When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
23-piece vintage photo and document archive belonging to Chief MMC Lonnie Louis Castelli aboard the combat stores ship USS MARS (AFS-1).
This is an untouched, single-owner estate grouping from a 1969-1970 WestPac deployment. What Is In The Lot:
1. OFFICIAL MILITARY DOCUMENT (1966):
Original official letterhead document from the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. MARS (AFS-1), Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, CA. Dated 16 February 1966, officially promoting Lonnie Louis Castelli to Chief Master At Arms / MMC (Chief Machinist\'s Mate). Signed by direction of H.V. Wertin. Excellent provenance centerpiece.
2. PERSONAL CANDID PHOTOS (2 ITEMS):
Clear, sharp images of Chief Castelli relaxing with local women inside the R&R liberty clubs. This adds a massive value anchor because it puts a face to the name on the document.
3. JAPAN PORT CALLS AND SHORE EXCURSIONS (8 ITEMS — DATED MAY 1969):
Includes Sasebo neon street scenes showing the Diamond Horse Shoe, Amazon Bar, Moonlight Bar, and Playmate Bar. Also features the Sasebo Harbor naval fuel depots, local retail music/photo shops, a Sasebo crosswalk intersection featuring Bar Blondie, the C\'est Si Bon club storefront, and a day trip to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Marker. All feature crisp pink \"MAY 69Z\" Kodak backstamps.
4. HONG KONG LIBERTY CRUISE (12 ITEMS — DATED APRIL 1970):
Incredible Lockhart Road and Wan Chai neon nightlife views featuring the Pussycat Club, Apollo 11 moon landing bar, Old Toby Bar, Tokyo Bar, Oahu Bar, Chicago Bar, Neptune Bar, and the Moonlight Bar/Charcoal Room corner. Also includes a daytime view of The Happening and Mikado, Hong Kong Island transit lines featuring double-decker trams with Caltex ads, the Royal Navy China Fleet Club with a giant San Miguel bottle billboard, a Rolex skyscraper skyline view, and Victoria Harbour traditional junk boats. All carry crisp pink \"APR. 70Z\" Kodak backstamps.
Dealer Condition Note:
Excellent vintage condition. Strong color retention, high gloss, crisp edges, and zero water damage. Period ink handwriting on the reverse sides matches the chronological timeline perfectly.
