers so that they could meet with their families. |
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Thailand!Here's a chance to lay down your politically correct "official" tale of
R&R to impress the little woman.
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Hong Kong!Traditionally, the Wanchai District (Suzie Wong territory) on Hong Kong Island was where sailors and horny businessmen head when they have just one thing on their minds. During the heady days of the Vietnam War and the GIs' famous R&R junkets, Hong Kong's girlie nightlife spread across the harbour to Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, the area along Nathan Road close to the Star Ferry. Most of the R&R hotels were there so the extension was only natural. Incidentally, Hong Kong is still a popular R&R centre for warships of many nations on patrol in the area. In Wanchai, along the famed Lockhart Road and its side streets were dozens and dozens of girlie bars, hostess clubs and pubs, cheek-by-jowl, ranging from evil-smelling dives where anything went (and where one ventured at one's own risk) to respectable establishments with live music and uptown prices. That's changed somewhat these days --- Wanchai has become respectable with an excellent selection of ethnic restaurants and up-market pubs. The number of earthy girlie bars and discos has decreased since Suzie Wong's heyday, making meeting your very own "Suzie" much less likely these days. |
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Australia!Here's an interesting tidbit from the National Archives of Australia, " The Government considered extending the
American R&R scheme to include Australia, while expressing concern about venereal
disease and noting that 'a good proportion ... would be negroes'. Meanwhile, the Minister
for Immigration was determined to maintain Australia's homogeneity and to 'retain our
characteristic Australian identity'. He reported that the changes introduced in 1966 had
not had any significant effect on the population mix." (The historical context:
events and issues that made news in 1967 by Ian Hancock, BA (Melb), BPhil (Oxon), Reader
in History, Australian National University, and Australian Archives Historical Consultant).
Above photos were Copyright © 2002, Marcus Clark. Printed by permission. Melbourne - Downtown, St. Kilda, Brighton. Melbourne is a mix of old and new, high-brow and low-brow, art and sport, rich and poor, with something for everybody. As the Lonely Planet says, "It is cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated, football crazy, conservative and a haven for the avant-garde." The Gold Rush in the 1800's is reflected in historic old public buildings like the Flinders Street Station, St Paul's Cathedral, Town Hall, the flamboyant City Baths... and the atmospheric Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail). The Royal Botanic Gardens are considered to be among the finest in the world. But R&R wasn't solely about architecture... the action was found in St Kilda, then Melbourne's sex and sin centre, full of drunks, drugs, girls, shady deals and shady characters. Weather permitting, and Melbourne weather is notoriously fickle, St Kilda also had a string of beaches and boasted attractions like Luna Park, an old fashioned fairground, and the St Kilda Ice Arena, which mysteriously burned down after National Heritage listing. The inner city suburbs like Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond each had their own attractions, not to mention fanatical football fans. . Sydney - King's Cross, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Park Zoo, Bondi Beach. The Lonely Planet said, "During the Vietnam war, Sydney became a major R&R stopover for US GIs, and the city started tasting of Coke and burgers, while King's Cross developed a fine line in sleazy entertainment for the visiting lads (a speciality it maintains to this day)."
Above photos were Copyright © 2002, Marcus Clark. Printed by permission. |
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