Between 1969 and 1971, I had the immense privilege of living in Naples, Italy. These are scans of some photos I took during that time. The quality is not superb, but they give a good flavor of the area during that period. All photos ©1969-2012 Old Wolf Enterprises
Amalfi Coast – Street scene
Capri
Capri
Naples – Castel Nuovo – Alfonso I Triumph Arch, 12th Century
Naples – Trattoria Da Zio Vincenzo o Piscatore
The Grand Galleria
Naples – Piazza Municipio with Palazzo Reale in the background
Royal Palace – Marine Side
Naples – Children playing football by the Palazzo Reale
Naples – Royal Palace – Entry
Naples – Via Naziario Sauro
Naples – Mergellina
Naples – Street Scene
Pompeii
A rare snow in Pompeii
Pompeii – December 1970
Pompeii Arena – December 1970
Pompeii – December 1970
Pompeii – December 1970
Pompeii – December 1970
Pompeii – December 1970
Pompeii Museum – Body Cast made from the ashfall
- Pompeii – December 1970
Naples – USS Grand Canyon, AD-28, part of Service Force 6th Fleet. 1970
Herculaneum – June 1971
Herculaneum – Bed (carbonized from age, not mudflow)
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Family Shrine
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Mosaic
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Frescoes
Herculaneum – June 1971 – House of the Mosaic Atrium
Mosaic Atrium – Closeup
Herculaneum – 1971 – Marble Bath
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Mosaic Floor
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Street showing mud level
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Overview
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Street
Herculaneum – June 1971 – Vesuvius in background
United Seamen’s Service – Naples – 1969
(Via Acton 18, in the Royal Palace basement)
USS Cascade (AD-16), a destroyer tender, with the AF-56 Denebola (stores ship) and the destroyer escorts Lester (DE-1022), Hammerberg (DE-1015), and Courtney (DE-1021).
Some souvenirs of my associations with the Navy. ❤️🔥
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Playing in the World Game 
Wonderful, Chris! Thanks so much for posting all this!
Great pictures. Feels a little odd to watch photos you took, at a time when I was busy being born and wearing diapers a lot 😉
It does look like “The Grand Galeria” got lost in transfer. At least here it gives a “404 – File not found”.
5 months later I finally get around to reading your comment, and fixing that 404. Ahead of schedule, actually, based on past performance. 😛
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I was looking through all my old stuff I saved from my Navy days along with movies, & old photos from Naples, Souda Bay, my ship, etc. I began to investigate on the Web to see what else I could find. Well, I saw this web site & as I looked through these photos I noticed they were all in or around the time I was there. (1970-71) They match-up with many photos I have now. Thank You, Led Zepp.
It wouldn’t surprise me if we crossed paths at the United Seamen’s Service club. Glad you found these of interest. What ship were you on?
USS Courtney (DE-1021) What ship were you on ? Along with the Courtney were the USS Lester, USS Van Voorhis, USS Hammerberg. We were doing ITASS operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, etc. & running our ASW surveillance out of Souda Bay, Crete. (1970-1972)
Joe, I wasn’t on a ship, unless you count a tour from Naples to Athens in 1971 as a guest of the XO on the Cascade (AD-16.) What a trip that was for a sandcrab. I added a nice pic of the Cascade, the Courtney, and a few others at the end of the article. I’m sure we met at the club, given your time frame.
Iwas there 1970-71 UssCourtney some good times
Very possible that we met each other at the club then, Dennis.
Old Wolf as you call yourself, me and my Navy buddies would come to the club whenever our funds were running low. You won’t believe this but i still have in my possession a menu from there. Where could you get Free Coffee, 2 eggs, ham, fries, bread/ butter, for 600 Lire or $0.95. Played pool, some slots, & drank many a “Peroni” beer in the dining/ bar area also. Great gift shop too. I purchased many a post card at the gift shop to sent home, & still have them today. Spent a lot of time at the U.S.O. / Blue Bird Club, & the Old England Bar. My question to you is. What was your position at the club ? Its really great to know someone I may have had the acquaintance to meet over 45 years ago. Joe.
