Plan of the Day

The crew of the aircraft carrier Intrepid—enlisted men and officers—saw port calls as much-needed breaks from shipboard life. These visits gave Intrepid sailors access to two diversions that were not available on the ship: alcohol and women. In ports of call, bars and brothels catered to sailors. Certain destinations had particularly wild reputations, such as Olongapo, near the now-closed Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines.

Back on Intrepid, unruly crew members faced consequences for their liberty indulgences—punishment for drunken rowdiness and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. The Medical Department tried to educate crew members about sexually transmitted infections, called venereal diseases (VD) at the time. Gonorrhea in particular was rampant in certain ports. Sailors who worked in sick bay recall treating a steady stream of VD patients after some port calls. This plan of the day warns crew members against playing a "game of chance with venereal disease."