Pearl HarborShore leave with

friends

Aerial view of Pearl Harbor taken on May 2, 1940

Liberty card used by Adrian for shore leave.

This document has not been adjusted with PhotoShop and looks exactly like the original owned by Reggie Cross. Evidently, it saw a lot of wear and had been folded in half many times, probably to carry in his pocket.

With so many thousands of sailors roaming the streets of Honolulu, everyone had to be identifiable by shore patrol.

Nowhere was the hustle and bustle greater than at the Black Cat Café. Ideally situated across from the Armed Forces YMCA at the corner of Hotel and Richards streets, the Cat provided the men with food, slot machines, and various other types of entertainment. One very popular concession was the photo gallery where they could pose for photographs with “hula girls” to send to their families as souvenirs.

But for servicemen the food at the Cat was the major draw and after the war it was one of the most fondly recalled pleasures of their time in the Islands. Prices were rock-bottom — the menu in 1941 listed hot dogs for 10 cents, hamburgers for 15 cents, a roast turkey dinner for 50 cents, and the most expensive item was the porterhouse steak with mushrooms for a dollar.

“A river of white flows down Hotel Street” — an observer poetically described the scene as thousands of off-duty sailors descended on wartime Honolulu's main entertainment drag, quickly filling the shooting galleries, pinball palaces, taxi-dance halls, and the cafes with names like the Bunny Ranch and Lousy Lui's.

On weekends, the streets of Honolulu were jammed with sailors. Here you will see one location that was popular for its cheap but good food. In all likelihood, Adrian probably ate here quite often while on liberty. Below is information found online.

The Black Cat Cafe

George Yellak and Adrian Fortenberry

Picture taken late 1940 – early 1941

during Adrian’s first trip to Hawaii.

Unknown location.

Adrian and George Yellak on board the Helena.

George Yellak was stationed on the Helena with Adrian as soon as it was commissioned in September of 1939 and also sailed on the shakedown cruise to South America. He was from Pennsylvania and entered the service from Philadelphia. He became a fire controlman on November 16, 1940, the same day that Adrian did.

Jim McClelland

“Adrian and I did quite a number of things together. We lived in the same compartment and had the same Battle Station, we also made a few liberties that I will remember for a long time. Our Battle Station was in the Main Battery Control Director Forward. "Slim" placed the horizontal cross hair of his telescope on the target and sitting next to him I placed the vertical cross hair of my telescope on the target. When we were both on together Adrian would squeeze two warning flashes with his right hand and then squeezing both triggers with both hands would fire fifteen six inch guns in a broadside that rocked the ship. I will remember him for all the fun we had and especially for the high regard that I had for him."

Jim McClelland enlisted in the Navy from Detroit and was stationed on the Helena just after it was commissioned in September, 1939. He, like Adrian and George, became a fire controlman on November 16, 1940. Below you will see an excerpt from a pervious post that is from a letter Barbara received many years ago from Jim.

The Navy provided a recreation site called Camp Andrews west of Pearl Harbor near the town of Nanakuli. Sailors were often given a couple weeks of leave to stay on shore, swim, watch movies, and hang out at the beach. The accommodations were very rustic two-men tents with cots; but after the cramped spaces on board the ship, it probably felt wonderful. They did not have to wear uniforms or live on a schedule while there. A train ran between Pearl Harbor and the camp. Adrian did receive leave to Camp Andrews and took quite a few pictures while there. Below is a picture that shows the entrance to the camp.

Note: Neither of these pictures belonged to Adrian.

Though the camp is long gone, the remains of the entrance into Camp Andrews still can be seen today.

Below is how they appear today using Google Earth. Even some of the metal support bars that have fallen down are leaning against the pillars.

Across the street from Camp Andrews was a park that had a great beach for swimming. This view is taken from the road looking toward the beach.

Adrian Fortenberry and Marvin Mayo.

This view of Adrian was taken from inside the gate with the mountains in the background. You can see the wooden rail Adrian is sitting on in the previous picture.

