PORT LYAUTEY GUESTLOG FOR THE YEAR 2010

POSTED: 07/26/10 0630 hours

My name is Doug Rattazzi (L/Cpl) stationed at Main side Marine Barracks First Guard Co. 2nd Plt. 1960-61. Love your site and the memories the photo's bring.

Worked Front & Back Gate and FICURE. Can be reached at Rattazzi@aol.com. Semper Fi.

POSTED: 07/10/10 2215 hours

We were stationed in Kenitra from Oct. 1966 to June 1967 with the USAF. My husband was one of two instructor pilots in the F5 to train the Moroccan pilots. He was killed on June 26, 1967 in a training flight along with a Moroccan pilot. My youngest child was born at the base hospital in March 67. I have several photos taken not only at his funeral there, but photos of the AFofficers and top Moroccan officers of the squadron. My hope is to some day visit Morocco with my 3 children.

Mary Wilson Goodenough ~ marygood1@verizon.net
Camarilli, CA

POSTED: 07/05/10 1025 hours

We were stationed at Nouasseur Air Base south of Casablanca from September 1957 to March 1961 and made several trips to the Naval Base at Port Lyautey to see what the base exchange and commissary had that Nouasseur didn't have for sale.

Currently I'm writing my memoirs about our years in Morocco and the trips that we made around the country. Of course, I need to write about Port Lyautey also. In fact, now that I think of it the Navy was very good to us when we were returning from the Med. Cruise which left us at the base at Cadiz, Spain. A Navy plane flew us to Port Lyautey but the Air Force was not there to meet us! Thankfully the Navy provided our group with a bus ride to Nouasseur which was about 100 miles.

A few years ago I discovered that a college classmate had been a Naval doctor at Port Lyautey at the same time we were at Nouasseur. He was sent to Agadir to provide medical care immediately after the earthquake that devastated the city in April 1961.

Charleen Oerding ~ hotomy@hevanet.com
Portland, Oregon

POSTED: 07/05/10 0715 hours

Hi Lou,

My father, LCDR John J Cash, was stationed at Port Lyautey from approx 1956 to 1958 with my family. I was born at the Naval hospital Jan. 1958 and was delivered by a Dr. Poff. I know my parents loved it there. As so many others have written, I too hope to make it there someday.

Most sincerely,
Christine Cash Johnson ~ johnson8495@mlode.com

POSTED: 06/30/10 2230 hours

Hi Lou,

I am Fred Greenwood and I was stationed at Port from June 1962 to July 1964. Arrived as AGAN and left as AG2. I worked for AG1 Don Swanberg at the Rawin site along the golf course. Worked in Don Smith (Smitty's section for 4 months and then as his replacement when he shipped out. He may be remembered for his offtime which he spent as a country music DJ on the radio station). I spent the last months of my tour in the weather center cryptosection. I worked in Rawin with John Impeduglia, Del Jandrew, Butch Huhn, and others I can't recall. Would love to visit Morrocco again. Have many fond memories of my tour but like many young people I failed to take advantage of all that was offered. Oh, but that we could do it again. Thanks for the site.

Would like to hear from other weather guessers from this period. email jffarms@prodigy.net

POSTED: 06/18/10 1830 hours

Hello,

I found this site while looking for information on the base hospital, where I was born in 1962. My father, PHCS Paul F. Fereday (he was probably a PH2 or PH1 at the time) was station there and lived off base in Kenitra.

Thanks for an interesting couple of hours as I looked at all the photos and read some of the stories.

David P. Fereday ~ David.Fereday@dbhds.virginia.gov

POSTED: 06/17/10 1900 hours

Hi,

I was so happy to see this site! My dad was Lcdr. Jerry Krueger( GCA) and we were stationed in 1961-62. I was only in 5th grade and loved it there. I remember all of it. I was hoping I could connect with some families that we knew in the Navy! I have lost touch with all of my good and wonderful friends that I grew up with when my Dad was in the Navy!

Thanks,

Faith Hendrickx (Krueger) ~ faith.hendrickx@gmail.com

POSTED: 06/13/10 0820 hours

I was stationed in Morocco twice. Original time was at the NAS 57-59..super duty and outstanding job.

Second time was 63-67 at Sidi Yahia (NCS) again, super duty and more than outstanding job. Would go back in a heart beat, if there were chance to meet people from the local area again. However, since years have passed, am sure most of the folks I would want to see again have passed on. Morocco was one of my most interesting duty assignments during my Navy career of 35 years.

Raymond E. Steckman, RMCM, RETIRED ~ raysteckman@verizon.net

POSTED: 06/10/10 1925 hours

Thanks for the web link.

My family was attached to the US Embassy in Rabat, starting in 1960. I went to Highschool in Port Lyautey/Kenitra, back in from 1965 graduating in 1969. Plenty of great memories of the base and the great bunch of guys there. So much so, I enlisted in the Navy in 1970 and then got posted to Davisville RI. Love history and am reading everything I can find about Port Lyautey from operation Goalpost to the NTC closing in the mid '70s.

Can still remember the royal blue French fighter planes on the runway and adjoining tarmac on the east access road when I first arrived and then later the Moroccan F-5 jets steep inclined take-offs just outside the school building's windows. Of course we can't forget our own airport terminal with the MATS aircraft just outside the passenger fencing. I can still smell the overstuffed brown chairs & couches in the waiting area! (must have sat there too long...)

Can still see the Moroccan personnel in and around their barracks, down the hill from our BEQs and the Hospital but this side of the Acey Duecy CPO club. I remember the Moroccan officers shopping in our PX, sorta exercising their 'base priviliges'. And, I remember the total lack of our flying Old Glory, looking instead at the green star on a red flag.

