My Daddy Lou If one was to look at an issue of the Key West Citizen, dated January 1, 1952, you would see an article on the first baby born that year, a girl, just after midnight at the navy hospital, it mentions the second baby born, also a little after 12:00A.M. at Monroe General, this writer's name, along with my mother's and Louis C. Krug Jr., my father,who recently passed, appeared there. I have always maintained that the second baby was actually the First Conch that year, since the girl was never heard from again. Louis C. Krug Jr. was born in West Bend, Iowa, February 3, 1930. He was the son of the former Violet Salisbury and Louis C. Krug Sr., raised on a farm just a few miles out of town, along with his four brothers and two sisters. It is where he got those mid-western values that served him so well and enabled his to live a long, prosperous and honorable life. 1950 while serving as a radioman in the U.S.Navy, aboard a submarine, stationed at USNB Key West, he met and married a conch girl, of the Bethel and Roberts family. Two months after that article in the Citizen, Louis and conch girl split up and go there separate ways, she remarried and left Key West, he continued his Navy career around the world. The First Conch would be raised by his aunt, uncle and grandmother. There is absolutely no reason to feel for the First Conch, he grew up in paradise, with the best people in the world. 1964 we receive word that my Daddy Lou would be returning to Key /West for another tour of duty on a submarine. He brought with him a beautiful red-haired bride, Miss Claire, a step-daughter and his new baby boy, Kenny, who celebrated his second birthday in Key West. In life there are special times, sort of Camelot-like, this was that time for us, I was able to spend lots of time with my little brother, Kenny, at Rolf's Trailer Park on Stock island. There was a little coral jetty that we would walk out on called "The Point" and Al's Little General Store, it also gave me  an opportunity to know my Daddy Lou a little better. He took me on the submarine he was attached to once, it was great.    1968 my father is transferred to the Naval Training School in Illinoise, he lived in Zion. When they left he told me that the next summer he would send for me to spend some time there, it eased our pain a little. Kenny developed an acute case of asthma, that required constance care, not long after they got there. He lived just seven short years, most in Key West and brought so much joy, it was a lost we still feel, over 40 years later. The lost of a child is the worst pain God allows some to endure.    My father retired from the U.S. Navy in 1971, honorably, after more than 20 years of service. He returned to Key West for the third and final time, he was one of the first persons to purchase a trailer lot from Mr. Berntein, developer of a new trailer community, Lincoln Gardens, not to be just another Stock Island trailer park. He also had an acre in Indian Mounds, off Crane Blvd. on Sugarloaf, across from the world famous Mr. Jesse. The trailer was on the water , with a dock, close to Cow Key Chanel, on Mariam Street. Miss Claire's parents Helen and Dick Longacre lived a few trailers down. my dad worked as a carpenter for Cates Construction, when they were building The Sportsman's Inn, I worked as a laborer, he also worked for Keyvan Construction. Miss Claire was a beautician and had her own salon on Big Coppitt for awhile. Her parents passed and Lincoln Gardens was not turning out as planned, so about 1974, they sold their properties and moved to Jacksonville. He had a few homes in the Arlington area of JAX, active in the neighborhoods, he made many friends, also loved yard sales, was a great fix-it guy and kept his lawn in imaculate condition. He worked over 20 years on the docks as a steamadore and foreman, even returned part time after he retired. Miss Claire always treated me with kindness and would make Christmas special for my kids every year. Her daughter, who some conchs will remember, was very close with her mother, she took great care of her during her final years, along with miss Claire's sister and grandson, she passed in 1998. My dad had longed to return to his native Iowa and after Miss Claire's passing he did just that. He spent the last 10 years of his life exactly where he wanted to be, corn fields as far as the eye can see, a frozen tondra 5 months of the year, on farm house with a few acres and raising turkeys. They called him Louie there, same as they called his dad, still did garage and also estate sales, had his sisters and brothers close to him, along with numerous, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. I have made four trips to Iowa and my Daddy Lou and I had long conversations on the phone, I will miss him dearly, but take great confort in knowing that God has them now and can easily envision Kenny, Miss Claire and Daddy Lou together again, as they are in that little cemetery in West Bend, Iowa, surrounded by many other Krug's. N.S.Sherlock __________________________________________ Granny When I was young and not so bold, many a story I was told. Some were true and some were new, many I could see right thru. Granny was there when I needed her most, if not for her my life would be toast. Now I have a grandson of my own, because of her, he is my home. N.S.Sherlock ___________________________________________________________________________________ Memorial for Bo Memorial Day is a important holiday, we must allways remember the Heroes, that gave their lives, so we can enjoy freedom. For more than 230 years many freedom fighters have made the altimate sarifice, each one equal, regardless of when or where. Cpl. Kermit "Bo" Cates U.S.M.C., 1949-1971, became a good friend for about the last five years of his life. It must have been about 1966 that I attended my first K.W.H.S. baseball game and Bo was the first of a long list of great Conch ballplayers seen there. He also played football, he had the size and found time to help his Grandfather, well into his 80's, pull crawfish traps from a 12ft. skiff. His Uncle was Mr. Bill Cates, a major supporter of local baseball. Being three years younger than Bo, you can imagine how it felt to ride around town, a favorite pass-time, and hang with the big guys. Sometimes we would ride to Stock Island, to Niles boatyard to to check on the boat. Actually his main interest was not in me and would become my brother-in-law. He