Relive the time period before, during, and after War World II and the Korean War told from a man who was a Navy sailor, Merchant Marine, and bartender in that era. John Barbre recalls his youth from the 1920s in tales of moving across the country to California, his time at military school, experiencing the Pike in Long Beach, meeting celebrities while selling newspapers in Hollywood, and being a bootleg runner. He writes of his wild experiences in the Navy from 1933-1939 aboard the Naval ships of the USS Altair, USS Indianapolis, USS Chicago, and the USS Finch (which he was stationed on in the Whangpoo River during the Sino-Japanese War). All these tales include stories of love and lust with the girls ashore, as well as his adventures as a Coxswain on the motor boats for the USS Chicago and USS Finch. His story moves to the Merchant Marine just before War World II began, and ends with his bartending career on Beacon Street in San Pedro as well as other locations in Southern California, as well as his time driving taxi cabs and working as a railroad signal man.