50+ years later, I find this site! Sometimes it only takes a nudge like this to nudge this old mind back in time. Thanks for the memories!

Andre Milot ~ andresats@verizon.net

POSTED: 06/08/10 1245 hours

Hi there Lou,

I wrote to your website 02/07/09 because I lived in Kenitra from 1966 to 1969. My name is Susie, I am English, and I worked at Mama's, La Hutte and 007.

This is a big thank you because I have since had three people contact me, which is wonderful. People I had not spoken to for over 40 years.

Unfortunately, I no longer have the same email address - and I can't see a way to change it on the site. So if there is anyone else out there who might have known me and would liketo get in touch - my email is now susiekay@live.com

Kind regards,

Susie Kay

POSTED: 05/26/10 1930 hours

Greetings from Phill Miller, CTO3, stationed at NCS Sidi Yahia in '69 -70. Too damn young to really enjoy it. I'd love to go back today.

I remember hail right around Christmas...very exciting...almost like snow in Minnesota where I had come from.

Currently working for the Veterans Administration in White City, Oregon... "VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics", a
residential Treatment program for Vets.

Email at: playford1400@earthlink.net

POSTED: 05/16/10 0115 hours

I don't recall all of the details after these forty-seven plus years, but do recall that we spent at least one day - if not more - in late 1962 waiting for weather or something! Took off from there and landed in the Canary Islands, then on to Norfolk for discharge! Trying to capture some of my past now and finally found the correct spelling of the base.

Thanks for your work. I try to help with our ship website and I know the time you invest.

Tom James IC2 Sec-Treas ~ tomalynn@hotmail.com

USS Dahlgren Association

225 Nale Drive

Madison, AL 35758

POSTED: 05/08/10 0740 hours

Hi, Lou…Just came across your website and have been entranced reading memories of that place from those who were there.

I didn’t see anybody who had been at FICEUR, the Fleet Intelligence Center, Europe, on the base,—where I was assigned to during that time period.

My wife and I lived off-base in the apartment building that was directly across from the City Hall square at # 39 Albert 1st, later Avenue Mohammed V.

I had been previously stationed on the staff of the Airborne Early Warning Wing Atlantic at USNAS Argentia, Newfoundland where I met a Canadian girl
whom I married, and we both left for Morocco a couple of weeks after we were “hitched” in June of 1959. Our son, John, was born at the Port Lyautey base
hospital in 1961 and is presently a Captain, USNR, at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA, where he heads the Anesthesia Department.

Many, many fond memories of Morocco, including the following:

Buying a block of ice from the “ice man” down the street from the hotel…The busy café on the corner…Seeing tanker trucks carrying wine to the port for
shipment to France…Wine brands such as “Beni Malek and “Boulouane”…the Marche market and the Boulangerie Francaise…bargaining for fruit and
vegetables…the outdoor movie on the base…the Oasis…trips to Rabat and Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, and Azrou and Ifrane...The “Coq d’Or”
nightclub and belly-dancers in Casablanca…

Administrative visits to the 6th Fleet, on the carriers Intrepid, Roosevelt, and Shangri-La, and getting seasick on all three ships.

Playing golf on the course at the base, and sampling fresh figs from the tree that grew there.

A couple of “chergui” windstorms, with blowing sand and temperatures “off the top”.

I had a good friend, Capt. Frank Heyer, who was Chief of Staff at the Wing in Argentia,, and who later was CO of VR-24.

We had a most marvelous “Fatima”, Dayia, who used to wheel our little John down to the Marche to buy stuff at prices far cheaper than I could bargain
for.

Dayia had a brother named Regregui, and we were invited to his wedding in the Medina. We brought along a wedding gift, an electric steam iron. The men
ate separately from the women. I remember the apparent “no-no” horror when I, a left-hander, stuck my paw into the cous-cous at the wedding feast, and
afterwards was quickly given a fork.

I had a VW “Bug” in those days, and it was well looked after by Monsieur Roger Rougelin, who installed the yellow headlights that never worked
properly and which he insisted were home to the Devil.

We lived in that apartment building on Albert the 1st—the only steam-heated building in the city, or so we were told—from 1959 till our departure for
the States in October, 1962.

Just a few memories of that marvelous time and place. As I look over the Pacific Ocean from my place of retirement, Vancouver, British Columbia,
where I’ve been for the past 35 years. I know that I wouldn’t have missed the Moroccan tour for all the beans in China. If I still had my fez and
Moroccan slippers, I’d be the happiest guy alive.

Nat Shapira, Lt., USNR, ~ sarastro@shaw.ca

FICEUR, NAS Port Lyautey, July, 1959-October, 1962

POSTED: 05/05/10 0530 hours

I was at the Marine Barracks Sidi Yahia 76-77. I was proud to have served with the people there. I was a dog handler. Played all the sports I could
and enjoyed the travel to Spain and Sicily with the different sports teams.

Thanks for the memories, Harrison Todd ~ Hrtodd1954@aol.com

POSTED: 05/02/10 0615 hours

I TRAVELED FROM NORFOLK BY DC 7 AND REMAINED IN PORT LYAUTEY FOR 2 WEEKS WAITING FOR MY PLANE FLIGHT TO NICE, FRANCE TO CATCH UP WITH MY SHIP THE USS FREMONT, APA 44.

