Sailors
would go to just about any lengths to get a beer, especially when
they reckoned it was free and served during working hours.
During
our Far East Deployments it was customary whilst visiting in many
countries for the International Red Cross to come aboard with their
Mobile Blood Donor Unit and tap into a ready supply of healthy, young,
fit, Aussie Sailors blood. (Because I was 'O' positive they always
pinched a half a bag extra from me).
As an incentive and reward they would also truck on copious quantities
of San Miguel Beer. Ok. So here is the scenario. Most of the troops
have been ashore at the local bars until the very late hours of 4:00
- 5:00 AM. They are liberally dosed with the local brew and by the
time the Red Cross arrive on board early in the forenoon a certain
number of 'Good Runner's' are hovering bleary eyed, unsteadily on
their feet outside the Ship's Company Cafe with their sleeves rolled
up, arm outstretched, pleading for someone to shove a needle up their
arm and give 'em a beer. On completion of the transfer of bodily liquid
the sailors would not go and lie down as instructed by the local medical
staff but would hover around the fridge conning more beers from the
sweet little nurse. Thus, generally, making a social event out of
the whole exercise, whilst continually transferring the Red Cross'
liquid back into themselves.
I
recall in Manila in 1974 whilst serving in Stuart my 'stepping oppo'
at the time, Leading Seaman Gunner David Knox spending two days (Thursday
and Friday) in the cafe giving two pints of blood whilst he drank
San Mig constantly then raging ashore during the evenings and again
keeping it up for the entire weekend. At 6' 3" and 220 lbs the man
was virtually indestructible.
