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I Missed Woodstock

By John Lindquist

In my last short article I said I was discharged from the USMC in London, England, on August 8th, 1969. The Commandant had to approve it.

Something I did not mention was that my first wife had asked me for a divorce four days after I returned from Vietnam. This stunned me, at the least. For about six weeks, I said, "No, we can work this out." I was stationed in London with a "Fast Company" with the Marine NATO guard for humanitarian reasons—she was still hospitalized. I finally, reluctantly agreed.

I was smart enough not to tell the Marine Corps, and I'm glad I did this. When my discharge date came around, they were going to fly me back to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. "But Major, I can't go back to the USA now. My wife is still hospitalized, and I am taking care of my baby daughter."

I had set up child support with my In-laws and missed Woodstock! I wanted to go to the Isle of Wight Rock Festival. Thirty-six groups were to perform, including Joe Cocker, Free, Yes, The Who, The Moody Blues, Captain Beefheart, The Band, Bob Dylan, and more. It was on a September Bank Holiday weekend, the first weekend in September: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

It cost about $17, plus train fare and food. I knew I had to find some pot. ;-). But that was a secret! I had to find a quick job. Luckily, I saw a posting at the Marine Barracks in London on the bulletin board.

A Navy Captain, equivalent to a Colonel, needed a painter at ten shillings an hour. Twenty shillings equals a pound. I called the phone number and went to see him in West London. He was reporting to NATO with his family. He needed two rooms painted. I earned enough to buy a ticket to the festival and a train ticket, plus I found another vet who sold me some pot.

He was an Air Force vet who had been stationed in England at the US base in North-West London. It is now an RAF base. He had contacts in London when he was stationed there. He sold to other GIs and returned after discharge to continue in that role and enjoy London as a civilian.

That weekend, I left Victoria Station with a round-trip ticket to RYDE, Isle of Wight—The Beatles Ticket to RYDE. We traveled in an old train coach with a long passageway and rooms for six people, like in the old movies. They transferred the train coaches to a ferry, which took us to the Isle of Wight. Signs at the station pointed the way to the buses. Lots of hippies were talking to the bus.

I had a short military haircut. But I wore my London British police type "Bobbies Cape." I was cool, I thought. I bumped into an American from Boston who brought some Black Hash from Morocco. I had a sleeping bag—I was set.

A big area was fenced off with a big stage, opening every day at 11:00. You had to leave every night. The music stopped at about 01:30. I slept in a farmer's field each night. It did not rain. I also did not have to dig a foxhole. The Isle of Wight usually has lots of rain, so I was lucky.

This festival is still held and is often a mud bowl like part of Woodstock. Tickets now start at about $300 for the weekend. The music was really great. The Who played from start to finish—nonstop. I also got stoned :-).

I returned to London and kissed my month-old Jessica goodbye. I was going to miss her. I flew out of London the day after Labor Day. I flew Air Icelandic to save $17, which was a big mistake. I went from London to Glasglow, Iceland, NYC, and Milwaukee.

The flight was seventeen hours on a Russian Turboprop plane. A C-130 would have been quieter and faster.

I missed Woodstock, but I experienced a great festival anyways. We still have a home on Fratney Street, Wendy, and I. By the way, my daughter, Jessica, is a Scientist with Yorkshire Water and lives in Sheffield—but that's another story.

Every day is a bonus!
Semper Fidelis.
Stand by Ukraine.
Free the Hostages.

John Lindquist is a long-time VVAW member from Milwaukee, now living in England.