Bobbie Hickman

After the Boat came into Charleston, I began to meet quite a few of the other wives, not all of them came to Charleston, those who had children in school stayed behind in Key West, but most of the others came.

There is a famous story among ‘Submariners’ about Bobbie Hickman and her trip up to Charleston. As I told you before she was one of life’s greatest characters, and that’s a fact! 

Spartan Similar to theirs

She and Milton lived in a 38 ft Spartan. She had overload springs on her car anyway because she was a hefty little booger; her weight ranged 375 lbs to 425 lbs consistently.

She hooked it up and pulled it up alone! During World War II she had been a truck driver, and when she & Milton got married she owned eleven rigs of her own. So it was not a big deal for her at all.

She was a well educated woman from the upper crust of Cleveland Society. She was also very well read, and she had the vocabulary of a truck driver and a submarine sailor combined, and she never met a stranger!

As she was passing through Georgia, and was just a short distance from the South Carolina border maybe a couple of miles. She had to pass through a speed trap in the last little town in Georgia that was a sneeze in the road, and she got pulled over by the police. There was a small service station on the right just up ahead and that was where she pulled in and stopped.

There were two policemen in the car, a big tall guy and a short guy. The big cop was the one who came over to talk with her, he told her because she was passing through if she didn't want to have to go to court the fine would be $50.00 cash. She could cry at the drop of a hat too; and they were not crocodile tears!

She began bawling, and gave him a big sob story about her husband in the Military and all the money she had in the world was $25.00. He was touched and swallowed her sob story, and she handed him the money. She got back in the car and cranked it up. The little guy yelled, “You wait up there, just hold on a minute?”

He came swaggering up to the side of the car, and spoke in a very stern manner, thumbs hooked in his belt, he said to her, “This won’t do, you owe us $50.00 that is the going price for speeding in Georgia, and you ain’t leaving without paying it, do you understand me?”

She looked at him horrified and answered, “Please don’t tell me that you want $50.00 too, I just gave the other guy the last $50 bucks that I had. You’ll have to take me to jail because I don’t have another dime.”

He said, “Lady are you telling me that you gave my partner $50.00?”

She said, “Hell yes I am, and if that ain’t enough you’ll just have to take me to jail, what did he tell you I gave him?”

He told her, “You just wait here while I settle this, I’ll be right back. “She put the car in gear and peeled out when he walked away; she said, “The last thing I saw in my rear-view mirror was the little cop had the big one backed up against the car with his finger in the guy’s face, and I knew I could out-run them to the line!”

She wrote the story up and published it in “Trailer Topics Magazine”. She received a lot of kudos from the guy’s on the Boats!  So many sailors over the years had been caught in that same speed trap.

From Key West To Charleston

A few days after the fish fry some of the guys came by the cottage. One of the guys in the group they called Gator, and he would believe almost anything anyone told him, he asked me, “Mrs. C B where did you meet C B?” 

I knew instantly that Chuck had told him the tall tale because he told it so often to others just kidding around teasing me. He always added to the tale that I had never worn shoes till he caught me and put some on my feet!

I answered, “Well, he didn't actually meet me; he caught me in a bear trap in a swamp up in the Panhandle of Florida.” He said, “Ah you’re kidding me, he told me that story, but I didn't believe him!”.

I said to him, “No I m serious it didn't hurt me too much, but see, I do have this scar on my leg!” I really did have a scar on my leg and showed it to him, and he thought I was being truthful, and was convinced.

From then on he told everyone about it. The guys got a lot of mileage out of that one too!

Not long after he came home from the North Atlantic trip he took a short leave and took me to Charleston to find a place to live and get settled. The Boat would be going into dry dock for yard overhaul. I had never driven that long of a trip alone and he didn't want me to travel alone.

I had everything we owned packed in the car when he got off duty that evening. We knew there was a tropical storm headed our way, but we hoped we could stay ahead of the worse part, because we had to leave I had already turned the keys to the cottage over to the landlady. It was the last storm of the "57" season.

Mainland End of Bahia Honda Bridge

By the time we reached the mainland end of the old Bahia Honda Bridge the seas were beginning to wash over the low places and were splashing against the side of our car.

We had to keep going there was no safe place to stop. Numerous boats had been left alongside the road. 

It was a rough crossing at Lake Surprise in the upper Keys too, we were being buffeted by the winds and water splashing over the road. At last we made it off the Keys and onto the mainland and it was somewhat calmer, but we had rain all the way to the Florida/Georgia line.

