#194—Taking “Leave”

Image credit: A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet takes off from the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Pinske.

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

Who said, “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.”?
In what movie (and who said it) did we hear: “I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up.”?
In what song (and who sang it) did we hear:
Just a small-town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere

Like many of my veteran friends. I’m “retired.” For me, life is good. It’s almost like we’re always on vacation or on a staycation. No alarm to set and no need to go to work (unless I’m volunteering). I seem to have no problem finding things to do to keep busy.

Looking through my earlier blog posts & notes, I started down that memory lane again … you know, the good stuff and, now and then, the not-so-good stuff.

I began to focus on my various duty stations and where it all started, Orlando RTC (Recruit Training Command), in July 1973.

I’ve written before about the “why” I joined the Navy. But every time … EVERY TIME between duty stations (and I loosely define boot camp & “A” School as duty stations), I took leave to spend a little time at home.

And each time I returned home, I was a little “different.” And I’ll be honest: every time I came home, I looked forward to my next duty station … my Navy “journey,” so to speak.

Between Boot Camp and A School

You may or may not remember your time in boot camp. For me, that six weeks in July 1973 was a blur. Especially after that first 0400 rude awakening when the CC opened the door, kicked the 50-gallon galvanized steel “alarm clock” down the middle of the barracks, and yelled at the top of his voice, “Drop your c*@!s and grab your socks.” Eighty of us in that company had no clue what lay ahead.

But I made it through boot camp. I was an E-2 when I graduated (I had a year of college under my belt, though I’d flunked out of college). I didn’t realize it at the time—I was just one more boot in a Navy of recruits—but that would help me make E-5 in less than 3 years. That’s another story, though.

While at home, I found I’d lost a few pounds in boot camp (who didn’t?). So, my mom, a wonderful southern cook, made sure I stocked up on her delicious home-cooked meals.

Like other recruits in my company (Company #163, CC ADJ1 Louis Wright), I could take up to 14 days leave before reporting to my next “duty station:” Naval Air Station Lakehurst, NJ for ABH “A” School. I was stoked, ready to learn how to be an Aviation Boatswains Mate-Handler.

I had no clue what that meant or would entail, but at 18 years old, I was ready. In fact, I was so ready that I only took a week’s leave before heading out.

Andy Adkins Boot Camp Whites — Andy Adkins @ Orlando RTC, August 1973.

Between “A” School and NAS Agana, Guam

When I first arrived in Lakehurst, we didn’t have enough ABHs to start a class. For two weeks, command assigned me to help rebuild some of the old WWII barracks. Being 6’4”, the Chief decided my job was to hang ceilings—the drop-down type. I didn’t mind … it kept me busy and I learned a new “skill” that I’d never use again.

I’ve written about my “A” school experience before, so no need to repeat it. However, there was that time mid-way through the training course when we filled out our “Dream Sheet.” That’s your way of letting the Navy know where you’d like to be stationed. It’s their way of filling billets wherever they want you to go. Hence the term, “Dream Sheet.”

My orders read, “Report to NAS Agana, Guam.” Sweet! Now if I could just figure out where in the world was Guam.

This time between duty stations, I took a few weeks’ leave. I knew it would be awhile before I’d come back home. And besides, the time at Boot Camp and in A School helped me reflect on how much I truly missed home, my mom & dad, and my sister, Anne.

I remember, though, during those few weeks at home, I had that itch … that feeling that something grand was about to happen. A new journey for me, a new adventure, and the first time I’d be outside the continental US, even though Guam was a US territory.

Once again, I was ready, willing, and able.

Between Guam and USS Kitty Hawk

I spent 15 months on the island paradise of Guam. One day on (24 hours) and one day off. While on duty, we slept at the Crash Barn. Toward the end of my tour, we had enough guys in both sections (Port & Starboard) to have one guy take a Kelly Day; that meant he’d have three days off in a row.

I didn’t take any leave during my time in Guam. Several guys did and traveled to Hong Kong & the Philippines; a few others got TDY (Temporary Duty) to Diego Garcia, which was an island in the Indian Ocean a world away. Those who went enjoyed the duty and a few guys came back with loads of seashells and other souvenirs.

No, I decided I’d spend my time on Guam doing what I loved: scuba diving and learning to fly an airplane. I went on several USO Boonie Stomps, which was always a treat. We got to mingle with the other military branches (Air Force personnel from Anderson AFB; Navy radiomen/women from NCTS; Navy men/women from the main Naval Base).