Marvin “Red” Mayo was also a close friend of Adrian’s. Like Adrian, he was a southern boy. It probably felt wonderful to them to find a friend on board that spoke “Southern.” He was born in Montgomery, Texas to parents that were both born in Alabama. His military records show that he joined the Navy from Houston. Red Mayo became a fire controlman on August 16, 1940, three months before Adrian. He and Adrian were in a group that received some R and R time at Camp Andrews sometime in late 1940. Being young and adventurous, Adrian and Red decided to hike to the top of a nearby mountain. They took quite a few pictures as they went on their adventure but failed to take any water. While working with the images, I felt compelled to locate the mountain and the roads where they took several pictures. After many, many frustrating tries, I found a blog site for hikers on Oahu. I sent the blogger a picture of Adrian standing on the road with mountains behind him on the way to the hike; and in 20 minutes, I had a response with the name of the mountain and the probable road. Wow, technology wonderful!

Marvin “Red” Mayo

Google Earth view of Pu’u Haleakala on the island of Oahu - not to be confused with the most famous mountain of this name that is located on the island of Maui. The one hiked by Adrian and Red is about 2000 feet high. Their hike began at sea level.

Close to the same location today from Google Earth. The road is called Nanakuli Avenue.

On the back of this picture, Adrian wrote:The Mt we climbed about 3 miles astern me.

Marvin “Red” Mayo standing in Nanakuli Avenue on the way to hike Pu’u Haleakala.

Topographic map of the area showing the small town of Nanakuli and the surrounding mountains. I have circled Pu’u Haleakala.

Google Earth view of Nanakuli and the surrounding mountains and valley. Camp Andrews was located very close to where the lower “93” highway marker is. The road under the number going back into the valley is Nanakuli Avenue.

In the distance you can see the Pacific Ocean.

On the way to the top of Pu’u Haleakala.

It may seem strange to see a lot of cacti in Hawaii, but the leeward side of each of the islands is very dry. Because the wind blows generally from the same direction year round and the volcanic mountains are so high, the clouds are forced up and over the mountains. As they move up, they loose their moisture, making one side of the mountains lush and green and the other side dry. Adrian’s hike took him through a very dry area.

Getting close to the top

On back Adrian wrote: Over all the Isle of Paradise, Hawaii “The Island of Oahu”

He always smiled when he looked at this picture.

Where Adrian is probably standing.

View of Haleakala Avenue, the road back to camp, today from Google Earth.

They stopped at a local store on the way back from the hike and got milk to drink. At least that is what the back of the pictures said.

Red Mayo and Slim in front of their tent at Camp Andrews after their hike. Notice the five star accommodations behind them!

Adrian and Red borrowed or rented a car (1939 Chevrolet) for ½ a day from someone local. If you compare the plants in the back -ground of this picture with the following one with the Hawaiian girl, you will see that the pictures were taken at the same location.

Adrian wrote on the back: My girl. Ha! A cute kid her mother owns the store where we got the milk. Even as a young man, Adrian loved children. He later wanted 9 of his own.

Donald Howard Brown – Fire controlman 3rd class – USS Helena

Adrian marked this picture on the back as H Brown – Turtle Creek, Pa. This picture was obviously taken at Camp Andrews. With a little detective work it was discovered that his name was Donald Howard Brown and he enlisted at Pittsburgh in June of 1939. He too came aboard the Helena when it was commissioned in September of 1939. Like Adrian, George, and Jim, he became a fire controlman on November 16, 1940.

Leaving Hawaii

During the first six months of 1941, the Helena remained at Pearl Harbor. It is not known if the hike pictured in this post occurred in the last half of 1940 or the first half of 1941. On July 3, 1941, the Helena left Hawaiian waters for a return to the San Pedro Naval Shipyard near Los Angeles, California. The ship would receive an overhaul and an update on the antiaircraft guns. They also had an early model search radar system installed. While there, the crew was given a month’s leave.

Adrian must have written Wanda as soon as he heard about the change because she would finally, after an absence of 10 months, see Adrian again. Wanda left New York on a bus for a cross country trip to join him in California. Adrian was now 22 years old and Wanda was 20.