It was also a rainy night in Georgia all the way through the state. The only route in those days being the old and narrow, two lane ~ Highway 17.  Neither I-75 nor I-95 existed at that time! When we arrived in Charleston the next day we stopped and had a very late breakfast and bought a Newspaper and searched for a place to live.

As luck would have it the very first place we looked at suited us just fine. There was a sign inside a small window in the door that said, open come in and look. We opened the door and went inside. There was a note on the table that said if you like it move in and I will catch you later for the rent, $ 50.00 per month.

Map of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina

We moved our gear in, I put sheets on the bed and we sacked out. We were exhausted from the trip, but with both of us taking turns driving we had driven straight through on the over a thousand mile trip. We went grocery shopping the next day, and then he had to catch the bus back to Key West and ride the Boat up.

Our little mobile home for the time the Boat was in the yard was on Carlton Street, it butted up against the Base fence and was four blocks from the Main Gate. 

One night I heard someone talking outside my bedroom window, and I peeked out through the window; there was a hole in the fence behind our trailer where the guys coming back late or for whatever reason climbed in and out through. I soon became used to it; it was an every night occurrence!

For those interested in the history of the Naval Shipyard click here.

The Fish Fry

When he came home I was there to meet the Boat. It had been almost three months since I had seen him, with no communication except through the US Postal Service! This was many years before cell phones or any of the technology that we have this day and time. It was like honeymoon time again for awhile!

One of his shipmates Red Dog Holden got married soon after the Boat got back, and we attended the wedding and afterwards the reception which was held in the Preview Lounge on Duval Street.

I had never tasted Vodka before and Chuck thought I needed to try a Screwdriver and so I did. It didn’t taste like much except orange juice, and I kept drinking one after another. His pet name for me was Baby Love, and he cautioned me to slow down, but I just phoo phooed, him and said, “There’s nothing to it.”

He cautioned again and said, “Baby Love I’m telling you, you need to slow down it packs a wallop and hits you suddenly.” But I didn’t listen.

The entertainment for the evening was male strippers, another first for me. I thought I was having the greatest time of my life. I kept inviting people over to our cottage for a fish fry the next day as I was introduced to each one or each couple.

Chuck finally made me stop and decided it was time for us to leave. On the way home I got sick and had to barf. I opened the door of the car and hung my head out; he grabbed me with one hand and hung onto me to keep me from falling out and drove with the other.

He got the car stopped and pulled me back inside without injury. When we arrived home he managed to get me inside the house, he put me to bed and let me sleep it off as much as he thought I needed. And then woke me up.

We were having coffee, but food was the last thing on my mind. He asked, “What are you gonna feed all of those people that you invited over to dinner tonight?” My response was, “What the hell are you talking about?” My poor head was pounding, and I had zero recall!

He said, “Baby you kept inviting people over here for a fish fry last night. They all said they are coming, and you need to think about what you’re gonna feed them.” Most single John’s will always accept an invitation for a home cooked meal.

My first thought was he is joking, it would be so like him he loved to tease and pull pranks, but he convinced me he was being truthful, and not joking, and I thought my God what have I gotten myself into. I was so hung-over I felt as if I would have to get better to die, the only thing left for me to do was; honey just grin and bear it!

Yellowtail

I sent him to the fish market for ten pounds of Yellowtail fillets; a very popular fish in Key West that is a real delicacy; while he was gone I had an Alka Seltzer cocktail and then baked a Coconut Cake. 

Coconut Cake

I had enough on hand to make a gigantic green salad. I had no idea as to how many would show up. I put it in the fridge to chill and made a couple of gallons of iced tea and set it in to chill.

Tossed Salad

I mixed hushpuppy batter and covered it, and it went into the fridge. OMG my head, and I had another Alka Seltzer cocktail. 

The only thing left to do would be to make a big pot of cheese grits and fry the fish. I took a shower and changed into clean shorts and a blouse.

Cheese Grits

About mid- afternoon the guest began arriving, they brought booze and mixer and set up a bar on the huge coffee table in the living room. I had a drink and began to feel better. The count turned out to be fifteen including Chuck and me.

We had an apartment size gas stove, I was half way through frying the fish and hushpuppies and the power went off. This happened frequently in Key West. Rocky Byers came in to help me, he held the flashlight and tended one deep fryer while I finished the other. We set everything on the table and everyone served themselves and sat wherever they could find a place to sit.

Fried Fish

Hushpuppies

Our little cottage was bursting at the seams; we were so crowded in that small place! But the food was enjoyed by all. The party cranked up into high gear after dinner. 

