Ahoy Shipmates

Well unfortunately, there was an incident the first night that came close to shattering goodwill between the US Navy and Brazil.

It all began in one of Rio de Janeiro's busier drinking establishments when two local longshoremen got into an argument. In expressing his particular point of view, one of the longshoremen decided to throw a beer bottle at the other. The bottle missed its intended target and continued its flight across the smoke-filled room. At the bar, a group of Great White Fleet sailors were enjoying a beer and good conversation when the wayward bottle found a target - a sailor from the USS Louisiana. What happened next is right out of a script for a Hollywood movie. Sailors rallied around the victim, the longshoremen called up their reserves and the battle commenced.

When the Shore patrol arrived, the fight had flowed out of the bar and into the street, as longshoremen and sailors threw fists, rocks and even bricks at each other.

The Shore patrol and local police eventually brought about order, separated the combatants, and escorted the sailors back to their ships.

The next day, during an inquiry, the USS Louisiana's master-at-arms testified that the "civilians seemed to be the aggressors." After all the evidence was in, Brazilian officials agreed with this assessment and, to improve relations, publically invited the American sailors to continue to enjoy Rio.

The next instalment will cover general activities of the Fleet whilst in the port of Rio de Janeiro.

Regards


Sean

It just had to hit a sailor from the Louisiana, didn't it.

Kenny

LOL

Kenny I was thinking of ya when I was putting this instalment together.

Regards


Sean