U.S.Navy, Marines and othe Service members who visited the Pike

"....I was one of thousands of US Sailors who visited The Pike. We were lonely and had no money . The Pike was a place to go to spend some time and be entertained without spending much money. I remember the dances and meeting nice girls there. I also remember the seedy side of The Pike, the bikers and the Hell's Angels too. Tattoo parlors and people selling drugs . There are men from all over our country who visited The Pike while they were in the military service. Many of us rushed to get a cot and a locker at the YMCA ,so we didn't have to got back to the ship or the base. We would spend the weekend on The Pike. Like most places in California during the Viet Nam war, we never felt very welcome and many of us fell prey to hustlers and fast talking encyclopedia salesman or send photos home. So many of us were not old enough to drink so we were saved from that fate by the omnipresent police. It was our first time away from home and your weather was beautiful so we made the best of it all. We were a very large part life on The Pike. I remember it all fondly. It was a very hard time for most of us but we got thru it ok. So may I ask that you include at least one line on your site , including us? Thanks and God Bless you."

Respectfully submitted
AL (formerly) US Navy
(retired FDNY )