November 19, 1971, exactly 43 years ago today, Pier 12, Norfolk Naval Base, USS John F Kennedy CVA-67, a Boatswains pipe blows followed by the announcement Horn, ABH-3, Plank Owner, Departing. One of the happiest days of my life. Unlike many on here, I have never wished to go back. I am proud that I served and I met some good people, seen foreign countries that I otherwise would never had seen. I still remember the long and hard hours, the months away from home and how it seemed time was moving like molasses on a cold morning. My first kid was eight months old before I saw her. These memories are not as vivid as they used to be and the good times do tend to overshadow the bad. Time itself heals ones bad memories to a point. I feel that the experience of working the flight deck had an effect on my life that other jobs that I could have wound up doing never could. I look back and know that even though there were assholes and skates it was still a tighter knit group than I could see in other occupations on the ship. You had to watch each others back to survive, literally. It was definitely an experience one can be proud of, no matter what color your shirt was. If you worked the flight deck, you participated in one of militarys most hectic, dangerous and at the same time rewarding occupations. Im not saying we were better than any other rates as it took all on board to make the ship work, just that we have experienced something that a relative few have or will. That said, a salute to all Navy personnel, both active and veterans.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:39:48 +0000
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