Oct 20 2008
My First Time: LOST in the Algerian Gut!
My First and only time to be truly LOST and in physical danger happened in 1968, December, in Marseilles, France.
This was not long after many Algerians had emigrated to France due to the Algerian War. (Guerre d’Algérie; 1954-1962), also known as Algerian War of Independence.) But not all immigrants were of good character. There was a section of Marseilles that was called the “Algerian Gut” and it was strictly off-limits to non-Algerians, but particularly dangerous for American U.S. Navy sailors.
We were easily identifiable in those days because we were required to wear our uniforms. When my ship anchored off shore, we sent a “liberty party” of about 1200 sailors to the “beach,” in Navy lingo.
My group of friends were drinking, naturally, and when it was time to leave the bar, I found myself all alone. I started wandering toward the “Fleet landing” where our liberty boats would transport us back to the ship. We had been warned about the Algerian Gut, were told about the gangs of thugs, with knives, crowbars, and chains, who attacked those who carelessly or intentionally intruded into their “territory.”
I was careless. I wandered in from a side street which ran at an angle in such a way that each block took me deeper into the danger area. I kind of knew I was in the shady part of town, because the streets were deserted and there were hardly any street lamps. Then I saw people far ahead of me. I turned down a street to avoid them. I saw more people down a side street, and I changed direction again. They had seen me and were coming my way. I didn’t panic or run, but kept a steady, quick walk, trying to work my way in the direction I thought would get me OUT. I emerged through the darkness into the light, where gendarmes, armed with machine guns and police dogs, expressed AMAZEMENT! Not only were they amazed that I had emerged from the “gut,” where no sailors were allowed, but that I emerged at all!
I was lucky. That’s it, plain and simple. Luck saves the ignorant; if not always the careless.