LYAUTEY WAS GREAT. DAVID M. BARRETT, LTJG, USN. ~ davebarrett21@gmail.com

POSTED: 04/27/10 1230 hours

Hi Lou - my former husband was stationed through the Navy Reserve at Sidi Yahia for two years from 1968-70, and I worked at Port Lyautey for the Navy
Exchange officer. It is hard to believe that the crown prince that I used to escort around the Navy Exchange is now the King. It was a wonderful
time - still wish I had my Moroccan maid. We lived in downtown Kenitra off the base with a bunch of other American sailors and their families together
with a bunch of French Moroccans. We still keep in touch with each other and our families have grown tremendously. We didn't have any children while
in Morocco but had 4 when we returned to the states, and then unfortunately went through a divorce. But we both have fond memories of Morocco and
their people/culture, and would go back there again in a heartbeat.

Sue Slocum ~ Sos1231@aol.com
Stamford, CT

POSTED: 04/26/10 2230 hours

Hello to anyone who might have been at Port Lyautey between 1942-1957. My father was David E. Culross and he worked in the Finance office there
on the base. He met my Mother, Laurette Lubrano Lavedera and married her in 1945. They returned Stateside and were stationed in Kentucky. In 1946
my oldest brother was born in Indianapolis Indiana while my parents were visiting my grandmother on my Father's side. They returned back to Morocco and my second brother and I were born at my grandmother's house in Casablanca in 1950 and 1952.We lived for a while on Medea Beach until all American personnel were ordered to live on base due to the dangers outside of the base itself. Dad continued to work in the Finance office until 1957 when we returned to Indiana and he worked at Grissom Air Force Base as the SAC Budget officer until his retirement which I believe was in 1986. Dad passed away in 2002 and is sorely missed by his eight children. Would be interested to hear from other kids that lived on base. Our house was on the circle and just off the runway.

I also, as others have stated, would love to go back but have been cautioned by family members and friends who have been there not to do so. They said it is nothing like I would have remembered it and would be a great disappointment. My being born there always intrigues people and it caused my daughter, who applied for a passport after 9/11, to wait six months while they researched my background. I also only have a photocopy of my birth certificate but fortunately have maintained my passport and have not needed it for anything else.

Anyone wishing to communicate can reach me at erkupec@yahoo.com.

Best Regards

Elizabeth Culross Kupec

POSTED: 04/26/10 2230 hours

Lou,

My father, Harold Clarence "Nick" Carter, served in the U.S. Navy at Port Lyautey from Jan-Aug 1944. During that time he was in a plane crack-up and was injured and treated there. Later he was shipped back home. I have tried to locate information about his time there as well as his injuries. I have some photos showing himthere yet the government says they have no record of his being there or his injury. He is dead now butmy family would like to know a little more about his time in North Africa. Is there any way you can direct me to information on my dad's time there? I also have four photos I can share with your web-site if you are interested.

Nick Carter
cnickc@yahoo.com

POSTED: 04/23/10 0630 hours

WEB-EDITOR NOTE! See e-mail following this entry

Hello, Dawn!

I was one of the doctors at the Port Lyautey Station Hospital (where you were born) from February 1959 to January 1961. There is a one in seven chance that I may have delivered you if you weren't a complicated delivery and if you were born outside regular working hours - ask your mom. Amyhow, my wife, her cousin, and I were on a Morocco Elderhostel in October 2005. From Rabat we hired a taxi and directed the driver to drive us to Kenitra. As we got to the gate I asked the Moroccan Air Force guard in my fractured French, to allow us to visit and explained to him that I had lived there for almost two years and had worked in the hospital. He refused to let us in. Friends of mine from California had been there around 1999 or 2000 while the movie "Blackhawk Down" was being filmed there* and were allowed to drive around the base and even went into the hospital, now being used by the Moroccan Air Force. Apparently the Moroccans have tightened up on whom they allow on the base as a result of the events of 9/11/2001. Anyhow, after we were refused entry, we directed the driver to take us over to Mehdia Beach, where we spent leisure time 50 years ago, then to Bouknadel Beach, now known as "Plage des Nations" and closer to Rabat, where we also spent leisure time. The city of Kenitra has grown beyond recognition, as has the stretch of coastal highway between Rabat and Kenitra. You'd probably enjoy visiting Morocco, but I'd recommend going with a group, such as Elderhostel. You might also visit the CCCL (Center for Cross-Cultural Learning) website, www.cccl.ma. CCCL is a Rabat NGO and might have some information of interest. But don't plan on entering the base at P. L. I have no idea what has happened to Sidi Yahia. Maybe someone else who reads your 4/19/2010 post on the Port Lyautey website may know.

*Blackhawk Down has scenes filmed on the base, especially of the air terminal area, and sweeping aerial views of the beaches between Kenitra and Rabat. Much of the action was filmed in the cities of Rabat and its neighboring city Salé, across the Oued Bou Regreg River. It looks much the same as 50 years ago. Salé was off limits to us, but a civilian friend and I went there anyhow. Luckily we survived.

Yours,
A. Franklin White, M. D.
Louisville, KY
AFWhite@BellSouth.net

POSTED: 04/19/10 0200 hours

Hi, My name is Dawn Salamone Beresford and I was born at the Naval Hospital in 1960. My father was stationed at Port Lyautely then. He was previously
stationed in Sidi Yahia around 1957-1959. His name is Joe Salamone. At one point he coached the base's Little League team. I will be 50 this year and
I am interested in seeing the place of my birth. Does anyone know if I can actually get on to the base? I know it was closed by the US in the '70's,
but didn't know if it is still accessible. I have only pictures and my father's stories about where I was born and I figure at 50, it's as good a
time as any to go to Morocco. Please feel free to email me at dberes1@verizon.net with any feedback.

Thank you.