One of the guys they called Boo Boo leaned over to put his cigarette out in the big ashtray that was in the center of the coffee table.

He leaned over very slowly and he did put the cigarette out, but kept leaning. He placed his hands on the far edge of the table trying to stop his fall, but his unbalanced momentum kept him going, he looked as though he was in slow motion. 

His feet left the floor and were raised up into the air and he was just suspended there on his hands and hanging onto the edge of the table.

Everyone was holding their breath in disbelief, totally mesmerized, afraid to move at first, it was a frozen moment.  A couple of the guys eventually moved, and quickly went over and took hold of his legs and slowly lowered him back down.

That table was covered with bottles of booze, glasses and mixers, also a bucket of ice, and the only thing that he turned over was a single shot glass. This wasn’t actually a sea story, but it was a very funny story and it was told and re-told many times! 

One Night Honeymoon

Back in those days you had to have blood tests and apply for a marriage license and had a three day waiting period before you could get married. We got our blood tests at the Health Clinic in Dade City, on Monday morning; the blood had to go to Tampa to a Laboratory.

Old Dade City Courthouse
Photo by Phil Eschbach/Old Florida

We applied for our license and waited. When the three days were passed our blood test results were still not back. We learned the vehicle had been in an accident and they had to sort all of the vials out and make sure all was okay before they could send papers of the results.

By the time the results did come in it had been six days and it was now Saturday morning and the Court House would close at noon.  Chuck had to be back to Key West on Monday.

And by the time the truck made it from Tampa with blood test results we had to rush to get the paper work and then get back to the Court House just 15 minutes before they closed. It was a close call to us having to wait even longer.

Locator Map for Weeki Wachee Springs

We had a one night honeymoon at Weeki Wachee Springs. We had to leave Sunday to go back to Key West.  We had many honeymoons over the years because he was at sea a lot and when he came home it was like honeymoon again every time!

We did watch the Mermaid Show and had a delicious dinner. And we did get to return a few times over the years. Many years later we took our daughter Stormy, and granddaughter Chas, when Chas was a toddler. The Mermaid Show is worth seeing anytime!

I am not sure that Chas remembers this now, but she was fascinated at the time by the Mermaids!

Weeki Wachee Springs

Mermaids

Weeki Wachee Springs is one of Florida's first magnitude springs. And as as far as I know it is the only one that has a live Mermaid Show. 

Close Knit

Being a ‘Submarine Sailor’s’ wife means a lot of long lonely days and nights while they are at sea, but just as the sailors are a close knit group, so do the wives become close knit and look out for each other while the guys are at sea.

Another of the Boat Mama’s was Edna Baessler. Chuck had been stationed with Doug on shore duty in St. Petersburg and when Doug had returned to sea duty it was aboard the Quillback.

They had seven children altogether, but at that time the sixth child Eileen was six months old. And their house was a hang-out too, for many of us!

I spent a lot of time at their big old Conch house on William Street, and became very attached to baby Eileen, and she was to me. She would cry to go home with me; she always called me Net-Net after she learned to talk.

All of the Baessler children were beautiful children, and some of them still keep in touch with me. And I still love to hear them tell their Mary Poppins stories about jumping out the second story window with an umbrella, and they really did do that! The Baessler Family became like my own Family.

Edna taught me many things. I learned a lot about cooking and shopping for a month's food supply from the Commissary from her, payday came only once a month.  She also taught me how to manicure my own nails with 'Sparkling Rose Mist' fingernail polish!

Another Boat Family dear to my heart was the Williams family, Willie and Edna and their two children David and Debbie. Debbie was a toddler when I met them, and David became my fishing buddy. 

Willie was the Chief cook (at the time 1^st. class Commissaryman) of the Boat, and kept the crew happy with great southern food!  He also taught me a lot about cooking.

It probably sounds as though I didn't know how to cook, but I did. My mother was one of the best southern country cooks in the world, and she taught all of her girls how to cook. But my cooking skills were broadened considerably by learning from others!

One other family that we were very close and dear friends with were the Elliott’s, Charley and Betty and their son Michael who was also a baby at the time, and Betty was the second Boat wife that I met.

After Chuck and I got married July 27, 1957 we came back to Key West, we got our same room at the El Parado Motel back, and were looking for an apartment or house to rent.

Chuck went out to sea for a few days. Betty and Charley lived around the corner from the Motel. She knew we were looking, and she put baby Michael in the stroller and walked around to the El Parado and knocked on my door. 

When I answered she introduced herself and let me know there was a cottage where they lived on Francis Street that had just become available.

