A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.”?
2. In what movie did we hear, “Normal is a setting on the dryer.”?
3. In what song did we hear?
   The full moon is calling, the fever is high
   And the wicked wind whispers and moans
   You got your demons and you got desires
   Well, I got a few of my own

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As I was contemplating (over strong Navy coffee, mind you) this week’s blog title AND after my last “mission” down south to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, I realized just how much the Navy has remained a part of me over the past 45 years.

And that’s what this week’s title is…

… The Navy Never Left Me.

I’m sure it may resonate with several of my veteran friends.

Language / Phrases / Terminology / Attitude

I know a plethora of veterans. Not just Navy veterans, but also Army, Marine, Air Force, and a few Coast Guard veterans. Many of us still carry the traditional languages and phrases. That’s usually a sure giveaway when you overhear us talk, especially when we talk with other veterans.

The Navy, like all other military branches, has their own vocabulary, terms, and phrases. In fact, a few years ago, I put together a Glossary of Navy terms. And, while I was at it, I also included a couple of other Glossaries for my fellow veterans.

I’ve written about some of these “special” phrases before and while my own children heard many of these during their grown-up years, I’m not quite sure my grandchildren are old enough… give me a few more years, though.

Terms like, “skivvies, non-skid, SOS, scuttlebutt, and Bravo Zulu,” and phrases like, “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you,” or “Never Again Volunteer Yourself,” or “Livin’ the Dream!”

All these terms and phrases are sure giveaways that I’m a veteran.

Many veterans also joke about the other branches.

Oftentimes, I “borrow” my “Navy Friday Funny” posts from another branch and just change the branch, or I’ll “Chief it up,” if it’s a civilian joke. Regardless of the constant bantering among us, we are all brothers of a different mother. I mentioned before, I’ve got a lot of veteran friends from all walks of life, and I respect all of you.

Even my two Marine friends…

Comradery

As I’ve grown older (“seasoned” is a term I often use), I’ve settled into a more relaxed lifestyle. Oh, I still get outdoors (I’m a nature lover & a photographer) and try to take long walks & bike rides. I get a lot of inspirational ideas (I’m also an author) for my books during these journeys.

After I left the Navy (in July 1977), I found there were still a lot of feelings toward the Vietnam War and everyone and everything associated with it. I was NOT in Vietnam, though during Westpac ’75, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) cruised around in the South China Sea a few times.

But there was still that stigma of being a Vietnam-era veteran.

I simply got busy with life. You know, education, family, career… all those things.

But somewhere down the line, I began having those fleeting moments, those flashbacks, those triggers, many veterans have. It could have been a song, a smell, a sound, whatever… but it instantly took me back to NAS Agana, Guam, or the aircraft carrier.

The more this occurred, the more I wanted to write down some of my own memories. My kids were old enough to have heard a few stories (and yes, a few “choice” terms), but I thought it important to pass that legacy along to them and to other family members.

After all, in 2005, I’d written & published my dad’s experiences, “You Can’t Get Much Closer Than This: Combat with the 80th ‘Blue Ridge’ Division in World War II Europe.” Why not write a book about my Navy experiences?

Then I had this idea… would the Navy allow me to spend a few days aboard an active aircraft carrier? Would they fly me out? Would they let me spend a few days in boot camp? I wrote about those experiences in an earlier blog, “After 30+ Years, I’m Back on the Flight Deck.”

My wife will be the first to tell you that after I spent a few days aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CV-76) in 2009, I reached a goal… a personal “bucket list” item, if you must.

And “Three Years, Eleven Months, & 29 Days–But Who’s Counting,” became my published memoir.

Veterans’ Brotherhood

There’s a bond veterans have, not with just those they served with, but with almost all veterans of all branches. When I see someone with a military ball cap, I try to acknowledge them; I see someone with a Navy ballcap, I want to know more. I don’t always strike up a conversation, but sometimes it’s interesting to know that others have been in many of the same places I experienced, both on the flight deck and overseas in PI.

Remember, back in boot camp (for me, Orlando RTC; July – August 1973), when we’d march in company formation and pass another company along the way?

“Anyone from Florida? Anyone from Texas? Anyone from Iowa?” Yeah… you remember those times.