Dawn Salamone Beresford

POSTED: 04/19/10 0200 hours

I was stationed in Port Lyautey in1957 and1958. 3rd class mechanic in the Seabees. I played on the base football team. I worked as the service mgr at the motor pool. Drove the wrecker on duty night had a great time in Morocco went by name Woody. I,M FROM HENDERSON KY been in the automobile business for 50 yr. 73 years old work ever day would love to hear from any of the guys station with me. Marion Bruce Woodring, woodring@insightbb.com.

POSTED: 04/13/10 1720 hours

Served as a Parachute Rigger with the Marine Detachment from June 1958 through October 1958. Unit flew R4Q aircraft.

Charles W. Dunn
President
Life Systems, Inc.
FAA Station # KQ1R279K

e-mail: cdunnusmc@baybroadband.net

POSTED: 03/29/10 1700 hours

Hi, and thanks for your time and work on the website. It is really nice.

I ended up here because I was trying to fill in the "places I've been too" application on Facebook, and could not remember how to spell Port Lyauttey, so I began phonetically typing in the way I learned to pronounce it, along with my knowledge that Morocco was a French territory while I was there. My first attempt was 'porte laoatey". Then I tried straight phonetics, and typed in 'port layoatay'. I was fortunate because through Wikipedia, that finally got me to your site.

I was in the 4th grade, and my dad was an Air Force Captain stationed in Rabat at the U.S. Air Force Command Center. We were there from spring 1953 thru fall
1956, Then we were re-stationed to the Tripoli, Libya A.F.B. for 6 mos. before returning to the states about mid-57 to Gardena, Calif. where my dad reported to Vandenburg, A.F.B.

Although I was young, I really enjoyed Morocco via the day and weekend trips we made throughout the country. It was a real good time in my life.

While in Rabat, we shared a duplex with a French Commandant and his family (7 Rue de Salon). They lived on the ground floor and we lived on the second floor, although we did get the driveway, tiny garage to store the firewood in, and the bigger part of the back yard.

Somehow my dad connected with the son of the 'personal secretary' to the Sultan' of Morocco. It might have been the 1949 Cadillac that my dad brought over there with us that attracted the attention. Anyway, this guy not only bought the Cadillac, he bought the Automatic Record Player and a whole bunch of American stuff that we had brought with us, and to help make us friends, he invited us to a Moroccan Dinner at the Sultan's Summer Palace which was only a short drive from our house. Wow, was that fantastic! He told us that we were the first foreigners (non Arab) to be there in that part of the palace.

Anyway, lots more stories, not enough time right now.

Again, thanks for the memories!

Richard Woodworth rich_dubya@hotmail.com

POSTED: 03/25/10 0800 hours

Hello ---My dad was stationed at the Marine Barracks, Port Lyautey in 1955-57 era. I looked at a lot of his folders and saw where names like Col Silvey, Lt Honse, SgtMaj Cipparone, Sgt Pierce, LtCol Morriaty,Col Manderville, IstLt Fred Kuhn, Lt Rapp, etc. Do these names ring a bell for anyone. Thanks

Sally Bern ~ sallync24@yahoo.com

POSTED: 03/07/10 0600 hours

What a fantastic Web Site. Well done. I was only 4 years old when I moved to Port Lyautey in 1955. My father, CPO Billy McKinnies was attached to VR-24 until his retirement in 1959. My mother, a french native of Morocco met my father in Kenitra. My maternal grandmother owned the Hotel Continental, across from the "Marche". I have a lot of fond memories of that period; Lake Roomey was a popular place for boating, fishing and camping out. My last visit to Port Lyautey was in 1973. I was in the Navy at the time, flew in from Rota, Spain. My Father, working for the Navy Resale Systems Office (Navy Exchange) was there on business as my Mother was visiting her family. Sadly, it was my last visit there. Morocco is indeed a beautiful country.

My Father joined the Navy Exchange system following his retirement in 1959 and retired from NRSO. He devoted his life to Military and Civil Service work. He passed away in 2001. My Mother is still around and still traveling the world as she has done for so long.

All the pictures on this web site are fantastic. Thank you to all that contributed. I certainly wish we had pictures to share, I would send them in.

Eric L. McKinnies: ELMCKINNIES@aol.com

POSTED: 03/05/10 1415 hours

Randy MacCloskey CE-3
Stationed from 9/68-10/69
Had a house at Media Beach
Worked with Russell Hope and Lou Romans
Johnny Perez Public Works OIC

CaptRandy77@aol.com

POSTED: 03/04/10 0900 hours

My father was in the Navy and we lived in Morocco from 1970-1972. We lived in Kenitra for about a year before moving on to the base at Sidi Yahia. I will never forget living there or the great people we all met while living there.

David Miller
dmiller@aninetworks.com

POSTED: 03/01/10 0600 hours

My husband, Joe H. Danens AL1 was a crew member on the PB4Y2 shot down over the Baltic on 8 April 1950..From 1949 through 1954 I worked as
secretary to the Commanding Officer of the base..Captain Ford Newton Taylor....Captain Thurston Booth Clark and then Captain William Sisson....I had been a WAVE, YN1 and went civil service after discharge (1944-1948)...I am still involved with the DOD regarding the MIA/POW incidents..Needless to say I was thriled to find this website, actually, my brother found it and sent it on to me. I have some pictures and "boo cou" memories...wonder if there is anyone still around from that time...there is much more to the story, but I would like to hear from you first. Many many thanks for making this possible.

Ruth Rachel ~ ruthrachel@webtv.net

POSTED: 02/21/10 0400 hours

I was a SeaBee with MCB-4 during a tour at the base in late 1954-55. Lived on "confusion hill", worked building some barracks and power sub-station on the base and buildings for the Marines at Bouknadel. Had a great time there. Made friends with two young arabs who worked for the American contractor also doing construction. They took us everywhere from their homes to surrounding areas. I particularly remember an outdoor souk in an open field where the children where treated to a delicacy - roasted grasshopper.