I went with her and looked at it. I liked it and rented it on the spot. I went back to the Motel and checked out and moved our stuff in, left a message for Chuck to let him know where to find me when he came in. But as it turned out that was unnecessary. When the Boat came in one of the wives meeting the Boat told him where he lived now!

The cottage was in the back yard of the same piece of property that Betty and Charley rented and our landlady Mrs. Lafitte lived in front next door to them. The cottage was cozy and furnished; we really enjoyed living there, and we had a lot of fun while we were there.

We had eighteen days together before he had to go to sea for a long haul! The Boat was going on a North Atlantic run. At the time I had not become acquainted with very many people on the Boat, and so I went home to stay with my folks till he returned! 

My Friend Nick

Nick
Photo Coutsey of Carmen Day Williams

Nick was a silversmith on the Island of Cedar Key; he earned his living by making custom pieces and repairing jewelry. His hobby was gardening, and he was a master gardener. He and I swapped seeds and cuttings over the years.

His yard always flooded completely with salt water in every hurricane or tropical storm that hit Cedar Key, but in spite of this he had one of the most beautiful gardens on the island! 

He harvested seaweed by the truckload that he used as mulch as it broke down it fed the plants. He grew all kinds of veggies, plants and flowers. He also grew Papaya trees in back of his house and when they were in bloom their fragrance perfumed the night air in his entire neighborhood.

Nick had a gregarious nature with a fantastic sense of humor, and he loved to cheer you up with some of his stories that would always make you laugh. He was one of the great characters of Cedar Key and Cedar Key had quite a few of these!

I had known him for quite a few years and had moved away by the time this story happened; I always visited him when I came to town. My visits to Cedar Key never seemed complete till I stopped by and had a visit with Nick.

Tina and I had gone for a ride around the “Big Dock” and we stopped by his house for a visit. After hugs and greetings we sat down for some catch up conversation.

In the center of the table sat a shot glass of water with a tiny white flower with the stem sticking down into the water, to keep it fresh.

Eventually someone mentioned the flower, and Nick said, “Oh yes Annette, how do you like my miniature gardenia?  It smells so good that’s why I brought it in.” I answered, “I love it Nick, but that’s a Grand Duke Jasmine not a miniature gardenia.”

And the friendly argument was on. He bristled slightly and said, “Annette you don’t know what you’re talking about, I know it is a miniature gardenia,” conversation grew quiet for a minute and I answered, “Nick I do know that is a Grand Duke Jasmine.”

He said, “I’ll show you that you are wrong.” He got up from the table and got his gigantic Horticulture book, he took great pride in his knowledge of Horticulture. He looked through the Gardenia section and couldn’t find it listed.

He closed the book and acted a bit disgusted that he didn’t find it.

I suggested, “Nick look in the Jasmine section.” He answered a bit huffy, “No, I will not because I know it’s a miniature gardenia I don’t care what you say.”

“Okay do you mind if I look?” “Be my guest” and he shoved the book across the table to me.

I turned to the Jasmine section and immediately found it listed as The Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine! “Here it is Nick” and I turned the book around for him to see. He said “Nope, that’s not it.” There was a picture in color of the flower and also a full size leaf in color. He absolutely refused to admit he was wrong.

“Nick go outside and pick a leaf and compare it.” “Absolutely not” he answered in a very huffy manner! “Okay” I said, “It’s not really that important to me, you believe what you want to!” I thought he was seriously angry and I did not want to argue and have a serious conflict about a flower, and I knew I was right.

Looking at the top photo above, the plant in discussion is the one at the left entrance of the door going into his house, he is sitting on the doorstep. 

I hushed and all was quiet for a couple of tension filled minutes, and I’m thinking maybe we should leave? Tina had stayed out of the discussion. I was just about to suggest that we leave and suddenly he started laughing that deep belly laugh! His anger had been pretended!

A Portion of Nick's Front Yard
Photo Courtesy of Carmen Day Williams

He said, “Annette if anybody in the world knows what that flower is it would be you!” Still in a little bit of shock I asked,” Why do you say that Nick?”

“Because, I stole those cuttings from your yard,” he was laughing so hard he almost choked! He told me he was passing by on his bike when mine was in bloom and it smelled so heavenly he could not resist taking some cuttings. 

He said, “I know you would have given me cuttings if I’d asked, but stealing them was so sweet, I just didn't bother to ask.”

Nick's House On The Right
Photo from Tropical Storm Debby

I was so happy that he had not really been angry for being wrong and also very happy that he had taken those cuttings with or without permission. “Nick I need some cuttings from you now, when we moved out to the mainland, mine died the first winter.