Now, instead of “Where are you from?” the questions are, “When did you serve? What branch? Where were you stationed? How many years?” And then, if time permits, “Do you remember the ‘Country Caravan Club’ or ‘Marilyn’s Inn’ (or pick your own favorite club) in PI?” and the no-shit stories begin.

Over the past few years, I’ve reconnected with old shipmates, as well as meeting new friends, either at reunions or even on Facebook. Despite all the FB BS, like ads, negativity, and their ridiculous programming algorithms, I still enjoy reading about other Navy veterans’ stories, adventures, and seeing the photos of yesteryear. Many times, they bring back great memories for me.

First Responders

After I left the Navy, I joined the local City of Gainesville (Florida) Fire Department. It made sense—I’d spent four years as a Crash & Salvage firefighter. Why not continue that line of work? And… since I’d “grown up” and matured a bit, I could work full time at the fire department and return to college full time to continue working on my degree.

One day on, two days off… not bad for $9,600 a year back in 1977. With the GI Bill, my tuition at the local community college was taken care of, plus when I transferred to the University of Florida.

Life was good.

Firefighters, like police, EMTs, paramedics, RNs, and a whole slew of others, are called “first responders.” Back then, I often working alongside other first responders… all of us just doing our jobs.

In fact, my wife is an RN. She’s retired now, like me, but we met in the late 70s while I was a city firefighter, and she was a cardiac ICU nurse at the local university teaching hospital. It was happenstance and a great story.

Normally, I’d start off with a “no-shitter.” Something like, “We met while fighting a house fire—me inside the house, and she taking care of a burn victim.”

But that wasn’t the case. However, that exact scenario played out a few months later, before we married.

We actually met at a karate class (Cuong-Nhu) here in Gainesville. “She threw me, and I fell for her…”

I can hear the groans <wide grin here>, but the story never gets old for us. Coming up on 41 years together.

A Veteran’s Respect

My father-in-law, Dr. Rufus K. Broadaway, served with the 82nd Airborne during WWII. He dropped in on D-Day during the Normandy invasion. I’ve written about him several times.

After the war, he put himself through college and Harvard Medical School, moved down to Miami and helped start the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Rufus left us several years ago at the age of 96. He and Marion, his wife since 1942, lived in a Gainesville retirement community, just 20 minutes away from us. When he passed away and the funeral director wheeled him out of the room, I stood at full attention and saluted him. I don’t know why, but at the time, it seemed like the thing to do. I did the same after speaking at his memorial service.

Fast forward a few years and I’m writing my book, NEVER FORGET.

They say you should write what you know. There’s a scene in my book after the main character’s father (Ed, WWII vet) passes away in his retirement home. The main character (Tom, Vietnam vet; Chris is his teenage son) stands outside his father’s room, waiting. Charles (also a Vietnam vet) is his father’s aide…

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Tom and Chris sat in silence in the small waiting room. Charles poked his head in and told Tom they were ready. They walked down the hall to Ed’s room, stood outside his door, wondering what the next few minutes would bring.

Charles slowly opened the door to his father’s room. The transporter wheeled his father out. He was in a black body bag, similar to the ones Tom was all too familiar with from Vietnam. But this time, it was much different. This time he knew this was the right time and the right place and all was right in the world. His father had finally found peace.  

Tom stood straight as an arrow at full attention and did something he hadn’t done since leaving Vietnam twenty-five years earlier. He saluted his father—his hero—for the final goodbye. Chris saw that and, like his dad, stood at attention and saluted his grandfather.

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As an author, oftentimes there are some scenes that you need to capture, and for me, this was definitely one of them.

Veterans Day is right around the corner. My final word for this week’s post is simple: when you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service. Every veteran has a story, and many sacrificed more than you may ever realize.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran, retired technology consultant, professional speaker, and published author. He’s written several books, many are free to download. For more information, visit his website: www.azadkinsiii.com.

Answers

1. Henry David Thoreau.
2. Harley Quinn (2019), Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco).
3. One of These Nights (1975), Eagles; written by Don Henley & Glenn Frey.

Previous posts mentioned in this blog:

• #128–Into the Aftermath
• #70–“Chit, Bird Farm, Scuttlebutt”… What?
• #13–After 30+ Years, I’m Back on the Flight Deck
• #12–Writing Your Own Memoir (Part 1)
• #4–From Civilian to US Navy
• #48–Not Just Another House Fire
• #34 – No Better Place to Die