Naval Air StationPort Lyautey, Morocco

The following links to photographs are from the personal collection of Jerry (Gerald J.) Zimmerman who served at NAS Port Lyautey between 8/2/47 to 4/15/48. Former shipmates of Jerry may contact Jerry at Jerdadzim@cs.com.

Naval Air Station Wedding Photographs

Navy Weddings, although not often, did happened and they were major events. It was not an easy task for either an Officer or an Enlisted Man to secure a marriage license. I believe part of the Navy red-tape was to help the applicant to be certain his desire was because of true love and not merely a lonesome infatuation. Another concern was for both the US Navy and the local French Moroccan governments to make certain a local lady wasn't simply looking for an entry into the USA. It became a very traumatic time for the engaged couples as they waited for the needed approval. If and when the approval came, and if the couple wished a church wedding, two ceremonies had to be planned. The first ceremony would be a civil marriage in the Port Lyautey City Hall and performed by registered officials. The good news was that the city always arranged the civil ceremony so the couple could walk out the door and get to the church on time. Typical of this procedure was the wedding of a good friend, Durand following.

PO1/c Durand and his intended appearing before the civilian authorities for the civil ceremony. Note the photograph of Marshall Lyautey on the wall in the background just above the bride's head.

Signing their wedding certificate

The religious ceremony inside the famous Catholic church in Port Lyautey

My friend Durand and his bride after their Port Lyautey wedding.

And Other Weddings

Minutes after a Civil wedding Chief Petty Officer Durocher and his bride, Louise, pose with friends and family on the front steps of Port Lyautey's City Hall. Other than recognizing faces, I can no longer identify any of the Navy guests. I did locate and made contact with Louise in 1996. Dolores and I visited her and her daughter in their retirement home in California, Maryland. (YES! The eastern city is named California.) Chief Durocher had passed away a few years before that meeting. Dolores and I enjoyed exchanging memories with Louise and her daughter, who thanked me for having taken the treasured pictures of her parent's wedding day.

The happy Chief Durocher and his bride smile as they prepare to cut the wedding cake.

Miller and his bride enjoying their Port Lyautey wedding celebration. Although I recall Miller was a Petty Officer First Class, I do not remember his Division of service. To their sides are their ring bearer and flower girl, family members of the bride.

The Miller's cut the traditional wedding cake.

Army Air Force Lt. Olsen was one of a number of weddings I took pictures of during my time at Port Lyautey and had no personal connection. I was pleased to provide my service and talent for those special events. I never saw their unique choice of a "wedding cake before!"

Standing to the left of the Bride is Commander Phelps, the best man, and also my Photographic Officer. No doubt that was one of the reasons I was "invited" to take pictures of Lt. Olsen's wedding.

Bridegroom, Capt. Tuttle, was a good friend of Capt. Dudley, (standing to his the right) who was asked to be his best man at his wedding. Of course I was "invited" to take pictures. The "neat" thing was that the wedding was held at the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia! I shared the round-trip flight from the Base with the future Mrs. Tuttle and other, top-ranking officers. That (besides a very high-pressured assignment) was a true and satisfying ego builder.

The heavily decorated Capt. Tuttle and his bride, exchanging their vows.

The bride and groom used a ceremonial sword to cut their wedding cake. Because I was the only "white hat" at the wedding my place, when I was not taking pictures, was in the entry room between the kitchen and the reception area. That turned out to be a GREAT place to be. The servants treated me as "their special guest," and they went out of their way to make certain I was the FIRST to be served whatever was carried to the head table and other guests. It NEVER got any better than that during my short, but interesting Navy career.

And while Jerry was unable to sit with the honored guests at the wedding, his white hat had a place of honor and pre-eminence amongst all the "scrambled eggs"....................see below!