Our arab friends (I only remember the name of one: Bouchsaid Bensalem - my spelling) were gracious hosts; my buddy, Tom Gaul, and I had a hard time convincing them to let us pick up checks. We ate at the home of one of them and had cous-cous. A little girl, about 5, lived in the house and I had my mother send over a little dress for her. Unfortunately I gave it to him on the base to take home to the girl. The French guards at the gate roughed up our arab friend and tore the dress. I had my mother send another and I took it to her. In the 7 or 8 months I was there I witnessed two other incidents for which the French cannot be proud. Come to think of it they were not too fond of us, either.

I read one note from a sailor stationed on Guam who didn't re-up because he would be sent to Port Lyautey and it was worse than Guam. I guess that proves what can happen to your brain sitting on that rock for too long - and I had SeaBee friends who could attest to that.

All in all, I had great experiences from Casa and Rabat to Fez, Meknes and other places whose names I don't remember. It was the only duty station I had been to that I would re-visit if I could.

Thanks,
Bill Boyle - former BU1 with MCB-4 ~ andatsys@yahoo.com

POSTED: 02/17/10 2050 hours

I was in transient while awaiting a flight to Fasron (Special) 200 at London in 1956. I believe that Morroco had just won its independence from France at that time. I then returned in 1962 for duty until 1966. It was then Kenitra. I worked in the Supply Dept. I arrived by ship in Casablanca and left by ship from Gibralter. Travelled quite a lot while there. Was an enjoyable tour. A great website.

Ron Cadari ~ r.cadari@verizon.net
E-8 USN Ret.

POSTED: 02/17/10 1340 hours

My father Sergeant William (Gene) Stinnett was stationed in Port Lyautey and then Sidi Yahia from 1956 to 1958. We went to School in Sidi Slimane (Air Force Base). My dad was our baseball coach. He started little league in Sidi Yahia and built the baseball field. We went to Wiesbaden, Germany for the Europe Championship little league games. My sister Melba had a best friend, Sandy Boudrou. I saw her name on the guest book, but her email was not correct. There were three boys, Phil, Bill and Robert Stinnett. We played baseball. I remember Greg Marshall, the Pugh's. it was a long time ago.

Phil Stinnett ~ pes@nc.rr.com

POSTED: 02/11/10 1715 hours

Hi LOU: Thanks for the memories. I was with VR-24 from 08/54 until 10/56 (some with the det. in Naples). Remember my time as a flight orderly, with memories of many fellow crew members. After leaving VR-24, went to FASRON 200 Iin Blackbushe, UK for three years. Reired as PNC in 1973, and residing now in Omaha, NE. Would like to hear from some old shipmates, (Jim Tracy; Frank Murphy among many. I remember this as the tour of duty that convinced me that leaving the Navy after 4 years and living in Omaha would be boring. Thanks for the great site.

Darrell Brock ~ cbrock@tconl.com

POSTED: 02/11/10 1430 hours

Wow! Where do I begin? I was looking for the house we lived in on Google Maps satellite view and stumbled upon your web site.

My father was stationed there in 1951 and again with our family from June 1961 to July 1963 when we transferred to Rota, Spain, for a year. The two
years we spent in Kenitra made a lasting impression on me and became one of the core formative experiences of my life. I had the good fortune to meet
people who took an interest in me and taught me about the things that they did, sparking an interest in learning that has been with me my entire life.
I learned French there and a little bit of Arabic, adding to the Italian and English languages I had grown up with. The cultural exchange provided me
with some very rich experiences and fond memories.

The family who sat at our table on the MSTS ship across the Atlantic had a little girl in her high chair who would eat just the butter with a spoon
from her buttered bread and leave the rest. I was convinced that’s where her blond hair came from. They ended up living out at the beach during
their stay there. I remember the houses at the beach as a very humid area and they always warned us about going out into the water due to the strong
undertow and sharks near shore.

We lived off base in a quiet neighborhood not too far from the Princess Hotel where we stayed upon our arrival. Lausine (forgive my spelling) was
the owner of the hotel at the time, was a wonderful host, and catered to all our needs. The food was incredible and it seemed like every night was a
party with a large crowd. Josie’s Bar was next door with the jukebox blaring Edith Piaf songs at all hours. She was quite a character and my
mother got along great with her. We were introduced to many of the local French and Moroccan people who later became part of our lives there. Josie’s
husband also had a restaurant where my brother and I would have dinner when my father was out of town on flight duty in the Med and my mother was in
Naples with her sister who was ill at the time. I remember Monsieur Cabege (sp?), well known to the American community, who was married to a French
woman who converted to Islam in order to marry him – it took me a while to wrap my little head around that one since I couldn’t understand why anyone’s
faith would have to get in the way of getting married. They gave me a blue-eyed white rabbit as a gift and I still have the pictures of us in the
back yard with him crossing his front legs when he stood on his hind feet to reach up for a carrot. We also had a big dog named Joker who would eat the
oranges from the heavily laden branches of our neighbors tree that would sag over the wall and into our back yard. It wasn’t the strangest thing our dog
did, but it did introduce me to new people. I also got a chance to meet a lot of people when I would take him for a walk – mostly by being dragged
down the street all the way to the park so that he could bark at the swans in the pond when they would hiss & peck on his big nose. Getting back home
always got me a lot of attention due to the bleeding scrapes and torn scabs on my knees and arms, but what can you expect when the dog outweighed me? We
also had chameleons in our hedges, a duck, a chicken, a hedgehog, huge toads, and storks that would nest on top of our chimney – which precluded
using the fireplace at all in the winter. We would put fresh orange peels on a bed of coals in a steel bucket in the hearth instead giving the whole
house a wonderful fragrance for the holidays.

