Fred’s Fabulous 60s and 70s

It may be hard for anyone living in the rich commercialism of today to understand the climate of the late sixties and early seventies. Read the rest
It may be hard for anyone living in the rich commercialism of today to understand the climate of the late sixties and early seventies. Read the rest
The USS Kitty Hawk riot was the first mass mutiny in the history of the U. S. Navy and were it not for military law, the incident might be passed off as a demonstration. Read the rest
I was working as a photographer at the J. L. Hudson’s department store in Detroit back in the 70s.
Any Black person who grew up in the 1970s probably remember it as the era of racial pandering. It was common to be invited to a White friend’s party or social gathering just so they could show off their Black friend. Read the rest
When I applied for the job at Charleston County Park and Recreation, I was initially hired as the mechanic because of my diesel engine training and experience in the navy. Read the rest
After my first enlistment expired, I moved back to Detroit and enrolled in college at the Wayne State University. Read the rest
I was in Vietnam for only a year during the war and riding a river patrol boat, never saw a real tiger, but I did pick up tiger stories from some of the marine units we worked with. Read the rest
So much of our diesel submarine history will soon be edited down to data, numbers, and brief descriptions on Wikipedia. But the old converted World War Two fleet submarines were much more than that. Read the rest
When I returned from Vietnam in 1969, I made three decisions. One was going to Woodstock instead of the “New York City Soul Festival”, another was getting out of the navy when my enlistment expired, and yet another was moving back to Detroit.
A Gas: A Lot of Fun
Ankle Biter: A Baby or Small Child
Ape: Gone Wild
Bad: Awesome
Bag: To Steal
Ball: To party. Read the rest
During my tour on the USS Piper, the war in Vietnam escalated and became evening news. Read the rest
It was the dream for many middle class American families in the 1950s and 1960s: colored TV. Read the rest
It’s no secret to us old salts that our survival kits usually included a pack of Lucky Strike or Camel cigarettes. Sometimes the packs were so old, the paper would have turned a dark yellow. Read the rest
It may be hard for anyone living in the rich commercialism of today to understand the climate of the late sixties and early seventies. Read the rest
Princess Grace, Grace Patricia Kelly, was an American film actress who became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Read the rest
Way back in 1963, while stationed on board the USS Piper, we pulled into the port of Djibouti, Africa as one of our scheduled Med cruise port calls. Read the rest
Once on the USS Piper back in 1962, we were operating with a group of navy SEALS. The SEALS had just been formed as a special forces group a year earlier from the navy Underwater Demolition Team or UDT. Read the rest
The streets have all changed from when I was a kid growing up in Detroit. We lived on West Philadelphia Street and I went to Cass Tech High School so I had to catch the Dexter Avenue bus to go to and come from school. Read the rest
Funny you never realize the generation gap until you mention something from your past to a teenager. At fifteen, I wanted to be a “beatnik”. My idol was a chacter named Maynard G. Read the rest
The Mars Theater on Conant Street, Detroit, opened in 1947 and closed in 1958. The Mars was the closest neighborhood theater throughout the 50’s. The seats in the Mars theater were luxurious and covered in equally luxurious cranberry velvet. Read the rest
During my stay in juvenile, my social worker was impressed with my art work and pulled enough strings to get me into a foster home run by the Wilcox family. Read the rest
My One Minute Love Affair With Diana Ross
When I was ready to enter high school, my mom got the idea in her head that I had to go to Cass Tech.
My mom was always on a fanatical crusade to see that I got the very best education, long before she enrolled me into Cass Tech High School. Read the rest
Still recalling my very first visit back to our family home in Gore Springs, Mississippi. At least the first trip that I was old enough to remember. Read the rest
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The Butcher ShopBack in the 1950s Detroit, before Walmart Super Stores, big chain supermarkets and packaged meat, you got your meat from a butcher shop. |
As a poor kid in Detroit, there were several ways to earn a little pocket change. If you had a bicycle, you could try to get a paper route. Read the rest
Growing up in a poor neighborhood in Detroit in the early fifties, our neighborhood gang was composed of Black kids as well as the kids of European immigrants and there was even the girl next door that hung out with us for a while. Read the rest
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While my mom and I were poor and lived in a poor area of Detroit, we enjoyed life by making do with bare necessities. In Detroit in the 1950s, you were not alone. |
The Atomic Energy Lab was released by the A.C. Gilbert Company in 1950. The kit’s intention was to allow children to create and watch nuclear and chemical reactions using radioactive material. Read the rest
I am an American.
I’ve been called Colored, Negro, Black, African American, high yellow, and even uncle Tom by some. I’ve also been called bubblehead, Super Fly, senior chief by others. Read the rest