What Happened to the EM Clubs?
By Garland Davis
Don’t get me started… the absolute worst thing the Navy ever did was develop MWR. There isn’t a place on base where you can sit down and order off a menu. You can’t get a steak, much less Mongolian bbq.
The above statement by shipmate Bobby Patton on Facebook got me to thinking about the Navy Clubs, the Navy Exchange, and MWR. This is pretty much what I saw happen to the clubs during my thirty years in the Navy and being retired near Pearl Harbor.
The EM Club Norfolk Va 1955. Undress whites and I’ll bet they didn’t check ID’s.
In 1961 when I enlisted in the Navy, the Navy Exchange was a small store on base which sold essentials. Soap, shaving cream, toothpaste, shoe polish, and etc. Some stores also had a limited selection of civilian clothing although it was only permitted aboard ship for Chief Petty Officers and Officers. Most shore stations required Third Class Petty Officers and below to wear the uniform of the day unless transiting directly from the barracks to the gate with a liberty card in their possession. Most base Exchanges operated a restaurant where breakfast and sandwich meals could be purchased. They also operated a package store where alcoholic beverages could be purchased.
The Supply Department of each base operated a clothing and Small Stores where Navy Issue uniform items could be purchased. These stores were operated by active duty Ship’s Servicemen and had no civilian employees.
There was a Supply Corps Officer assigned as the Exchange Officer. Many employees were dependents or active duty sailors working part-time jobs for extra money. The buildings and facilities were provided and maintained by the parent command. In those days the exchanges were a shoestring operation providing necessities and were overseen by the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.
On most bases, there were at least three Clubs. Officers Clubs, Chief Petty Officer Clubs, and EM Clubs. Some smaller bases set aside a portion of the EM Club for CPO’s. Many larger installations also had Acey Deucy Clubs (Second and First Class Petty Officers). Each of these clubs had a Senior Petty Officer or Chief assigned as Club Manager. They employed military dependents, part-time sailors or members of the local community as cooks, waiters, and bartenders. Most of these positions were minimum wage positions and prices were extremely low when compared to the civilian community. The club managers reported to the base Club’s Officer who was assigned the job as a collateral duty. All Navy clubs were operated under the auspices of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
During the mid to late sixties, the Navy Exchange System, headquartered at the Brooklyn Navy Yard proposed to the Secretary of the Navy that management and operation of all Navy clubs be transferred from NavPers to the Exchange System as well as assuming operation of Uniform shops. The civilian managers of the NEX system saw an opportunity to increase their area of responsibility, increase their revenue, and add to the number of NEX employees. Consequently, all EM and Acey Deucy Clubs were turned over to the Exchange. NavPers retained control of the Chief and Officer Clubs.
Under the NEX, each club hired civilian managers and permanent staff. This resulted in an increase in prices to cover the cost of a manager and to pay Duty Managers and full-time employees. Suddenly prices weren’t so much cheaper than the surrounding community resulting in fewer patrons.
The act by Congress that created the Exchange system required that all facilities be self-supporting whereas the Bureau operated clubs could subsidize each other. This resulted in several unprofitable facilities closing. Those clubs that were left struggled through the 80’s and 90’s. The emphasis on curtailed drinking by Navy leadership rung the death knell for the clubs.
MWR was created to operate those functions once called Special Services which were usually operated by military personnel. Thus, another fully civilian staffed entity was created. The NEX transferred what was left of the unprofitable EM Club System to MWR. I am not sure about other bases in the Navy but in Pearl Harbor, the EM Club is now a Food Court and the historic Beeman’s on SubBase is also a food court and game room where the strongest drink you can buy is a Red Bull.
The evolving discouragement and career-ending results of drinking led to a demise of CPO and Officer’s Clubs. The Officer’s Club at Pearl was demolished and an on-base NEX and Uniform Shop was built in its place. The building that was once the CPO Club is now the offices of the Federal Firefighting System.
Some of the overseas clubs have survived.
The desire of the civilian managers of the Exchange system for more power and increased revenue and changing societal mores regarding alcohol ended the extensive club system.
Do sailors still drink? Of course, they do! But they don’t do it on base.
I daresay that within a few years it will be more permissible to get stoned smoking legal marijuana than it will to get drunk drinking legal beer.
And that Bobby is part of the reason why you cannot get a steak or Mongolian Barbecue in a Navy Club.
Tales of an Asia Sailor 
Good report.
When the CPO club closed mainside NAS Pensacola, the old retired chiefs went to the Moose Lodge and more or less took it over.
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Great historical perspective. Thanks Garland.
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In 1961 the NEX at Little Creek Amphib Base was a Big Box Store. We started building it in 1960 and finished it in 1961. I was an SH3 there at the time.
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As I understand it the Seaside Club on Yokosuka, which had a nice restaurant, great breakfast buffet for like $2.25, game room, and bar, now I believe it is a food court and no bar.