I remember my father driving fast down the hill on the back road to the base where oncoming drivers would courteously flash their headlights to signal
that police were up ahead and not to get caught speeding. I also remember trying to count the number of white cowbirds as we drove through the golf
course coming up the hill past the gate entrance. He was with the VR24 squadron and was promoted to chief while we were there. I remember the
hangover he had from the initiation party – still have some pictures from it, too. AZC Gerald John Peiffer, Jerry to all who knew him. He passed
away in February 1984. I remember a flurry of excitement over one mission when a Russian torpedo washed up on shore in Turkey and they had to fly it
to Dover in a hurry. Another incident that made an impression on me was the tragic death of a serviceman and his family from using an Aladdin kerosene
heater indoors without adequate ventilation. Never forgot that lesson on carbon monoxide poisoning… One of the flights we took to Naples at
Christmas had a jet engine strapped down on a skid that would shift a little during turbulence. It was secure, but my eyes sure got big every time it
would move towards me in those cargo webbing bench seats we were strapped into. I was given a nice tour of the relative warmth and quiet of the
cockpit and had a chance to see the alps on one of the instrument displays. They always had the best box lunch sandwiches on those flights and I still
haven’t found a deli that makes them that good.

The food there was amazing, all the fruit and vegetables grew much larger and were tastier than we had encountered elsewhere. As a kid I never quite
understood how we could get the best tasting steaks when the local cattle looked so emaciated. I since learned that we had quality beef from
Argentina at the commissary at the time. I don’t recall ever eating as much shrimp in my life as I did as a kid at the Princess Hotel restaurant,
especially on my birthday! I ate escargot for the first time at a restaurant that we drove for hours to get to one night along with our French
family friends, the Hamard’s, who helped me learn to eat in a civilized manner with proper etiquette. ;-) Music and dancing was just as big a part
of our lives as all the dinners and parties. Our parents used to go down to the night clubs in Bouknadel and Casablanca with their friends. They had a
great time. Through our French connections, they met a number of people in business and government and were frequently invited to functions. On one
occasion they even made an exception to their custom of men-only and invited my mother to join them for an audience in a palace, which was typical of the
way that my family always managed to break through social barriers of all kinds everywhere we lived. They would have been good diplomats if that had
been their line of work.

Our maid Zaira invited us to a special dinner hosted by her aunt in their home in the Medina. This was a pretty big deal to them and I was reminded
to properly behave according to their customs – which was a rather moot point since a certain degree of circumspection was the norm given the number
of events and cultural exchanges that were the routine in our household. There must have been twenty kids piled on the back of our big American car as we
slowly waded through a sea of humanity getting to her place. It had a small garden courtyard and a seating area where the food was prepared and quite a
comfortable spread for the whole meal. The cous-cous and tagine were REALLY good and we had a great time. The house consisted of a patchwork of wood,
fabrics, and sheet metal with rugs on a dirt floor but it was just as inviting and comfortable as any of the lavish settings we had been in
elsewhere. Home is where the heart is and these wonderful people had big hearts in the right place.

I would often wander through my neighborhood on my own and met a number of interesting people that way. I couldn’t dream of being able to let my
little daughter do that sort of thing nowadays here in the U.S., but those were certainly different times. I thought it was interesting to find the
goats sleeping up in the shady branches of a tree during the hot part of the day. I played with the kids next door where we would use a swiveling
blackboard on wheels in their garage teaching each other to write words in our respective languages. Ali was the eldest son and I still have the
wristwatch that he gave me on my 8th birthday. I also met an American family in the neighborhood who had a little boy that I would sometimes play
with. His father was an officer in the Navy and he spent a great deal of time teaching me about stamp collecting and helped me start my own
collection. They also had a six month old daughter who became very sick and suddenly died of pneumonia. It was a tragic loss for them and although I
was a youngster and didn’t quite know how to express my condolences, I tried to make sure that I spent time at their place to play with their son and do
what little I could to help. Unfortunately all I have been able to find in my pictures of them were some of the little boy’s toys in their front yard.

Thanks for hosting your site. It brought back some wonderful memories.

John Peiffer ~ peiffer.john@gmail.com

POSTED: 02/06/10 0700 hours

A search on Google for callsign NHY brought me here, I remember in 1953/54 I had to pass the occasional message from RAF Gloucester in the UK to Port Lyautey, it was such an unusual occurrence to have traffic that NHY was dubbed Not heard yet!

Ian Denney (ex RAF SAC wireless operator) E-Mail address removed upon request

POSTED: 02/05/10 0700 hours

Our family was stationed there from June 1956 to June 1959. My father was Tom Lancaster, leading chief of VR-24. We lived in town on Rue de orange for 18 months and then moved into the new quarters near the school (36-B). We had a wonderful experience and learned more about the world there than any where else we have lived. I have met a few people who had followed us back to the U.S. to Jacksonville, FL. I have two sisters, Janice and Karol and a brother Tom who was born there in 1957. Jan cycled next to a fellow for 2 years before she found out he had been there in 1956. Small world.

Ellen Lancaster Godfrey ~ ggodfrey@bellsouth.net

POSTED: 02/04/10 0615 hours

Francis John (Tiny) Mazanec, Sr. Retired Chief Torpedoman, USN and Port Lyautey Alumni Association Member
Aug 18, 1921 - Jan 29, 2010
North Fort Myers, FL
Service Information: A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:00 at The Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Chapel 1600 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida.33907

Please send condolences to:

Mary Ellen Mazanec, 1320 Harbor View Drive, N. Fort Myers, FL 33917

E-MAIL MEMAZANEC@JUNO.COM

POSTED: 01/20/10 0645 hours

Hi,

My name is Jean-Claude Lyall, and I am from Port Lyautey. We moved to the U.S. back around 1963. We now live in NC, USA. I am interested in corresponding with people who are from Port Lyautey, or have been there. Your site is great and I hope to meet others as well.