And of course, I hit that 2-month mark when I became a “short-timer.” I didn’t make a short-timer chain nor color in a pinup chart, counting the days until I left. However, I quite often used the term, “30 days and a wake up” (or whatever time left).

During my time in Guam, I grew a lot, both physically and mentally. I celebrated two birthdays and was now 20 years old. Since Guam was my first “real” duty station, I’d become an aircraft firefighter (Crash & Rescue), learned to drive all the fire trucks, and was promoted to an ABH3, a third-class petty officer.

My next duty station would be aboard an aircraft carrier: USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), based out of San Diego.

I was ready to go home, spend time with my parents, my sister, and my friends, and eat some much-missed home-cooked meals. I’d have up to four weeks’ leave before reporting aboard.

Aboard USS Kitty Hawk

While home on leave, I got that itch again … ready for my next adventure.

Instead of taking a full month’s leave, I left home after three weeks. I knew two of my buddies from Guam, Glenn Law and Gary Borne, were already aboard.

Glenn Law, Gary Borne - NAS Agana, Guam (1974) — Glenn Law, Gary Borne (R.I.P.); NAS Agana, Guam. 1974.

When I first arrived in San Diego, I learned Kitty Hawk was out on a RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) exercise and wouldn’t return for three weeks.

Shit. Another temporary duty assignment at the main Naval Base. But the only thing the three of us in that TDY “company” had to do was to clean the barracks after breakfast. After that, we were on our own.

Boring!!!

Finally, I reported to Kitty Hawk at NAS North Island. Boy, she was huge. I remember the taxi driving up to her next to the pier. I’d never been aboard a ship.

That was in March 1975; a few months later, Kitty Hawk set sail on Westpac ’75, a 6-month cruise, visiting three countries (Philippines, Hong Kong, & Japan)—more adventures. We got back to the states on December 15, 1973 … the day before my 21st birthday (no drinking for me!).

But I did travel home for a few weeks, spending Christmas with the family.

However, instead of flying back to San Diego, three of us drove from Florida back to San Diego. Brack Barker, John Sideris (both in the Air Department), and I drove John’s Gran Torino from his hometown of Pensacola. It wasn’t an uneventful trip. We had a radiator blow somewhere in nowhere, Texas. After getting that repaired, we headed west again. Kitty Hawk was still in port, but her next “tour” would be to the Bremerton Shipyards.

The Shipyards

In the past, I’ve written several posts about the shipyards, so there is no need to repeat here. I will say, however, that it didn’t take long for the 8-hour workdays to become boring. I made the best of it, though.

I took leave to fly home once during that year-long “tour.” And yes, once again, after a couple of weeks, I was ready to return to the ship. We’d be heading back to San Diego in April 1977, and I’d move from Crash to the flight deck as a Yellow Shirt Director.

That was something I looked forward to. I knew this would be my last “stint” aboard Kitty Hawk, but I wanted to make the most of it. Flight Deck Director #36 in Fly 3. That also meant I’d be one of the Yellow Shirts up at the angle during recovery, directing landing aircraft out of the recovery area to Fly 1.

My original Yellow Shirt Director #36 — My Yellow Shirt, Director #36 (Fly 3). It still fits!

That was probably the most exciting job I had while aboard Kitty Hawk … well, during my entire 3 years, eleven months, and 29 days.

My Navy “journey” came to an end. But my life’s journey would continue.

After I write a blog post and reread it, I sometimes wonder what my point was (I’m sure I’m not the only one).

My point is this. Even though my Navy years were long ago (’73-’77), they were a cornerstone of my life. I left the Navy with a sense of purpose, a high-level of confidence that would continue to build, and great memories that I’d write about years later. A “continuing” journey.

And that, my friends, has not changed. At 70 years old and retired, I’m still looking for those next challenges, albeit a little slower these days.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books (www.azadkinsiii.com), many of which are free downloads (PDF, eBook format). He is currently retired and lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and life-long soulmate, Becky.

Previous Blogs mentioned in this Post:

Answers

Samuel Smiles.
Titanic (1997), Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Don’t Stop Believin’ (1981), Journey; written by Stephen Ray Perry, Neal Joseph Schon, Jonathan Cain.