All hands, be advised: Look out for ‘ladyboys’
September 21st, 2009 | Carriers Liberty Life at Sea Morale | Posted by Phil Ewing
Much as the sailors in this 1934 painting needed to keep their wits about them, so too will Reagan strike group sailors need to keep up their guard on a visit to Phuket, Thailand, officials say // NavHistHerCom
Sailors know it’s a dangerous world out there: Let your guard down for less than a second and you can be vacuumed into a jet intake, or blown off the flight deck and never seen again. Here’s something else to add to all the occupational hazards of Navy life: ‘Ladyboy’ attacks.
The Ronald Reagan carrier strike group is due to arrive this week in Phuket, Thailand, and the Phuket Wan newspaper reports that the coming influx of sailors will happen in the midst of a transgender crime wave. The city — already infamous as a destination for sex tourism — has been experiencing a spate of muggings allegedly perpetrated by its workforce of “katoeys,” and there is a concern that problem might keep too many American dollars out of the hands of local merchants:
A spate of muggings by katoey ladboys [sic] in Patong has raised concern for the safety of US sailors who arrive on Phuket to take shore leave next week.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan spearheads a friendly ”invasion” of warships to boost Phuket’s economy over five days.
But another less friendly invasion of ladyboys from all over Thailand has already begun, the local police chief warned today.
What a weird story. Have you done a port visit in Phuket? What was it like? Keep it clean — this is a family blog.
Comments
-
John Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pmI visited Phuket in 1988. Since this is a ‘family blog’, I will restrict my comments. Nice weather, nice environment and well, everything and everybody were very nice.
-
Fred Louese Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:33 amIn 1982, I rode an elephant (4 legged) there, guess I can’t say anymore since this is a family blog