Please email me with any and all info that you are willing to share. I eagerly look forward to hearing from you!

Jean-Claude ~ lyallj2001@yahoo.com

POSTED: 01/19/10 1910 hours

Hi,

I'm Vic Markey. I was stationed at NAF Port Lyautey and then Sidi Yahia from August 1952 until August 1955. Niether Sidi Yahia nor Sidi Boukanadel had been completed when I arrived but were then under constuction.

I worked in a Navy Maintenance Unit (EMU) on NAF P/L. Our shop was located at the base or the hill enroute to the main gate.

When Sidi Yahia was ready to be "cut over", I was reassigned there and worked as a High Speed Radio Operator (Morse). Our job was sending and receiving Morse Code messages from Navy ships enroute to, operating in, or transiting the Med.

Enjoyed my tour immensely. Saddened to leave (a bit) since, after 3 years, I had learned quite a bit about Morocco and watched, while there, as it sought and finally obtained its transition from French Morocco and French control to Morocco as an independent state.
Of course, Spanish Morocco and the International Zone of Tangiers also were reincorporated into the new Moroccan state.

Interested in hearing from anyone also there at that time or anyone with any questions that perhaps I could answer.

Thanks,
Vic Markey ~ vicmarkey@cox.net

POSTED: 01/19/10 1910 hours

Hello,

Looking for any ANGLICO team members, either USMC or USN, who passed through during the 1950's.

Thanks -

Ron Selig / 2nd ANGLICO 1955 - 1957 ~ redtitan78@yahoo.com

POSTED: 01/18/10 1830 hours

Hi Everyone,

My names is Amine. I found this great website accidently while I was helping my little sister in her homework which was about the history and old pictures of Kenitra. I read all your posts in the guest book and it's a great honor for me that you or your parents were and served here in the air base, and I'm sure when say that I'm speaking on behalf of all people in Kenitra that you are welcome here anytime. I want to show you this blog about Kenitra it contains many pictures all and new once unfortunatly there are no new pictures ( such as 2010 pictures) but I'm sure if someday you come here again you will defently like it, and thank you all

Bye

P.S: sorry, my english is not that good...

Mohammed Amine Rouh" a.m.iii.n.e@hotmail.com ~ http://kenitra-ma.skyrock.com/

POSTED: 01/18/10 1830 hours

Hi Lou,

Fantastic site. I was station at NTC Kentira from Autust 70 to Nov 71. Was an ET2 then and worked at Ground Electronics. Spent most time in the tower
and the receiver and transmitter site. ETC Ray Davis was the boss then. Can only remember a few people from those days. There was ET1 Richester
(GCA) ,ET2 John Scully, ET2 Gary Wetzell and Chief Davis. Always lived out in town and did one heck of a bunch of touring. Bought a VW there and
brought it back with me. I left in 71 and went back to Viet Nam with the Naval Advisory Group in 73.

I returned to Morocco in the spring of 73 and was stationed out at Bouk until July 76. Made first class shortly after returning. Had a heck of a
good time on that tour. Still remember some of the folks. ET1 Jim Pattison, ET1 Floroski, ET2 Steve Lyons, ET2 Mickey Lyons and YN2 Mike
Osborne who was replaced by Howie Coburn. The antenna crew was run by Rene`, a French man and his Moroccan crew. Ahmed was working in the snack
bar by the bowling alley. Ben Tami was the pin setter and John was the bartender at the Cork Lounge. Brought back a Portugese wife when we moved
to NAS Lemoore. We split up in 1982

I retired in 1986 as a Chief ET from San Pedro, building FFGs. I am now working for NAVSEA and out of Port Hueneme and live in Ventura.

Maybe there are others out there that may have been at either NAS Kentira or Bock dueing those times that may some others than I worked with during those
times.

I can be contacted at: mglewissr1124@roadrunner.com

Martin (Lou) Lewis, Sr.

ETC Ret

POSTED: 01/14/10 1145 hours

Hi all:

My name is Peter Brown, son of Peter Brown 2nd. My father, Peter Brown, was a Tele-Communications Instructor at the time. I was born on base in Sep 1957. If anyone knew him them, I would like to hear from you. He married a German gal he met in Gibralter Spain. He passed away in 1976.

Cool WEB site and PICS...Shared it with my family. And nice work.

Peter Brown ~ roadisred@yahoo.com

POSTED: 01/10/10 1900 hours

Just would like to say HI to the guys at the communication station. I was stationed on Guam in 1956-57 working in the communications control link (CCL) keeping all the circuits working. I thought Guam was a unforsaken place to work untill I talked with the guys in Port Lyautey. If I shipped over I would have got stuck in Lyautey so I said no thanks and got my discharge.

Ron Haun
Orchard Park, NY
e-mail: silverfox_w30@verizon.net

POSTED: 01/09/10 0900 hours

Lou,

Just visited the website and it truly brought back so many memories. I was at USNTC fromJune 1969 until December 1970 serving in the Supply Dept. I was curious if there is a database for otherpersonel thatserved there and been in touch with the webstie during that same period of time in hopes that I coul d reestablish old contacts? I went to USNTC directlyoutof Class A school in Newport RI, and then after USNTC to the pre-comissioningnucleaus crew of the USS Reasoner (DE1063) in Bremerton Wash.