I didn't realize how much colder it was in the woods than on the island and I didn't cover it well enough and it froze and died. 

Chuck’s grandma Collins gave me the first cuttings I had of that Jasmine and she told me the name of it when she gave it to me, I hated so much to lose it. And now I’m happy to find all is not lost!”

Another Portion of Nick's Front Yard
 Photo Courtsey of Carmen Day Williams

He got up and went outside and brought me six already rooted cuttings, this was so Nick, he was a wonderful character and I miss him so much.

I wrote this little story in memory of Nick not long after he passed away in 2011, and I intended to eventually publish it on my blog. Yesterday Carmen posted the great photo, and sent me others and gave her permission to use them.

Rest In Peace my friend!!!

My Answer

About noon time he came in, and ordered a beer and he didn't look so rested either, but he had gotten some sleep. I was a little busy with other customers during the noon rush, but soon slowed down, and I took a much needed break. I sat down on the stool behind the counter and he was sitting across on the opposite side.

He spoke up and said, “Well are you or ain’t you?” I knew what he meant, but I wanted to hear him say it again when he was somewhat sober. And I asked, “What are you talking about; are I or ain’t I doing what?”

He chuckled and said, “Are you gonna marry me or not?” I thought about it for a few seconds and said, “Yes I’m gonna marry you?” And then he said, “Pack your duds and let’s get underway I have to check in on the Boat tomorrow morning, and it’s a long drive from here to Key West!”

My boss lady was sitting close by in her easy chair, and I looked at her with a question in my eye. She said, “Go for it girl, you won’t ever find a better man than him, he’s a fine man I've been knowing him a long time; I’ll find somebody else to work, and I've been wondering just how long it was gonna take you two to figure out that you’re in love, everybody else knows it, and we have known for a long time

It was a good 8 hour trip to Key West; we arrived in the wee hours of the morning. We checked in at the El Parado Motel and grabbed some much needed sleep. He asked for a wake-up call, because he had to muster aboard that morning, if memory serves me right at 7:30 a m.

He checked us out when we left, he wanted to try to get basket leave so that we could come back home to get married. If he couldn't; then we would get married in Key West. He had to go in early to the barracks and change out of civvies into dungarees and then report to the Boat.

I sat in the car and waited while he was changing; neither women nor civilians were allowed in the barracks. But I felt like a fish in a glass bowl, all the guys were scoping me out, and so were the wives who were bringing their husband’s to work.

Boats Docked in Key West

When he came back and got into the car, we rode down to the Boat. Again I sat in the car and waited, for quite some time. Finally he came back and he was jubilant, he got the basket leave, another 10 days!

I asked why it took so long and he said, “The Yeoman had to write it up and the Captain had to sign it, and all of the guys were razzing me about getting married!” I learned sometime later what he meant by that statement.

A Pontiac like hers

A 1955 Plymouth like Chuck's

We had to go back to the barracks for him to change again. While I was waiting a really heavy-set lady pulled up in a pink and gray Pontiac beside his car and parked, and she sat there staring at me with a big grin on her face, she was making me really nervous.

She actually had a crew cut, and I had never before in my life seen a woman with her hair cut like that. She just kept staring and grinning. We both had our windows down; Key West climate is like sitting in a steam bath.

I finally spoke up and asked her if something was wrong. And at last she chuckled, and spoke with a drawl, but not southern, “I’m just checking out the one that finally caught ole C B!”

I asked a bit defensively, “And just what is that supposed to mean?”  She answered, “Now honey don’t get all riled up, you’ll find out in due time!”

At last Chuck came back to the car, he laughed and said, “I see you've met Bobbie she is one of the Boat Mama’s, she takes care of all us drunk sailors and makes sure we eat, and she gets us back to the Boat on time if we are too drunk to drive, we hang out at her and Hickman’s house a lot, and then he told her my name.”

I said, “I’m pleased to meet you”. She answered, “Ah Annie, (she dubbed me immediately with a nickname) you’re not even half as pleased to meet me as I am to meet you, and that’s a fact!”

Chuck said, “Now Bobbie that’s enough, don’t you be telling her all my secrets, we have to hit the road again, we’re going go get married!” She answered, “I’ve already heard all about it, and I’ll see you when you get back, and then I’ll fill her in!”

She was the very first Boat wife that I met, and she was one of life’s greatest characters! As I got to know her I grew to love her dearly, she kind of tucked me underneath her wing and taught me the ropes about being a ‘Submarine Sailor’s’ wife. She became one of the best friends I had ever had at that point in my life.