A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”?
2. Who said (and what movie), “You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda gotten for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.”?
3. In what song (and who first sang it) did we hear the following?
   The old home town looks the same
   As I step down from the train
   And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
   Down the road I look and there runs Mary
   Hair of gold and lips like cherries

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USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63 left the Philippines (PI) on Thursday, November 26, 1975–Thanksgiving Day–heading back to the states. I was somewhat sad, leaving a country that had been our overseas “home” for the past six months.

I had become acquainted with several favorite haunts in Olongapo City. The people were courteous and took care of us, and I’d grown accustomed to the food and “drink.”  I truly thought the Filipinos were a great people and felt like the U.S. presence helped them. But what did I know? I only saw the insides of the bars and the restaurants.

I know Olongapo City was not that well off, but then Manila probably wasn’t much better. The dictator, Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda, ruled the country at the time we were there. It was rumored that Imelda had over 5,000 pairs of shoes. I could’ve told her you can only wear one pair at a time.

How can someone have so much, yet their country have so little? But then, there are so many other countries in the world with similar problems, including our own.

Down Time

On the way back, we would again stop in Pearl Harbor for a couple of days. The trip from PI to Hawaii would take about two weeks. Once again, we established the Alert 5s and once again, we launched them several times to greet the Russians. We also spotted several Russian trawlers periodically cruising alongside us. We waved, they waved… hey, we’re all friends here.

During these long periods with no flight ops, we found things to keep us occupied. For example, Airdales were not the only ones on the flight deck anymore. Many of those who worked below decks ventured out, and a few “regulars” jogged around the flight deck. Kitty Hawk did not have a gym, and only one weight room. This was an excellent opportunity for them to see how us Airdales lived, so to speak.

It was quite humorous to watch these guys, too. Not everybody knew their way around and you would inevitably see someone trip over an aircraft tie-down chain and smack into the flight deck. It probably wasn’t funny to them, but was to us. I had been blown down many times by the south end of a north bound jet exhaust and I’d tripped over so many tie-down chains at night (I still have the scars on my shins to prove it), it was a break to watch other sailors get whacked.

I still had my radio show (“The Country Chet Adkins Show”) from 0600 to 0800. Several of us onboard DJs had our own Kitty Hawk theme song. I started playing, “If We Make It Through December,” by Merle Haggard every morning on our way back. I didn’t write it, mind you. I just played it and adapted it to the ship since we were going home and hoped we would make it there in December.

Tiger Cruise

When we arrived in Hawaii, I learned that the trip home from Hawaii to San Diego would be a Tiger Cruise. During this short cruise, Kitty Hawk sailors’ sons, fathers, and brothers (no women) came aboard to sail with us back to San Diego. What a great idea—see what dad does at work.

The whole idea, of course, was to brainwash kids into joining the Navy when they got older. Actually, it was awesome, seeing dads and sons together, especially those on the flight deck because that is where I worked.

One of the catapult officers (“Shooter”) would retire from the Navy when we returned and his son was on board. He introduced his ten-year-old to everyone on the flight deck—he was a cool little kid. Like his dad, he was very confident and cocky. A future “Shooter,” perhaps.

When a Shooter leaves the carrier, it is customary to “launch” his flight deck boots off the catapult—another time-honored Navy tradition. It was heartwarming to watch the Shooter and his son go through the routine of “the launch,” including the final salute to the boots, the hands in the air, swinging fingers, and then the launch of the boots. The kid had such a great time mimicking his dad, and it brought back great memories of me and my dad.

Tax-free Liquor

On the way back from Hawaii, I learned another Navy tradition: we could order up to a gallon of liquor, tax-free. We could pick it up when we pulled into San Diego. I only ordered one bottle of bourbon. I guess I could have ordered more and sold it to someone who maxed out on theirs, but I didn’t. I know several who did, though.

About 0500 the morning we were to pull into San Diego, the OOD (Officer of the Deck) passed the word to pick up our liquor orders. I didn’t retrieve mine; 0′ dark hundred was just a little too early for me, so I’d get it later. However, most of the guys who did order were lined up and ready (“locked & soon to be loaded!”).

Of course, you were not supposed to drink while aboard the ship, but several sailors got pretty snockered before pulling into port. I laughed as I watched them stagger off the After brow and down the stairs. Fortunately, no one fell and broke anything.