I want to thank you for the time and effort you have put into this website and plan to stay in touch in the future....Happy New Year.

William Fox SK2

Foxdenwmda@comcast.net

POSTED: 01/07/10 0515 hours

Lou:

Love the ste, it has refreshed so many memories. I was stationed in Kenitra in 1974 and stayed for 18 months, the best 18 months of my military days. I had traveled to Rabat, Casa Blanca, Marakesh, and Tangiers. There were a couple of us that went on a road trip to one of the Playboy clubs over there, and for the life of me I can't remember where that was at. There was a group of us that took a bus trip from some guys from Amsterdam to Terazue Beach. I remember that we had a great time. I'm hoping to find old members from public works that worked in the pipe shop.

Steve Robinson
azgr8@yahoo.com

POSTED: 01/03/10 2200 hours

There is now a Facebook page for those who served at Navcomsta Morocco or may be interested in the base. Just visit Facebook and type in Sidi Yahia in
the search bar. Hope to see you there.

Also, I have a website up for the Sidi base. The address is http://www.angelfire.com/nj3/navcomstamorocco

Joe Franzen ~ chrgr1joe@aol.com

POSTED: 01/02/10 2040 hours

Lou - just want to echo the words of others commending you for the (probably thankless) job you are doing with this website. Have a great 2010 and keep up the great work! Thanks again.

Rather than repeating my P/L tale here, if anyone is interested in my duty there, check the 2008 Guestbook entry for 7/02/2008.

Ed Clayton Sr., AC2
Port Orange, FL 32129
pono3006@aol.com

POSTED: 01/01/10 1830 hours

HAPPY 2010 TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN STATIONED IN MOROCCO.

I had the privilege of observing 5 New Years celebrations in Morocco, (73-78), and to this day, they have meant more to me than any since. The people I was
stationed with there are still closer, and better friends than the ones I grew up with and went to school with prior to enlisting, and others I have met since my
retirement from the Navy in 92. For some reason, you can be stationed with a person for a few months, and form a bond with them that remains unbreakable
for the rest of your lives.

So, for others that find, or are sent this site, and read the guestbook, take some time to leave a note of your experiences in Morocco, leave your name and contact,
someone else reading your post may indeed be one of your shipmates that you have lost contact with, or maybe have not thought about for years. I can honestly say
you will not be sorry, especially if you are contacted by an old shipmate that "was there", and can help you relive your memories from "The Greatest Duty Station".

Pat Weil
KIA-Ora@att.net
Kenitra 73-78

*Lou, all the best to you and yours in 2010, and keep up the excellent work on your Port Lyautey site, it is appreciated more than is probably noted*

POSTED: 01/01/10 1830 hours

Every year I like to post a Morocco memory here on the website. I do enjoy reading the posts of others who had the opportunity to spend time in
Morocco. My personal thanks to Lou for continuing to work his magic in keeping this treasure chest of memories going. Thanks Lou!

I arrived in Sidi Yahia right after Christmas of 1975. It was my first duty station. When I got my orders to Morocco I had no idea where it was. When
I figured it out I envisioned desert sand, exotic food and belly dancers, not cold weather. I was shocked to discover just how bone chilling cold
Morocco was when I arrived there that winter. When I got my orders to Morocco my orders were stamped "civilian clothes only." I was given a
civilian clothing allowance. Being young and dumb I brought very few uniforms and uniform accessories (like a Pea coat or working jacket) and
packed plenty of liberty duds. I did happen to have a dark blue windbreaker in my wardrobe. I was one very cold dude. Unfortunately, the exchange at
Sidi wasn't stocked with much in the way of clothing, mostly just Cigarettes and Beer (God love them). I had to send a letter home to my Mother with
instructions on how to find my uniforms, pack it in my sea bag, and ship them to me. It took FOREVER to get my sea bag. The day it did arrived the
PC2 (who was actually from NTC Kenitra) called me and man was he P-O'd. He didn't like the idea of hauling around the sea bag of some Seaman
Apprentice. He claimed it was a postal violation to ship a sea bag to Morocco. When I got to the Post Office to collect my sea bag he made
sentences using nothing but curse words and my name mixed with stupid and lazy. It was pretty impressive Sailor talk. Over the next 20 plus years of
my career I never transferred or went on deployment without a sea bag as close to full as I could carry or stow.

Morocco had a very unique smell, especially during the winter nights. I never smelled that smell again anywhere in my worldly travels. It was a
mixture of smoldering wood, burning charcoal, brochettes, and exotic spices all blended together in the damp salty sea air. At first it was nauseating,
but it soon became a delightful, alluring smell.

I moved in to an apartment downtown Kenitra after only a few months in Morocco. I had many memorable late night walks by myself through the
streets from the bus stop at Jack's Bar to where I lived. Walking home I would usually get approached by beggars or young kids wanting to joke around
(or steal my wallet), but I never felt unsafe. My favorite hang out was the club at the Mamora Hotel. This was a stop I frequently made on my way home.
It opened about 10 PM and didn't close till dawn. There was always a group of Sailors in there having a good time with the girls. They had a drink
there called "The Machete." Man that thing would hack you up and leave you speechless. It had Ricard (sometimes referred to a "Retard"), Vodka, and
Coke. It tasted and smelled like liquorish but it was very, very powerful stuff. I had many, many fun times at the Mamora, some I even remember.

I wanted to make a post to update my email address mlw.usn@sbcglobal.net on the site. I always enjoy hearing from those who were fortunate enough to
get to share the enjoyable and wonderful experience of Morocco.

Marcus Wilbanks, RMCS(SW) retired

San Antonio, Texas