Joe, my mother, Margaret, was the director; I functioned as a de facto assistant manager while I was there. That’s how I got to go over there and spend a year, and then come back the following year for another spell. I haven’t thought of the Blue Bird Club for decades, but I know a lot of guys would go barhopping to our place, Stella Maris next door if they could get in, the Blue Bird, and other joints in Naples. I, too, salvaged a menu and much other memorabilia from the Club. You can see some more memories of the club here – heck, you might even recognize some of the sailors.
https://playingintheworldgame.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/the-united-seamens-service-naples-italy/
Wow ! I want to thank you. I do recall seeing some of those people, especially those in the kitchen & bar. Angelina, Elena, Franco, & Daniele. O’Yeah ! How could I not forget Luisa & her sister Anna. I believe the other girl could have been Maria. (?) I took noticed in those photo’s you sent me a sailor from the U.S.S. Cascade, PO2 Joe Harter. As a EMFN my duties involved being a Engineering Yeoman & Projectionist along with two other great guys on board the Courtney, EMFN Kirkner & EMFN Gowan. I do recall there were many a card games played at the club, along with dances where some of us sailors would take some of the girls from the “Old England” bar for a night out after enjoying a delicious meal at the “Transatlantico Ristorante” / “American Bar”. In my diary I noticed names like Christina, Tonya, & Lucena (Lucy) who enjoyed the U.S.S. & other places in Naples such as “The Tropicana” & “Flamingo Club” also. Let me know if you remember any of these places in 1970-71. I want to thank you again, & if there are any other things you can recall, I would greatly appreciate it. A Friend, Joe.
I lived in Naples, from 68-72.
Dad was stationed at Agnano. Maybe we’ve seen each other, or you know of my dad. Yn1/Dick Curran
That was certainly the right time period; he may have come to the club for sure. Perhaps we did cross paths at some point?
Wow lived there from 69 to 73 John Pete and Denny sills carney park lived in lago patria dad was on Courtney crazy Mike penta my girl jackie mitchell Valeria P dirt bikes afsouth l had a blast. The military brats 👍
I’d like to contact one of your commenters – Joe Step – if possible. I, too, served on one of the ITASS ships (USS Lester) that was home-ported in Naples from late 1970 through late 1973. Thanks for any help you can provide.
That would be Joe Szep vice Step.
Gotta love auto corrupt.
Hello, Chris, I really enjoyed your photos. I was homeported in Naples, Italy from 1969 until almost 1972. I was attached to ComServRon6. I sure miss those days. If you have any more photos, I hope you post them. Thank you.
What ships were you on? Did you ever visit us at the USS?
To Joe Szep, I was stationed on the USS Courtney from April 1971 until it was decommissioned in December. 1973. I was a BT. Everyone called me Willie. (Jack Wilhoit) I ran around with Kevin Konco and Bob Bodley. What was your rate?
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old home week for sure.
I wrapped up a 21 month tour in the Mekong Delta in September, 1969, and went straight to Naples for duty at the commsta. After 3 years, I met a gal in Pozzuoli, and the next thing I knew, I was a prisoner of Matrimony in Italy. I rotated between Naples and Flagship in Gaeta, and Naples,, and the sub tender over in Sardina (5 years on that one. LOL) and Naples. Somehow, it added up to about 20 years before the detailers caught up with me and sent my butt to a shore tour in NATTC Millington (Memphis) I was like a duck out of water back in the states, and put in my papers and retired there as RMC after minimum of 24 months. Then I hired on with a company that sent me to Vicenza. Not as nice as the South, BUT, it was Italy. haha. Anyway, the Bluebird, and all the bars downtown were my second home on liberty those first 3 years.
Douglas, thanks for the great comment. These were great days, and it sounds like you found your home in Italy!
I sure did. Only problem was after I got married, I couldn’t go out and play anymore. haha. But, seriously, I have had a good life. I grew up in a small coal mining town in East Tennessee and never dreamed I would see so many things in Italy over my years there up close and personal, and in living color. I just turned 79 and the odds are against me ever seeing the Bel’ Paese again, but I have my memories. Thank you for reminding me of several of them through your photos. Is it permissible to copy or share them?
Doug, for some reason I can’t reply to your last comment, but feel free to share whatever you like from this post or others in the blog.