Among the little known and unpublicized famous sites in San Francisco is Red's JAVA HOUSE, a maritime and workingman's cafe historical fixture on San Francisco's warehoused and decaying waterfront.
Above: Red's Java House
Few people know that the former and retired owner of Red's JAVA HOUSE was a teenaged sailor on the USS Arizona.
Above: USS Arizona sinking
On December 7th, 1941, Red survived the sinking of that battleship.
Often, Peter Paul Verzola would stop in Red's JAVA HOUSE for one of the best ham sandwich bargains in San Francisco. When Peter Paul Verzola discovered a photo of the USS ARIZONA on the wall, he briefly interviewed Red.
He was kind of taciturn about his history, but disclosed that even though he was underaged, he signed into the US Navy. He also served in the Pacific and the Philippines.
Sometime after the interview, the photo of the USS Arizona disappered off the wall at Red's JAVA HOUSE. He told Peter that "some SOB" had stolen the photo.
When the USS Navy does its annual port visit to San Francisco, the biggest US Navy ships dock nearbiy. The sailors who have liberty often stop in at Red's for a beer and the best sandwhich and hamburger on the San Francisco waterfront.