joined the Marines at the height of fighting in Viet Nam and quickly became a Corporal. He was attached to the elite hellicopter squardron that escorted President Nixon. On one of his trips to Key Biscayne, he came home on leave. He was the same but also very different, he showed a pride that was contagious, they had made him a patriot and warrior, but he was allways a Hero. Not long after that he gave his life serving his country. We have freedoms today that couldn't be imagined, because of these great people. We can never forget them or those who served and are presently serving, look around there is someone you can thank. Bo Cates is not only a Superconch but more importantly a SuperAmerican. N.S.Sherlock __________________________________________________________________________________________ Conch Hero My first recollection of Crip Lastres was when I lived above the Bayview Grocery Store and Bayview Park was my world and front yard. Fast Pitch softball was King, and played in the City League with powerhouse teams, like Coca Cola, Adams Dairy and three Navy Teams, Bushnell, Gilmore and VX-1. Pitching in this league was tough and it was not uncommon for games to go 14 innings, with the score 0-0. The stands were always full, because where could you get such entertainment for a mere dime. If you were forming a team, you could have a great one with the Lastres brothers, one of my favorite lifetime memories was a sunny afternoon at Wicker's Stadium. Key West High was at bat,the Salgaldo boy stepped up to the plate and poled one out over the left field fence, next the youngest Lastres came up and hit another one out in the very same place, I can still hear the roar of the crowd! Back at Bayview, I always attended the night softball games, it was here that I watched Crip Lastres and some of his brothers play, these games were played with a do or die intensity, that has never been replicated and Crip could hustle down the line with the best of them. He had a love for the game, he was also considered a top notch drummer. As little leaguers, many of us experienced his coaching skills, in Pony League and Babe Ruth Baseball at Wickers. My favorite road trip was around 1957 when Bill Cates as Head Coach and Crip as his Assistant took a Key West team to the Windy City of Chicago, to play in a tournament. Several road games had to be played before we advanced to this tournament, Crip kept us in line and laughing all the way. We didn't win it all, but had the experience of a lifetime and a greater appreciation for Key West youth baseball. To a great Conch Hero, Crip Lastres, thanks for the memories! H.J.Cuba ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cuban Christmas Meal Living near the old LaLechonera restaurant, where the present day ElCacique is on Cathrine St., on a Christmas Day, I was off to catch the bus to Stock Island to do my Radio Show. Stopped for coffee and Mr. Cruz was there as always, we started to talk, this was the first time we had really talked in length. He asked "have you ever eaten a Cuban Christmas Meal", my reply, no, how is it different. He toyed with my mind, telling of all the delights they served over the holidays, then he told me to come by after work and have a bite with him and his family. After that day's On Air show, I went by thinking he was putting me on or just wanted me to eat and pay at his restaurant, which I was willing to do. When I walked in he had a table off to the left, in the corner, where the help sat. It was already set up and he pointed to that table for me to sit. A stream of Cuban foods atarted coming and when I left, I asked how much was owed, he replied "Nada'. My love of the Cuban people and their food began that day and never ended. In my non-Cuban hame I have a buche or conleache every morning and often make Piccadilo, Black Beans & Rice, Ropa Vieja, Lechon Asada, etc., but they don't compare to the fabulous "Cuban Christmas Meal" Mr. Cruz provided for me. D.A.Voice ________________________________________________________________________________ Great Memories Around 1980-81 this writer was working "On Air" at WKIZ, one April Fool's Day we had everyone running to the White St. Pier to see some whales. I had my friend, Feto Lastres call into the station and he was giving a report from the pier about the whales. He said he wasn't sure what was wrong with the whales, but that it seemed they were having a problem with their blow holes. Needless to say we had a good laught when everyone headed to the pier. Who could forget Harry Chipchase playing his horn on the streets of Key West, he would lead the people on with "When the Saints Come Marching In." I also drove a trolley telling stories to thousands of people and Mr. Keyes was always on the Southernmost Point, willing to blow a Conch Shell for the tourists. While working for WKWF in the 60's I lived on Bakers Lane and my landlady was English Ann and next door to her was James Lee O'herlihy, who wrote Midnight Cowboy. Across the street in a little conch house was Lilia (SP) Lea, she was a leading lady in films with Rudolph Valentino and friends with Miss Talula Bankhead who would visit her every once and awhile. She had atleast 25 cats in that small house. These are only a few of my great memories of Key West. D.A.Voice Tevedeo Perez In the late 1940's Rest Beach had but one lone inhabitant, he lived in the middle of the beach among the sand dunes, in a hut made mostly of driftwood. No rent, no phone, no problems, just the sound of the sea with the whistle of the pines and the knowledge that his home lay over the horizon, of course I am remembering Tevedeo Perez. It was around age 10 that I was introduced to this man from Cuba, who had somehow acquired a fleet (around 6) rowboats. He would rent them for $1.00 a day, but his tales of life, the sea and storms were free. Conchs and crawfish were plentiful but their days, like Tevedeo's, were numbered. As a teen my favorite mode of transportation became a Cushman Scooter, like many others, I couldn't resist riding full out along the dune road directly in front of Tevedeo's home. I soon realized the intrusion into his life and never did it again. Following graduation I joined the military and would check on Mr. T when home on leave. One day he was gone, this was the day that a song refers to as the one that "They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot." I never go down that road without looking for Tevedeo. H.J.Cuba