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In Japan all the e2 and e3 shipmates from our fireroom would give me their Funny money to change because the line was shorter, BT3 1967,
Years later working at hunter’s point, that was the place for lunch, get 2 cheeseburgers and a picture of beer, they had go go girls, 2 at a time.
After working in tanks and bildges it was a good way to relax and enjoy what being an American is all about.
Rota had a nice club and cheep beer, Just the thing for a sailor flying back home and then to A school.
There was the blue bird in Naples a man out side tried to sell me hand grenades from ww2,
Pearl was like a bingo parlour with long folding tables pushed together, beer was a good price and the entertainment great
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Chiefs Club at Subic was topless I believe for the serving staff.
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It was far better to have the junior enlisted drinking on base rather than the dives off base. The shore patrol could easily get them back to the barracks when they drank too much in a base club. Enlisted benefits have gradually eroded over the decades.
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MWR would rather close down an eating establishment, than pay for and manage, all the different personnel required to operate it. It is easier, more cost effective (for them), and obviously not questioned by anyone. Why, because they say they are doing so much for the sailor. I call bullshit. Ever see the number of people on the MWR payroll! Ever wonder how much the heads of MWR make. Have you ever noticed MWR fundraisers, are designed to say how much goes back to the fleet, yet it’s the fleet they solicit for the fundraiser. They are robbing sailors by saying they are paying sailors! All the while with a big smile on their face. This isn’t just about a sit down restaurant vs a freaking food court.
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In 65 and 66 the acey ducey club and em at NAS JAX were great , go go girls dancing, good food and cheap beer
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Overseas clubs continue to operate because they are, well, overseas. Drunk sailors on base are easier to manage than those off base with no resulting international incidents. Yokosuka’s CPO Club is now more of a a contractors’ club as the CPOs simply don’t go there for the reasons stated. The O’ Club continues to operate as a location for command meetings, training and social functions. The former Seaside Club is now a Chili’s with a bar and a separate game room (slot machines). The days of CPOs networking at the club during lunch and after work to get things done have long gone; in port work is now being done by contractors vice ships’ company. Strick limitations on motivating after drinking (driving, walking, bicycling) on base have put the kibosh on outside socializing to all but a few who will still walk or cab it. Drinking is done at home or well away from the base to avoid any misconceptions. The days of CPOs on the beach spot checking their liberty party are gone. You are now more apt to see a CPO dodge a subordinate when imbibing. I didn’t mention that here in Japan around the bases the drinks and food are cheaper and better than at the clubs.
Why would anyone want to pay $11.00 for the house craft beer at the EM club when they can get a $6 Asahi/Kirin/Sapporo just a few steps away?
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Ahhhh happy days indeed. Mixed drinks for a dime at the EM Club, Guantanamo Bay.. I stopped in for a few days while serving on the USS Little Rock, 1961
I was also pleased to imbibe at both the EM & Acey Deucey Clubs in Norfolk.
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Do you know anything about “Murray’s Tavern”, or “Petrie Studio” where sailors had their portraits taken? Thank you.
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I remember a bunch of ’em. Not that I spent a great deal of time in them “later”, but the Acey Deucy at NOB Norfolk or Fiddler’s Green CPO Club are most prominent in my rapidly failing memory. Although I can’t remember for sure about the onbase club, I frequented an Air Force club in Rabat Morocco, and a “Fleet Reserve Club” in downtown Kenitra, as well as another couple of Air Force ones while we were stationed in London. The Douglas House in London is without a doubt gone, and since the U.S. vacated Morocco long ago all those are gone. A shame. Brings back fond memories. Dang, if I had all the dimes I spent in the bunch I’d be a rich man today.
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Just noticed that I left off the location on Fiddler’s Green CPO Club. It was on Guam. Sorry.
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I was fortunate enough to make Second Class in one enlistment. I fondly remember the Acey Duecy Club at the Orlando NTC when I was going to C School in 1971. Met my wife there and we are still together. I have tried to find pictures of that establishment, in vain. NTC Orlando was closed in 1999 and the base was all but obliterated. Everything I can find about it has no mention or map showing my Acey Duecy club. I did make a visit to the area a few weeks ago and found where I think it was located. There is a Mexican restaurant in its place. Anyone with pictures or info on the NTC Acey Duecy club, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
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Ahh, yes! The EM club in Yokuska! Home port for 2+ years on the Oklahoma City in 64,65,66. Great chilly and best burgers and fries! Would line our stomachs with it before heading out to Honcho street to start our drinking. Only to throw it up hours later and ruin a clean set of whites! Used to sit by those big bay windows, look out at Monkey island and dream about going home. Shit!! Have another beer 🍺 From what I read the actual club is no longer there.😞
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Ah yes, the Morale Suppression Team aka MWR in full combat mode has destroyed a Naval Institution, our clubs.
The Chiefs Club on NS Norfolk had strippers in the lounge for happy hour up until 91 or 92.
The Top Two (acey-deucy) had a steak with all the fixings for under $15, thats drink included !
Now they’re all parking lots, Chiefs Club is some podunk piece of merde in the old train depot inside the front gate on Hampton Blvd.
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