Finally, We’re Home

We pulled into San Diego about 0800 on December 15, 1975, the day before my 21st birthday. It was a beautiful clear and crisp morning (my mom used to call these “Champagne Days”). We’d already launched the squadron aircraft, which were on their way back to their own home bases. Squadron personnel were still aboard with us, though.

Coming through the bay and passing Point Loma on the port side and the Naval Air Station on the right, it truly felt like I was coming home. We had been on the WESTPAC cruise for what seemed like forever and other than Hawaii, this would be the first time in six months I had stepped foot on American soil.

When a ship comes back to home port from an overseas tour, the sailors man the rails, another formal Navy tradition. That means that everyone taking part dresses in the uniform of the day.

In this case, we wore winter blues. Sailors line up arm’s length, called “Dress Right,” around the edge of the flight deck, facing out. If the ship comes into port, they are usually at “Parade Rest.” However, if there is a special occasion, such as passing the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, sailors manning the rails would come to attention at the appropriate time.

We’d been in and out of Subic Bay, PI seven times during our deployment. Prior to Westpac ’75, we’d been in and out of San Diego at least a dozen times. Each time, coming back into our home port, was uneventful, at least for me.

But this time… coming home to our San Diego home port was special. I felt a lot of pride and happy to be returning to the U.S. Unfortunately for me, I had duty that first day. But that was alright, because I didn’t have anyone meeting me on the pier.

Here’s an example of another “in your face” moment I encountered during my short Navy “career.” And which is probably why I didn’t mind having duty that first day. I’d been in the Navy for 2½ years and drank in several countries during our deployment—well, actually only while in port. When I got back to the states, I realized the drinking age in California at the time was 21. , I’m not old enough to legally drink. What kind of screwed up world was this?

But I digress…

Family Reunions

As we approached the pier, we could see hundreds of Navy wives, children, and other family members waving with signs of “Welcome Home, We Love You.” Several signalmen on deck were signaling to their wives or their girlfriends (or both). We didn’t have cell phones back then; everyone with anyone was desperately looking over the crowd until they spotted a familiar face. Then you could see the joy in their eyes and the frantic waving, “I’m here, I’m here.” It was very touching and emotional.

The new fathers disembarked first, and greeted their wives and their new babies with open arms and tears—lots of joyful tears. Even some of the older salts teared up. Even though I was still only twenty years old without a wife or girlfriend, it was a touching scene. These reunions are very heart warming.

While a few of the wives had flown to the Philippines, Hong Kong, or Japan for a brief visit with their husbands, this was the first time many of them had seen each other in six months. It was truly wonderful to see so much love and affection in one place.

Lessons Learned

So now that I was a worldly man, what wonderful things did I come away with from the Westpac ’75 cruise? I had faced several close calls on the flight deck. I had seen death, and it was not pretty. But with all of that time spent during flight ops, I gained a higher respect for life.

Sure, you can grab ass now and then, but you also realize that your life can be yanked away from you in a second. It is hard to explain the confidence I had gained during the cruise. It is almost like each new duty station in my Navy career was a building block, one on top of the other. Or as I commonly say, “Life is a journey, one step followed by another.”

Besides Guam which is really a U.S. territory, this was the first time I had been outside the United States. We went to three different countries: the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. Each had their own cultures, their own foods, and their own traditions.

While I did not really tour PI that much, I definitely took advantage of touring Hong Kong and Japan. I think all in all, I came away with a greater appreciation for the United States. Even at twenty years old, I still had my own opinions about our country, what I liked and what I didn’t like.

But as my dad (a World War II veteran) often told me, “There is no better place in the world to live than the United States.”

You know what? From an ol’ Florida boy, he was right.

Stay safe, my friends.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran’s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE copy HERE.

Previous posts mentioned in this blog:

• #20 – Port Call: Philippines
• #33 – Launch the Alert 5!
• #39 – Good Mornin’ to ya, Kitty Hawk!
• #27 – Time-honored Navy Traditions
• #26 – That Adrenaline Rush
• #43 – Port Call: Hong Kong
• #23 – Rough Seas: The Sea of Japan

Answers

1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
2. Will (Matt Damon), Good Will Hunting (1997).
3. Green Green Grass of Home (1965), Johnny Darrell (not Porter Wagoner); written by Claude “Curly” Putman.