Today, 17 years ago in 1997, I returned from the Persian Gulf after a six-month deployment on the aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Its a significant date because my son, Franklin, was born just seven months earlier - I only had one month with him since his birth before I had to deploy. Before I had to leave, I fed him, changed him, and spent every minute with him I could. When I left for deployment a day shy of a month after he was born, he was so little. To hold him, I had to wrap him in a blanket and support his head and he just seemed so fragile. On April 11, 1997, we pulled back into San Diego bay and moored and when I got off the ship, it was bittersweet - because he didnt know who I was. Rediscovering each other in the following days was a period of time Ill always treasure. April 11 is a day I will always remember.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 14:06:29 +0000
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